Ronnie from "Jersey Shore" is convinced the guy he coldcocked last summer on Season One was just a fame whore who picked a fight to get on TV ... and now, the "Jersey" star says he can prove it. 

Ronnie's manager Matt Cohen tells ... Stephen Izzo had encountered "Jersey" producers three weeks before the fight and signed a release form to appear on the show

Cohen claims Izzo realized he needed conflict to score screen time -- so he went home and concocted a plan to provoke Ronnie into a fight on camera ... and we all know how that went. 

Ronnie's manager believes the release form proves Izzo "obviously wanted to be on the show" -- and was willing to do whatever it took to make that happen. 

Izzo's currently suing Ronnie and MTV over the punch -- claiming, among other things, invasion of privacy and unauthorized use of his image. 

Ronnie was indicted by a grand jury in New Jersey last month over the scuffle -- charged with one count of third-degree assault ... and he could face up to five years in prison if convicted.

Jwoww Sued by Ex -- I Made Her a FORTUNE

Jwoww's ex-boyfriend claims he helped the "Jersey Shore" star score a TV deal worth $17,500 per episode ... but according to legal docs  she never paid his ass a dime in return.

Jwoww is being sued by Thomas Lippolis -- who claims he didn't just date the reality star -- but he also served as her business manager ... locking down deals with MTV, nightclubs, a tanning lotion company and even a plastic surgeon. 

In the lawsuit, filed today in NY, Lippolis claims he was the "sole negotiating agent" with Jwoww's "Jersey" deal -- locking down $17,500 per episode plus a $75k bonus "dependant on ratings at the end of the season." 

But Lippolis alleges ... when it came time to pay up -- Jwoww left him stiff ... and not in the good way. 

Now, he wants $350,000 to make things right.

UPDATE: Sources close to Jwoww tell us the reality star is adamant Lippolis did not negotiate her tanning or MTV contract ... but insists he was paid for appearances he booked.