Frank Warren: "You have made my stomach turn, Hatton"

[Guest]

In three parts, here's part one:

"You Have Made My Stomach Turn, Hatton"

I’ve been in the business of managing boxers and promoting fighters coming up to 25 years.

I have managed and promoted some of the best and some of the biggest known to the world.

I am very good at what I do. However, I have had to make one of the toughest decisions of my career in the last few days – and it made my stomach turn.

Of course, it involved Ricky Hatton and his father, Ray.

During the last week, I received a number of witness statements from Ricky and Ray and others involved in promoting next month’s Hatton v Carlos Maussa fight in Sheffield.

After I read the statements, which ran to more than 200 pages, I was both very angry and upset.

I was angry because this matter has now been reduced to a massive slanging match, with question marks being put against my ability to manage Ricky, promote his future fights and look after his well-being.

Ray’s statement says I put Ricky’s life at risk by staging unsuitable fights and that I was only concerned with making money.

On both points this is complete and utter rubbish. First, boxing is a dangerous sport. From day one, Ricky’s career has been a textbook example of how to promote a fighter and match-make his fights. Every opponent, including Kostya Tszyu, was hand-picked to match Ricky’s abilities as they developed.

Secondly, as the No1 in his class, every fight he entered was not going to be for the faint-hearted. By winning, Ricky has demonstrated they were NOT all about money. Why would I change a winning formula?

I can, of course, understand the motivation behind Ray’s statement, especially when I understand that Punch Promotions – the Hattons’ company – will be involved in the promotion of Ricky’s next fight.

I expect nothing less from Ray, who has proved that money is his driving force.

Ricky’s own statement is quite amazing and completely at odds with the truth of our relationship.

[Guest]

part two:

Sting

The bits that really sting are where he says at the beginning of 2004 he lost trust in me. He also says I did not have his best interests at heart.

I would like to put things straight. Before these proceedings, I can hand on heart say I never had a cross word with Ricky. Ricky never made any of these feelings known to me.

He also says I put him into whichever fights made the most money for me… and would line them up as quickly as possible.

He claims I was planning to put him into three successive brutal defences, regardless of the fact that would not be an appropriate course for him, his health or career. The Maussa fight, which I could have made, is hardly a ‘brutal fight’. In fact, his own trainer Billy Graham said this year: “Do I fancy Maussa for Ricky? I don’t think anybody would really pay to see it.” And that’s his own trainer!

All of this is nonsense. Ricky is the IBF champion and ranked No.1. To get to that level he beat the best and will have to continue doing so if he wants to stay there.

Secondly, Ricky remains undefeated and has earned £3,853,650 in the last two years. If that is not looking after his interests, I don’t know what is.

Maybe a truer picture can be found in what Ricky said at the British Boxing Board of Control awards lunch: “There are so many people I must thank for helping to get this award… even Frank Warren, who promoted me excellently for many years.”

Besides my dispute with the Hattons, there are also grave concerns about how poorly and slowly boxing’s governing body act when its own rules are being flouted.

During the week it became clear the Hatton-Maussa fight is being put on by Fight Academy Ltd, an unlicensed promoter. Would you not expect the governing body to take immediate action? Yes, you would but that is not what happened.

It was like pulling teeth to get the board to acknowledge Fight Academy were unlicensed. But even though they know, they have done nothing.

There was a time when the board would have taken control and warned the boxers they were taking part in an unlicensed show.

But, to add insult to injury, tickets for the Hatton-Maussa fight have gone on sale stating the event is being promoted by Fight Academy.

This is in clear breach of board rules. Their failure to enforce them raises questions about their role as the sole custodians of the sport.

[medium-deek]

Excellent posting.

[Guest]

Final part:

Duty

The consequences for any boxer participating in an unlicensed event cannot be over-stated, especially if things go horribly wrong.

The board have a duty of care but, if fighters are participating in unlicensed shows, are they covered by the board’s medical insurance?

In fact, Fight Academy have already promoted one event which, by the board’s own admission, was an unlicensed event.

This row with the Hattons will be one of the saddest chapters in my autobiography. I nutured Ricky from his fight [sic] professional fight to that amazing night in Manchester when he became world champion.

To see all my efforts reduced to bundles of paper makes me angry.

Ray saying I have placed his son’s life at risk is the lowest of the low.

I have looked after Ricky for his entire professional career and always acted in his best interests. The truth has to come out at a trial.

[Guest]

Excellent posting.

Cheers man, any K welcome.

[medium-deek]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Anorak again.

[Guest]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Anorak again.

God luv ya anyway, MD.


Does anyone believe that Frankie never lost his temper with Ricky at all?

Anyone remember the SKY interview where they asked Ricky if he'd consider "other options" and Frank lost the plot? Members of Fight Club Lounge* can relive this today.



* The Premier Lounge, High-Quality Fights Only.

[- Evil -]

Cheers man, any K welcome.

I tried to give you BAD KARMA but it wouldnt let me, your a tard!!