Underworld identity Mick Gatto made his early living in the boxing ring, but on Monday traded verbal blows on radio with broadcaster Derryn Hinch, wishing the so-called Human Headline dead.
Hinch, fresh from a two-week holiday, opened his program on Fairfax radio station 3AW attacking the celebrity status attained by Melbourne underworld figures, including Gatto, particularly since the Nine Network drama Underbelly aired outside Victoria.
The scathing editorial prompted Gatto to phone in.
"You are scum, and I tell you what, I have a punching bag at home with your name on it and I punch the shit out of it," Gatto told Hinch.
Hinch hit back.
"If burning you is my job in life, I'll be more than happy to do it. I think you and all your ilk and all your mob and the Carlton Crew and the Carl Williamses of this world, you are all scum."
The verbal jousting lasted several minutes and included this exchange:
Gatto: "It's ratbags like you that sort of put me in the limelight, where I want to be left alone and mind my own businesses but I can't because I've got maggots like you driving me mad".
Hinch: "Do you know what? If I could go to my grave being called a maggot by a person like Mick Gatto, boy I'm proud of myself".
Gatto: "Well, I hope you go to your grave very quick, mate".
Hinch: "Yeah?"
Gatto: "That's where you deserve to be because you are a maggot".
Hinch: "You live in that world where people go to their graves. You ... you ... you live in that world where people go to their graves quickly. Don't you?"
Gatto: "Well, you'll be one of them. You'll be one of them very soon, mate".
Hinch last year admitted he was suffering a life-threatening condition, advanced cirrhosis of the liver, combined with a benign liver tumour.
Gatto, who describes himself as an industrial negotiator, was acquitted on a charge of murder following the death of underworld henchman Andrew "Benji" Veniamin at the back of a Carlton restaurant on March 23, 2004.
Gatto admitted shooting Veniamin but successfully argued his death was self-defence.