By Terence Dooley
Frank Warren used the 'Magnificent Seven' presser to offer his rivals the chance to make some key fights. The veteran promoter, who celebrates thirty years in the trade this coming September, wants big contests for James DeGale and Derek Chisora, who posted wins over Carl Dilks and Sam Sexton respectively, and also called for Enzo Maccarinelli to retire following his sickening seventh-round KO defeat to Alexander Frenkel.
Firstly, Warren insisted that DeGale is the premier prospect in the UK, and fleshed out his point by acknowledging that he is prepared to offer fellow Londoner George Groves, DeGale's bitter rival, a chance to fight his charge this December.
“James' performance was outstanding, he annihilated him,” said Warren when analysing DeGale's first round win over Dilks. “He jumped on him, showed a lot of maturity and what he's capable of. The next fight I'd like for him is George Groves. George has been calling James out and I'd like to accommodate him, I'll be sending an offer through [to Hayemaker] on Monday – the talk has been there (from Groves' team) so let's see if the balls are there.”
Indeed, Warren feels that 'Chunky' is the future of the 168lb division and wants his man to put the rivalry to bed in the only place it matters, the boxing ring. “James is 'The Man', not George Groves,” blasted Warren.
“They want the fight so we'll give it to them. I'm doing my thirtieth anniversary show on December 11th at the Excel and James will be the star of the show. They want the fight, they've got it. We are in the James DeGale business, he was the best British fighter in the Olympics and he'll win a world title. People said he wouldn't do it at the beginning (of his pro career) but he's getting better and better.”
Maccarinelli was defeated in a depressing, sickening manner, referee Erkki Meronen allowing a badly dazed 'Big Mac' out for more after the fight's first knockdown in one of the worst displays of refereeing this writer has ever seen. Meronen's decision led to a terrible knockout, the official should be brought to book for his shocking decision.
Warren feels that Enzo, who has been on the losing end of four bad KOs in his last eight fights, should bow out from the sport he has graced with dignity and move into promoting. “What I'm going to do is ask him to work with me promoting fights in Wales,” revealed Warren when talked turned to Enzo.
“He's been very loyal, a great servant to British boxing and won a world title. You heard the crowd when he got up, they love him. It was very sad, I thought the referee was stopping it (when Enzo got up) and it was a shame for him to go out that way.”
Derek Chisora didn't have it all his own way during his ninth-round stoppage victory over Sexton but got the job done in style, annexing the Commonwealth title in the process. Derek is now 14-0 (9), he has been moved quickly and Warren sees big things, and opponents, ahead for 'Del Boy'.
“Derek is only in his fourteenth fight and he showed that he is going places. Great finisher, he gets a man in trouble and he takes him out. He had a bad flu a few weeks ago but decided he wanted the fight, which is no disrespect to Sam Sexton,” he said before assessing Derek's next move.
“The ideal match for him at this moment would be Audley Harrison if Audley wasn't fighting for the world title (against David Haye), there'd be only one conclusion and Derek deserves a title fight more than Audley, he's done more in fourteen fights than Harrison has done in his entire career.”
He added: “We'd take Tyson Fury. If I was his connections, I wouldn't want the fight because there'd only be one winner, but if they want it then let's get it on. I'd like [Nikolai] Valuev, he'd do a job on Valuev with his speed and you wouldn't see only a handful of punches over twelve rounds. I will talk to [Valuev's promoter] Wilfried Sauerland about making it, why wouldn't they take it? I'm not saying it would be an easy fight but I'd fancy it, and I'd fancy Derek against John Ruiz.”
Still, David Haye would be a step too far for Chisora, surely? “Why not?” said Warren when mulling the idea over. “David has had two fights at heavyweight, Monte Barrett showed that he [David] is vulnerable and he wouldn't take one of those bombs from Derek. The British public are not stupid, they've seen Derek excite tonight and he's not been in a boring fight yet. It is not like a heavyweight job from year's ago when you'd protect them a bit to bring them through, Derek's very capable.”
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