Frank Warren vs. Ricky Burns in The High Court Arena

By Terence Dooley

Frank Warren is facing former charge Ricky Burns in court this week as he bids to sue the former two-time WBO world titlist—at Super featherweight and listweight respectively—for around £2,000,000, according to a news report on STV.tv.  Burns left Warren for Eddie Hearns’s stable in March 2013.  Warren is suing for loss of income caused by the split, which he alleges was a case of what is known in sporting circles as “tapping up”, speaking to someone who is under contract without permission.  Burns countered by claiming that Warren did not pay some of his fight purses in full.

The Coatbridge-based boxer lost his lightweight world title in March of this year, a decision defeat to Terence Crawford, and then lost his next one when dropping a decision to Dejan Zlaticanin in June.  “Rickster” beat Alexandre Lepelley on Saturday night to get back amongst the Ws, but he looked lacklustre up at light-welterweight and is likely to return to the lightweight division for his next fight.

Warren has told the High Court that: "[Burns] got tapped up—that's the bottom line.  That's what this is all about.  It is very disappointing.”  The promoter believes he is owed up to £1,800,000 in loss of earnings as well as the £90,000 from an unpaid manager’s fee.  Burns’s last fight under Warren was a fourth-round demolition of Kevin Mitchell—who also left to join Hearn’s Matchroom organisation—with long-time advisor Alex Morrison taking over the managerial reins following the move from Warren, who had been Burns’s co-manager until that point.

Warren, though, has argued that the move was a breach of agreement and is pursuing his case via the court; he has argued that W. Promotions Ltd. held the promotional rights to the then-champion’s next three fights, with the claim for damages being based on this key point.  Burns has countered by arguing that non-payment of monies rendered the contract null and void.

Barrister Ian Mill Q.C., representing Warren, told Justice Robin Knowles that: "Documents disclosed by Mr Burns suggest that at the relevant time he was engaged in ‘conversations’ with Eddie Hearn at Matchroom, which led to a ‘five-fight deal’ with that company."

Mark Simpson Q.C. argued the contrary by suggesting that the joint management agreement was not "valid" and therefore was not binding, so the managerial commission, usually waived by Warren in the past, was no longer an issue, although the cohesion of the promotional deal will be argued over the course of the coming week.

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