MSNBC anchor Chris Matthews compared the harshness of the Las Vegas Democratic debate to an old boxing match from the 1950s after the candidates took repeated shots at one another.

Matthews, 74, was on the network’s post-debate coverage Wednesday night when he discussed the brutality of the attacks from some candidates. He began by saying the event was unlike anything he’s ever seen, calling it the equivalent of the “Roman Colosseum” before he began dropping the boxing reference.