Opinions on HENNESSY

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 05 Feb 2008, 07:10

Am I the only person who finds this troubling? That Hennessy seems to be doing nothing but giving Amir Khan publicity (good or bad), when he has a very good stable of his own. That the London promoter has perhaps fallen in love with Thaxton to the extent that his outstanding young talents Darren Barker and John Murray are being overshadowed?

I mean, Thaxton has done bloody well for himself. I wish the man all the luck in the world for what he's put into boxing. Jono is an admirable fighter. But look what Warren did. When Thaxton-Rowland ended in a head clash (Thaxton TKO'd as a result), Warren PRIORITISED. Instead of a rematch, he fed 'em both to Ricky Hatton. Because Hatton was destined for higher levels.

So why does Hennessy not get Thaxton a beatable challenger, so Thaxton gets the Lonsdale, and then put on Thaxton v Murray? It's a good fight, the promoter keeps his hands on the belt and keeps one of his best young fighters happy, and besides, Khan is already looking to Romanov.

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 05 Feb 2008, 07:43

I don't think Hennessy is doing a good promotional job on his fighters TBH. Hes putting all his eggs in promoting fights that won't happen instead of building his fighters up and . The whole of Henessey promotions go into calling out Hatton for Witter, Calazage for Froch and Khan for Thaxton. None are going to happen especially as Henessey are being completely dellusional asking for purse parity and promotional rights for Thaxton against Khan

Murray should of been stepped up by now and Murray-Thaxton should be made. Murray could be made in to a star if he wins and built up to an eventual title shot. But Murray is being neglected so Henessy can try to hit the jackpot with Khan. A fight that if it did come off would only give Henessy the management cut of a £100k purse because no way Thaxton is worth more than that. Hennessy wants more money tham that

Witter should be getting 3-4 fights a year at his age and fights building him into a star but we get 1-2 fights a year and 101 press releases about Hatton - pathetic management. I know people think Witter can't be a star without Hatton but if he beat Castillo, Hopkins, etc. 1 fight wont build a profile

boxingchat · Post by **boxingchat** » 05 Feb 2008, 07:58

Actually I think he is quite a good Promoter, certainly better than Maloney or Hearn etc and he's now not as brave as he used to be. Putting David Walker in with Karmazin was bordering on insane and will alway's be his achilles heel, but thankfully for the sport and the NHS, I think he has learned since then and his shows are to his credit are good.

On the negative side I think his stooge Wellington, his poor spelling aside, continuously gives the impression to others that he has some weird obsession with all things Warren. Wellington does him no favours with his daft releases and the recent one about Simon Block was bordering on stupid.

It seems to me that he is obsessed with talking about other promoters and making ridiculous and unachievable propositions instead of concentrating on making his own business a success which clearly, financially speaking, it is definately not.

For me I wonder how Lee Meager must be feeling. Hennessy has the British Champion, Jon Thaxton who must want to a Lonsdale belt outright and is surely the next mandatory since Khan withdrew. Yet he isn't being mentioned by his own Promoter despite being a Hennessy fighter. I wonder if he is asking "what about me?" He should be as he should be the next mandatory and Thaxton is due one NOW.

Hennessy needs to forget about promoting Khan, it isn't going to happen, he knows that so he should either take Warren's massive offer or move on. He knows the real reason the fight hasn't been made is him demanding a 'promotional fee' from Thaxton if he accepts the Warren offer. If he thought Thaxton had a chance he would let him fight an reap the reward afterwards.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 05 Feb 2008, 08:39

Boxingchat...is that you?!?!

I think that's the most insightful and balanced post i have seen since you joined us. Excellent stuff

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 05 Feb 2008, 08:46

I personally think Hennessey's treatment of Murray has been poor.

The lad had a SIX MONTH break between fights last year. For an up and coming talent I find that shocking, especially when you compare it to Khan (Who fought 3 times in that space of time).

If he was injured, fair enough, but I saw no news on this from May until December.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 05 Feb 2008, 09:02

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:I personally think Hennessey's treatment of Murray has been poor.

The lad had a SIX MONTH break between fights last year. For an up and coming talent I find that shocking, especially when you compare it to Khan (Who fought 3 times in that space of time).

If he was injured, fair enough, but I saw no news on this from May until December.

Murray was lined up to fight in Canada on Showtime I think mid last year before being injured. Hennessy does seem to have some good international connections, getting ppl on foreign cards, experience etc (BN reported that Barker may fight on the Witter-Hopkins undercard for instance). But I agree, MH really has focused on Thaxton, who wasn't even a Hennessy fighter not that long ago.

bridportboxer · Post by **bridportboxer** » 05 Feb 2008, 09:13

The thing that worries me with Hennessey is he seems to spend more time sending out press releases than he does actually promoting fights. I wonder why fighters would sign with him actually.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 05 Feb 2008, 10:10

Does he spend any time pairing his fighters up with any trainers except McCracken If they don't have a pro trainer already?

It seems to me that he is obsessed with talking about other promoters and making ridiculous and unachievable propositions instead of concentrating on making his own business a success which clearly, financially speaking, it is definately not.

Yeah, usually when he has a boxer that rivals a Warren boxer, you don't hear the end of the Wellington articles.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 05 Feb 2008, 10:30

I really wish both Hennessey and Warren would look for bigger and better things QUICKLY for both Khan and Thaxton. Thaxton doesn't have time on his side, and Khan (in my opinion) is ready in the summer for a world title fight.

Juan Diaz aside - the rest of the champions are either on the slide or not very good.

I would favour them over Thaxton, but its not a forgone conclusion. Khan I would favour over Casamayor, David Diaz and Katsidis.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 05 Feb 2008, 10:41

stujones wrote:Khan I would favour over Casamayor, David Diaz and Katsidis.

Surely only by a narrow margin though stu?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 05 Feb 2008, 10:54

boxingchat wrote:Actually I think he is quite a good Promoter, certainly better than Maloney or Hearn etc and he's now not as brave as he used to be. Putting David Walker in with Karmazin was bordering on insane and will alway's be his achilles heel, but thankfully for the sport and the NHS, I think he has learned since then and his shows are to his credit are good.

On the negative side I think his stooge Wellington, his poor spelling aside, continuously gives the impression to others that he has some weird obsession with all things Warren. Wellington does him no favours with his daft releases and the recent one about Simon Block was bordering on stupid.

It seems to me that he is obsessed with talking about other promoters and making ridiculous and unachievable propositions instead of concentrating on making his own business a success which clearly, financially speaking, it is definately not.

For me I wonder how Lee Meager must be feeling. Hennessy has the British Champion, Jon Thaxton who must want to a Lonsdale belt outright and is surely the next mandatory since Khan withdrew. Yet he isn't being mentioned by his own Promoter despite being a Hennessy fighter. I wonder if he is asking "what about me?" He should be as he should be the next mandatory and Thaxton is due one NOW.

Hennessy needs to forget about promoting Khan, it isn't going to happen, he knows that so he should either take Warren's massive offer or move on. He knows the real reason the fight hasn't been made is him demanding a 'promotional fee' from Thaxton if he accepts the Warren offer. If he thought Thaxton had a chance he would let him fight an reap the reward afterwards.

Better than Maloney? I find that surprising.

Maloney is vastly more experienced, and although many of his recent shows have been fairly small scale, they are generally excellent value for money, with some good competitive fights. The other weekend's Oakey v Haymer show was a perfect example of the type of quality you get on his shows, the undercard fight with Fry and Salam (was it Salam) was an excellent bit of matchmaking I thought, and Oakey and Haymer put on a cracker.

I'm unsure what Haye's promotional status is currently, and imagine he is the type to keep his options open, but I am sure Maloney can negotiate his way to the heavyweight division if he sticks with him.

Hennessy promotions have done ok for a relatively fledgling outfit, it's bloody hard for new promoters these days, and in fact always way. SN had to break the back of Duff, Lawless and co to make his mark, it's a brutally tough business.

I doubt Wellington is acting autonomously, and I'm sure that Hennessy advises him on what to put into action.

Explain why the article regarding Simon Block is so ill-advised?

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 05 Feb 2008, 11:26

steve689 wrote:
stujones wrote:Khan I would favour over Casamayor, David Diaz and Katsidis.
Surely only by a narrow margin though stu?

Only cause Khan is unproven. If he can prove his chin to me, I think we have the best prospect in World boxing. Him or Mares.

The power of the three will be a factor, but Khan is capable of boxing their head off - just what will his reaction be when he gets tagged.

Shame I am writing this with Casamayor also included, but he needs to retire.

boxingchat · Post by **boxingchat** » 05 Feb 2008, 13:38

jamesmcdonnell wrote:
boxingchat wrote:Actually I think he is quite a good Promoter, certainly better than Maloney or Hearn etc and he's now not as brave as he used to be. Putting David Walker in with Karmazin was bordering on insane and will alway's be his achilles heel, but thankfully for the sport and the NHS, I think he has learned since then and his shows are to his credit are good.

On the negative side I think his stooge Wellington, his poor spelling aside, continuously gives the impression to others that he has some weird obsession with all things Warren. Wellington does him no favours with his daft releases and the recent one about Simon Block was bordering on stupid.

It seems to me that he is obsessed with talking about other promoters and making ridiculous and unachievable propositions instead of concentrating on making his own business a success which clearly, financially speaking, it is definately not.

For me I wonder how Lee Meager must be feeling. Hennessy has the British Champion, Jon Thaxton who must want to a Lonsdale belt outright and is surely the next mandatory since Khan withdrew. Yet he isn't being mentioned by his own Promoter despite being a Hennessy fighter. I wonder if he is asking "what about me?" He should be as he should be the next mandatory and Thaxton is due one NOW.

Hennessy needs to forget about promoting Khan, it isn't going to happen, he knows that so he should either take Warren's massive offer or move on. He knows the real reason the fight hasn't been made is him demanding a 'promotional fee' from Thaxton if he accepts the Warren offer. If he thought Thaxton had a chance he would let him fight an reap the reward afterwards.

Better than Maloney? I find that surprising.

Maloney is vastly more experienced, and although many of his recent shows have been fairly small scale, they are generally excellent value for money, with some good competitive fights. The other weekend's Oakey v Haymer show was a perfect example of the type of quality you get on his shows, the undercard fight with Fry and Salam (was it Salam) was an excellent bit of matchmaking I thought, and Oakey and Haymer put on a cracker.

I'm unsure what Haye's promotional status is currently, and imagine he is the type to keep his options open, but I am sure Maloney can negotiate his way to the heavyweight division if he sticks with him.

Hennessy promotions have done ok for a relatively fledgling outfit, it's bloody hard for new promoters these days, and in fact always way. SN had to break the back of Duff, Lawless and co to make his mark, it's a brutally tough business.

I doubt Wellington is acting autonomously, and I'm sure that Hennessy advises him on what to put into action.

Explain why the article regarding Simon Block is so ill-advised?

The Block article is just wrong, inaccurate and a personal attack on the General Secretary. He doesn't make the decisions, the Stewards do. Not smart.

Wellington is like the Josef Goebels of boxing, it's all glossed propaganda with no rhyme or reason or truth.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 06 Feb 2008, 06:46

boxingchat wrote:Wellington is like the Josef Goebels of boxing, it's all glossed propaganda with no rhyme or reason or truth.

The difference is Goebbels was very good at what he did. I don't ever remember him printing a picture in Ein Volk magazine with Hitler standing in a chicken factory with the slogan "Come on allies, what are you so scared of?"

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 06 Feb 2008, 07:28

boxingchat wrote:
jamesmcdonnell wrote:
boxingchat wrote:Actually I think he is quite a good Promoter, certainly better than Maloney or Hearn etc and he's now not as brave as he used to be. Putting David Walker in with Karmazin was bordering on insane and will alway's be his achilles heel, but thankfully for the sport and the NHS, I think he has learned since then and his shows are to his credit are good.

On the negative side I think his stooge Wellington, his poor spelling aside, continuously gives the impression to others that he has some weird obsession with all things Warren. Wellington does him no favours with his daft releases and the recent one about Simon Block was bordering on stupid.

It seems to me that he is obsessed with talking about other promoters and making ridiculous and unachievable propositions instead of concentrating on making his own business a success which clearly, financially speaking, it is definately not.

For me I wonder how Lee Meager must be feeling. Hennessy has the British Champion, Jon Thaxton who must want to a Lonsdale belt outright and is surely the next mandatory since Khan withdrew. Yet he isn't being mentioned by his own Promoter despite being a Hennessy fighter. I wonder if he is asking "what about me?" He should be as he should be the next mandatory and Thaxton is due one NOW.

Hennessy needs to forget about promoting Khan, it isn't going to happen, he knows that so he should either take Warren's massive offer or move on. He knows the real reason the fight hasn't been made is him demanding a 'promotional fee' from Thaxton if he accepts the Warren offer. If he thought Thaxton had a chance he would let him fight an reap the reward afterwards.

Better than Maloney? I find that surprising.

Maloney is vastly more experienced, and although many of his recent shows have been fairly small scale, they are generally excellent value for money, with some good competitive fights. The other weekend's Oakey v Haymer show was a perfect example of the type of quality you get on his shows, the undercard fight with Fry and Salam (was it Salam) was an excellent bit of matchmaking I thought, and Oakey and Haymer put on a cracker.

I'm unsure what Haye's promotional status is currently, and imagine he is the type to keep his options open, but I am sure Maloney can negotiate his way to the heavyweight division if he sticks with him.

Hennessy promotions have done ok for a relatively fledgling outfit, it's bloody hard for new promoters these days, and in fact always way. SN had to break the back of Duff, Lawless and co to make his mark, it's a brutally tough business.

I doubt Wellington is acting autonomously, and I'm sure that Hennessy advises him on what to put into action.

Explain why the article regarding Simon Block is so ill-advised?
The Block article is just wrong, inaccurate and a personal attack on the General Secretary. He doesn't make the decisions, the Stewards do. Not smart.

Wellington is like the Josef Goebels of boxing, it's all glossed propaganda with no rhyme or reason or truth.

As opposed to the witheringly honest and straight up PR people involved in other boxing organisations I suppose.

PR is by it's nature going to contain a truck load of bullshit. Wellington is no more guilty of it than anyone else from what I see.

boxingchat · Post by **boxingchat** » 06 Feb 2008, 12:43

steve689 wrote:
boxingchat wrote:Wellington is like the Josef Goebels of boxing, it's all glossed propaganda with no rhyme or reason or truth.
The difference is Goebbels was very good at what he did. I don't ever remember him printing a picture in Ein Volk magazine with Hitler standing in a chicken factory with the slogan "Come on allies, what are you so scared of?"

Good point Steve, good point!

Thaxton and Co are so greedy I bet they ate all those chickens after!

A real 'chicken shit' stunt IMO

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 06 Feb 2008, 12:59

I'd love to hear SN's and the BBBC's sides of the Thaxton-Khan saga. In fact answers to the following question would suffice

Was the fight mandated and put out to purse bids? if so by boxing regulations should Amir have been stripped of his belt for not abiding by/entering the purse bids situation?

If boxers can avoid mandated clashes when they feel like it without getting stripped then where does that leave us.

Big Pussy · Post by **Big Pussy** » 06 Feb 2008, 13:16

I am sure Khan and Sports Network are sh1tting themselves at the prospect of getting stripped of the Commonwealth title....not.

They'll dump it and either fight for the European or in a WBO eliminator.

For Khan its upwards and onwards meanwhile Thaxton adds it to his British title and all the glory that a £20k purse at York Hall brings.

Turning down Warren's offer was a bad, bad, bad move.

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 06 Feb 2008, 13:30

Big Pussy wrote:I am sure Khan and Sports Network are sh1tting themselves at the prospect of getting stripped of the Commonwealth title....not.

Rules is rules though. Why can Khan avoid mandated clashes without and recompense?

Big Pussy · Post by **Big Pussy** » 06 Feb 2008, 13:42

Chambers2 wrote: Rules is rules though. Why can Khan avoid mandated clashes without and recompense?

I agree with you completely Chambers. Khan should be stripped.

My point is this- will it make any difference to his career, his public appeal or his earning potentials? Nope.

If Hennessey or Thaxton had lodged the complaint earlier I am sure that the Board wouldn't have sanctioned it. Then Warren would of just dumped the belt and got some WBO/IBF eliminator status for the bout and Khan would still of faced GSC.

The only loser in this is Thaxton- and that's down to him and his team.

boxingchat · Post by **boxingchat** » 07 Feb 2008, 07:56

Chambers2 wrote:
Big Pussy wrote:I am sure Khan and Sports Network are sh1tting themselves at the prospect of getting stripped of the Commonwealth title....not.
Rules is rules though. Why can Khan avoid mandated clashes without and recompense?

Khan has not avoided any obligation or broke any rules. The purse bid was for a mandatory challenge for the British title. He is not due a mandatory until June 2008. By which time he will have probably moved on to European level.

Thaxton is due a Mandatory NOW so why isn't Hennessey arranging that against Meager, his own fighter?

He can't expect to keep baiting Warren fighters so he can to bail himself out of his financial problems can he?

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 07 Feb 2008, 08:09

Fair enough, but...Who would throw Meager in with Thaxton again though? Meager was battered that night & as yet doesn't seem to have improved enough to go at it again.

boxingchat · Post by **boxingchat** » 07 Feb 2008, 12:45

Fair point but Thaxton has gone backwards too. Hennessy alway's seems to be trying to get others to fight his guys instead of actually promoting them himself.

Froch - Calzaghe - Witter - Hatton - Thaxton - Khan.
- Mitchell - Murray.

Being honest, can you see any of them winning those fights? I can't so what does he do afterwards? He'll have no headline fighters left and he hasn't exactly made money with them whilst they are on top has he.

Perhaps he should concentrate on defending his IVA title!

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 07 Feb 2008, 13:26

boxingchat wrote: Khan has not avoided any obligation or broke any rules. The purse bid was for a mandatory challenge for the British title. He is not due a mandatory until June 2008. By which time he will have probably moved on to European level.

Cheers