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Anthony Knox Jr., the New Jersey state wrestling champion, and his father, Anthony Knox Sr., have been handed penalties for their roles in a brawl that broke out last year during a district tournament.
Knox, who committed to wrestling at Rutgers University, and his father were initially charged with simple assault for knowingly/knowingly causing bodily harm after a fight broke out at Collingswood High School in February. 22, 2025.
They both reached a plea deal that reduced Knox Jr.’s charges to disorderly conduct, according to NJ.com. Knox Sr.’s charges were downgraded to disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace.
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St. John Vianney’s Anthony Knox defeated Manchester’s Charles Gold by technical fall in their 126 lbs quarter-final bout. Opening rounds of the NJSIAA Region 7 Tournament on February 28, 2025 in Lacey, NJ. (Peter Ackerman/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
The judge also put Knox Jr. on probation for a year. If he complies with probation, the charges will be dismissed.
Knox Sr., a former MMA fighter who told the court, “It was a really, really unfortunate incident,” must pay a $1,000 fine.
The Knox family was detained after the high school brawl went missing last year. Knox Jr. had already won his match for St. John Vianney High School, who checked another key box en route to a projected fourth straight New Jersey title in his weight class.
TOP NJ WRESTLER ANTHONY KNOX JR CHARGED WITH SIMPLE ASSAULT FOR ALLEGED ROLEIN VIRAL TOURNAMENT BATTLE
Videos emerged on social media showing Knox Jr. sprinting up the stands to join the brawl.
“The defendant entered the opposing team’s designated section of the gymnasium during the District 25 wrestling tournament where he proceeded to strike. [redacted] about the face and head repeatedly, resulting in bruising and pain in the right temple area,” read court documents obtained by The New York Post.
Knox Jr. was disqualified by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) from participating in the tournament until Mercer County Superior Court Judge Patrick Bartels granted him a temporary stay of his ban, allowing him to compete in the Region 7 tournament.
Knox Jr. issued a statement at the time explaining why he took part in the fight, saying his father approached the opposing team to address alleged insults.
Anthony Knox of St. John Vianney vs. Kurt Wehner of Donovan Catholic in the Boys 120 lbs. finally. Boys Wrestling finals at the NJSIAA State Wrestling Championships in Atlantic City on March 2, 2024. (IMAGIN)
“During the final games, the atmosphere in the crowd became more and more hostile towards me and my teammates because of our success,” read Knox Jr.’s statement when Bartels asked him about it. “Insults were hurled at us. Apparently my father went to the people who were hurling the insults and asked them to stop.
“In response, I saw these people jump forward and assault my father and he was pulled down and completely surrounded by unruly people. My immediate reaction was to run close to the section to assist in the protection and safety of my father and mother who were with me. I dispute the NJSIAA’s accepted version of the facts.”
The Knox family also participated in an interview with ABC7 in which Knox Sr. said “racist slurs” were said at children on the mats below.
“[I] saw a bunch of grown men yelling racial slurs at kids that I’ve coached since they were 6 years old, swearing at my son, swearing at my wife,” Knox Sr. said.
Anthony Knox (SJV) p. Hunter Borer. St. John Vianney Wrestling defeats Southern Regional, 33-27, in Holmdel, NJ on January 8, 2025. (IMAGIN)
“As a man, I walked over, went up to the stands and told the guy to stop. At that point I was assaulted. Never threw a punch. Never hurt anybody. Never ran up there like a bat out of hell, just threw punches at people. None of that happened. I was pushed down into the stands. I could have been surrounded by another family, then I got seriously hurt by 1.”
Knox Jr. was the No. 1-ranked 126-pound wrestler in the country last season, and despite the legal issues, Rutgers wasn’t deterred from bringing him into the program on a $200,000 annual NIL deal, per NJ.com.
