Frank Warren (promoter)
Frank Warren | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Frank Warren | |
| Born | February 28, 1952 |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | Boxing promoter |
Frank Warren (born 28 February 1952 in Islington, London) is an English boxing manager and promoter.
Biography
The son of a bookmaker,[1] Warren trained as a solicitor's clerk with J Tickle & Co on Southampton Row.[2]
Career
Warren's first licensed show was held at the Bloomsbury Crest Hotel, in London in 1980,[2] promoting two unknown United States heaveyweights.
Warren soon became a leading figure in British boxing, and since has managed some of Britain's best boxers of the last twenty five years, including 'Prince' Naseem Hamed, Nigel Benn, Joe Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton.
Warren guided Hamed to becoming Britain's youngest ever world champion when he beat Steve Robinson to win the WBO Super Featherweight title at the Cardiff Arms Park, Wales, in 1995; oversaw the ascent of Ricky Hatton to the IBF Light Welterweight Championship of the World after beating Kostya Tszyu in 2005; and has been with former IBF and current WBO/WBC/WBA/Ring Magazine Super Middleweight Champion Joe Calzaghe throughout the majority of his 44 fight unbeaten career.
Warren was the most powerful promoter in Britain and had most of the top boxers from the United Kingdom on his books. His most recent high profile signing has been 2004 Olympic Lightweight silver medallist Amir Khan. He also managed Ricky Hatton to a world title, but the two split. Similarly Joe Calzaghe terminated his arrangement with Warren in June 2008 after an association that began in 1996.
In December 2007 he was elected for induction in the International Boxing Hall of Fame, inducted in June 2008.
Sports Network
Warren's major vehicles for promotion are Sports Network Ltd and Sports Network Europe Ltd, which employ 15 people, but rises up to 1,000 on the day of a big fight.[1] In 1995 Warren signed an exclusive deal with the pay-TV operator Sky Sports, but having moved his promotions successfully around all of the UK television networks, he currently has a television deal with Sky Sports.
Shooting
On 30 November 1989, Warren was shot outside the Broadway Theatre in Barking by an unknown assailant wearing a balaclava, who was never caught. A .22 bullet from a Luger pistol missed his heart by an inch, and Warren lost half a lung and parts of his ribs.[3] The former boxer, Terry Marsh, who had become Warren's first world champion two years earlier, was accused of the shooting but acquitted by a jury. The shooting was allegedly motivated by money which Marsh never received.
Litigations and court issues
Warren has won cases when persued by HM Revenue and Customs;[1] but has lost two cases, one a £7.2M dispute with Don King,[1] and later a dispute case with Calzaghe. The later case forced Sports Network Ltd into administration.
Warren has sued newspapers over various negative comments, including winning a £10,000 payment against the Daily Mirror.[3] Warren accepted £30,000 in libel damages against the Daily Record newspaper in respect of false allegations that he dishonestly fixed the outcome of the fight between John Simpson and Derry Matthews in March 2007, alleging that Warren had met the fight referee the evening before the bout. As well as paying Mr Warren damages and legal costs, the newspaper also published a full apology.[4]
Represented by solicitors Carter Ruck, in 2007 Warren secured apology from publisher Random House over defamatory comments in the book "Ricky Hatton: The Hitman, My Story", and withdrew the book from sale.[4]
Other interests
Warren was also the founder and owner of the London Arena. Beset by tranpsort problems, he was about to raise additional finance until shot - he says the incident cost him £8million, as he was forced to sell it in 1996.[3]
Warren has major share holdings in various hotel developments in Portugal, and a share in one of New York's top restaurants, the Michelin-starred 81, off Central Park.[1]
Personal life
Warren and his second wife Susan live in Hertfordshire, with their four children. Warren has two children from other relationships.[1]
An Arsenal FC supporter,[5] he has a £75,000-a-year box at the Emirates stadium.[1] Warren likes music and fine wine, collects art, has a chauffeured Rolls Royce Phantom, and drives a Bentley.[1] He also personally supports many charities.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Frank Warren: The ring leader is still packing a mighty punch". The Independent. 2008-12-7. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b "Frank Warren: 'Calzaghe was the biggest disappointment. Total disloyalty...'". The Independent. 2009-02-13. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
- ^ a b c "Frank Warren still rolling with life's punches". The Times. 2009-02-17. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
- ^ a b "Frank Warren Secures Back To Back Libel Victories". Carter Ruck. 2007. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
- ^ "Frank Warren". Arsenal FC. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
External links
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