PERHAPS over the years, even in the toughest of sports and most brutal of industries, you mellow a little with age. Glaring at adversaries across the trenches becomes a thing of the past. You understand them, admire them, maybe even appreciate them.
Right now, life is looking rosy for Frank Warren, who is no doubt doing more gloating than growling after trouncing rival Eddie Hearn out in Riyadh. Not only did his selection of fighters defeat the Matchroom group, but they erased them to such a degree that it was jokingly suggested by boxing’s current kingpin, His Excellency, that Eddie should consider retirement.
Standing next to Hearn in the centre ring at past-3am local time, grinning Frank would never let someone off the hook that easily. Hungry for more, where does the five-versus-five victory rank among the decades of ring achievements?
“One of my highlights,” Warren told Boxing News recently. “It’s a new concept and it really worked for everybody. Well, it didn’t work for everybody, but it certainly worked for us!”
Lauding the “brilliant, competitive fights”, despite the lopsided appearance of the final total, few were one-sided affairs. This was by design as the two promoters, aided by Turki Alalshikh, picked the weight classes and designated their representatives accordingly.
After taking a nibble at the pundits who tipped his team to struggle (“They couldn’t tip rubbish”, Frank crowed live on air), Warren had some kind words for his down-in-the-dumps antagonist after whitewashing him 10-0.
“I like Eddie, I really like his passion for boxing. He’s better at promoting than his dad. It’s been really nice sitting down [with Eddie and Frank Smith] and we had a few laughs. They’ve got a good sense of humour. I like to think we have as well. We, meaning me and my sons, Francis and George. It’s been quite enlightening, I’ve enjoyed every moment of it,” continued Frank, who offered some pearls of wisdom for a UK upstart who shook up the domestic scene some 15 years ago and has barely slowed down since.
“Just keep doing what you’re doing. He’s a good promoter, he’s very good. I sat there listening to him at the press conferences and he talks up the promotion, he does what he’s had to do and God bless him.”
Dishing out blessings as the heavenly clouds shine down on the Renaissance man of British boxing promotion. From Sky to ITV, Setanta to BoxNation, currently nestled snugly on TNT Sports (formerly BT), no matter what happens in this sport, Frank always finds a way to keep on rumbling.
“Of course, every day is a challenge. Every day is a great day and all we’re ever doing is planning and planning. We are in a great position talent-wise. I don’t think anybody’s got [better] young talent in any boxing company in the world other than Queensberry. I genuinely believe that,” he concluded.
