A chaotic scene unfolded at a kickboxing tournament in Florida when fighter Paul Miller celebrated his win over a Jewish opponent with a Nazi salute, while some of his supporters waved Nazi flags from the crowd.
Miller, who refers to himself as the “Gypsy Crusader,” faced off against Jewish influencer Ben “King” Azoulay. Tensions ran high even before the fight began, with Miller’s fans displaying Nazi flags, which the arena staff attempted to confiscate shortly after.
The Kia Center in Orlando, where the NBA’s Orlando Magic play, witnessed multiple fights erupt in the stands during the bout between Miller and Azoulay, according to reports.
Azoulay entered the ring brandishing an Israeli flag, prompting jeers and the waving of Nazi Swastika flags from some audience members. Reports indicate several altercations occurred among attendees around this time.
The fight was closely contested, but Miller emerged victorious by a split decision. In a post-fight moment, he took the microphone to claim that Azoulay “is not a tough guy” and used derogatory language towards him.
Miller also directed a Nazi salute towards the audience during his celebration.
In response, Azoulay firmly stated he would “take down every antisemite,” adding humorously that Miller “got kicked in the nuts too, so no Nazi babies for him.”
Miller has a criminal history, having served time in federal prison for gun-related charges. He has previously made alarming statements about wanting a “race-based civil war” and was arrested following an investigation by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. He pleaded guilty to several felony counts regarding firearms and was released in 2023.
Local officials, including Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, criticized Miller’s actions. Dyer expressed his disappointment on social media, stating that “A symbol of hate was brought to our city this weekend. But hate, fear and division will never be welcome here.”
City representatives indicated they were limited in what they could do to prevent Miller’s offensive actions due to First Amendment concerns.
However, a spokesman for Kia USA, James Bell, condemned the behavior, stating, “We appreciate the prompt action taken by venue personnel to address the situation. Such behaviors are in stark contrast to the values of respect and dignity that we, and our employees, fully support and promote.”
