Thanks: 
Likes: 
Dislikes: 
Some basic history and stuff on the great Frank 'Rocky' Warren..
He grew up in a council estate in Islington, left school at 15 and worked for his family selling juke boxes and cigarette machines to pubs around London (he was a fan of John Conteh and then big fan of Sugar Ray Leonard), from there he made contacts and ended up promoting underground fights and prize fights in his early 20's until breaking the stranglehold of Duff, Astaire, Lawless, Barrett, BBC etc when the BBBC gave him a license and ITV gave him a few TV slots. He managed and promoted a fighter called Terry Marsh, followed by promoting a few fights for the likes of Dennis Andries and Tony Sibson and then got together a nice little stable of fighters which consisted of Marsh, Gary Stretch, George Collins and Tony Collins, and then in 1988 he ended up bribing Nigel Benn and Barry McGuigan which suddenly made him the country's leading promoter!
But Benn left him, McGuigan retired, and he got shot (Terry Marsh was accused). All in an 18-month period.
He bounced back with Colin McMillan and Tony Collins in the early 90's, but really was small-time compared to Ambrose Mendy, Barry Hearn, Terry Marsh (then his enemy), Frank Maloney, Mickey Duff and Barney Eastwood. He got lucky though when Benn and (Don) King joined forces with him after Benn-Eubank II only because Eubank and Hearn screwed the US Showtime tournament. Warren just got lucky. From there, thanks to Benn and King, everyone signed to him from Naseem Hamed to Frank Bruno to Joe Calzaghe to Ricky Hatton. He had very little competition for 5-10 years, but now there are young promoters hot on his heels like Dennis Hobson and Mick Hennessy.
Warren has always tried to establish the boxers local fan base, putting a lot of work into advertising in his boxers hometowns - even his undercard fighters. Always has done.
As for his top fighters and the 'they need to come to America' argument, he'll say that it's all about TV coverage - purely because he wants his share of ticket sales. He doesn't give a F*** about his fighters legacy, he just wants to make the most money possible for himself, and that goes right the way through to his lowest undercard fighters who are paid pathetically. Any arguments about big fights not being made for his fighters, he'll always say 'Ask TV companies to come up with the money' - again purely because he wants his share of ticket sales. That's how Warren operates.
As for his mental state, the poor guy is obviously very ill and always has been. He hates anybody getting one over on him, and will then try to get one over on them, for example. If your not with him, he hates your guts. If your with him, he doesn't mind you. That's Warren, very strange guy. If you call him a 'prick', he'll take you to court for it and be prepared to fight you to the death in court. If you make the slightest mistake in a claim against him, there'll be court cases galore. I don't know what you call it, but it's clearly F****** ill and I'm certain that he has no true friends.
 |
|
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by WWatt
Bookmarks