Pepsi and Coke have been fighting the cola war for decades, but two sales representatives from the companies got into a real skirmish recently at a Wal-Mart in Indiana County.

State police aren't sure exactly what it was about, but Trooper Joy Goodyear said she plans to charge both with assault.

Robert Koscho, 48, of Ebensburg, who works for Coke, and David Paulina, 42, of Clymer, who works for Pepsi, were on duty last Monday at the Wal-Mart in White Township.

Mr. Koscho was filling in for the regular sales rep and placing orders. Mr. Paulina was delivering Pepsi. Both were "apparently bickering back and forth," police said, although the reason remains in dispute.

As Mr. Koscho was leaving the store, he told police, Mr. Paulina called him over to the side of the Wal-Mart.

There, according to a police news release, he "punched the victim three times in the face," breaking Mr. Koscho's nose and giving him a black eye. He needed surgery for his injuries, but at first did not want to press charges.

The release listed Mr. Koscho as the victim and did not identify Mr. Paulina. But after Mr. Koscho changed his mind yesterday and said he wanted to pursue the case, police released both names and said they'll charge both men.

Trooper Goodyear said she's not sure who's telling the truth.

Reached at home yesterday, Mr. Koscho refused comment, saying his company told him not to say anything. Friends and relatives, however, insisted he was not the instigator.

Mr. Paulina, who said Pepsi fired him after the story appeared on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Web site yesterday, said he hit Mr. Koscho to protect himself after Mr. Koscho charged him.

Mr. Paulina, who is 5-feet-7 and 150 pounds, said he wanted no part of Mr. Koscho, who stands 6 feet tall and weighs 220 pounds.

He said he was delivering 600 pounds of Pepsi on a pallet when Mr. Koscho, whom he said would not get out of his way, accused him of trying to run him over.

He said Mr. Koscho then started calling him names and threatened him.

As the dispute escalated, he got scared, he said, especially after Mr. Koscho elbowed him in the ribs.

Mr. Paulina eventually moved away from Mr. Koscho, heading outside to smoke a cigarette to calm down. But he said Mr. Koscho had gone out, too, and started yelling obscenities and asking him to go to the side of the building and "talk about it."

He said it was a mistake to take the offer, but both got into their vehicles and drove around to a spot just off Wal-Mart property.

He said as he pulled around a corner, he saw Mr. Koscho standing next to his car and waiting for him.

"I got out of the car with a cigarette in my mouth and my hands down," he said. "I took one step and he bull-rushes me."

Mr. Paulina said he punched Mr. Koscho, knocking him backwards. When Mr. Koscho came at him again, he punched him again, breaking his nose.

"As far as I know I only hit him twice," he said. "He quit. He dropped his cell phone, his nose was bleeding. I started helping him up. I'm like, 'Buddy, what the hell did you attack me for?' "

He said Mr. Koscho just shook his head, climbed into in his car and left.

"I honestly cannot tell you what this guy was thinking," Mr. Paulina said.