Frank Warren (promoter)
Frank Warren | |
---|---|
Born | Islington, London, England | 28 February 1952
Nationality | English |
Occupation | Boxing promoter |
Frank Warren (born 28 February 1952) is an English
Warren has promoted and managed world champions and top ranked fighters including Naseem Hamed, Frank Bruno, Tyson Fury, Josh Warrington, Joe Calzaghe, Nigel Benn, Billy Joe Saunders, Steve Collins, Chris Eubank, Amir Khan and Ricky Hatton.
Career
The son of a
Warren was approached by his second-cousin
Warren's first licensed show was held at the Bloomsbury Crest Hotel, in London in 1980,[1] promoting two unknown United States heavyweights. However, although he had arranged TV coverage, he was blocked from broadcasting the fight by the British Boxing Board of Control rules preventing first-timers from televising their first fights. However Warren was later given his first TV date with the BBC in a British light welterweight fight between London's champion Clinton McKenzie and Coventry contender Steve Early.[2]
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'
Warren guided Hamed to become Britain's youngest ever world champion when he beat Steve Robinson to win the WBO Featherweight title at the Cardiff Arms Park, Wales, in 1995; he 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 WBO/WBC/WBA/Ring Magazine Super Middleweight Champion Joe Calzaghe throughout the majority of his 46 fight unbeaten career.
Warren signed the
In December 2007, Warren was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame and was inducted in June 2008.[3]
Sports network
Warren's major vehicles for promotion are Sports Network Ltd and Sports Network Europe, which employ 15 people, but rises up to 1,000 on the day of a big fight. In 1995 Warren signed an exclusive deal with the
After the loss of the dispute with Calzaghe, Sports Network Ltd was put into administration.[4]
BoxNation
In July 2011, Warren started the
Shooting
On 30 November 1989, Warren was shot outside the Broadway Theatre in
Other interests
Warren was also the founder and owner of the London Arena. Beset by transport 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.[7]
Warren also invested in Bedford RFC "Bedford Blues" during the 1996–97 season, taking over as chairman from Ian Bullerwell.[8]
Personal life
Warren is a fan of
In September 2023 Warren joined the board of BoxWise, the UK’s boxing youth work charity.[10][11]
References
- ^ a b "Frank Warren: 'Calzaghe was the biggest disappointment. Total disloyalty ...'". The Independent. London. 13 February 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
- ^ a b "Boxing, Frank Warren: Quarter of a century of fighting his corner". The Independent. London. 5 December 2005. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
- ^ "Frank Warren". International Boxing Hall of Fame. 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "Warren company in administration". BBC Sport. 30 April 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
- ^ Davies, Gareth. "Frank Warren launches BoxNation, a new fight sports channel on Sky". The Telegraph. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ Laughlin, Andrew. "BoxNation to launch on Virgin Media". Digitalspy.co.uk. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ a b Syed, Matthew (17 February 2009). "Frank Warren still rolling with life's punches". The Times. London. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
- ^ "1996-1997 Season". Bedford RFC. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
- ^ Home / W. PROMOTIONS LIMITED / Frank Warren Retrieved 2016-10-01.
- ^ "'Trailblazer' Windrush generation sportsman inspires sports students". Newbury Today. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ "This UK Foundation's Charity Is Helping Young People Punch Above Their Weight". 7 September 2022. Archived from the original on 7 September 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2023.