FTM PRESS RELEASE

[FtmPress]

IAN 'DAPA' NAPA has given £500 to injured boxer Gilbert Eastman.

Napa donated his cash prize for being voted 'Fighter of the Night' after taking the European bantamweight title from Carmelo Ballone on October 17.

Hackney's pocket dynamo edged out Henry Castle who knocked out Graham Earl on the York Hall show.

When Napa was told of his £500 windfall he immediately insisted the money went to Eastman.

The Battersea boxer needed brain surgery after collapsing shortly after losing to Sam Webb on the same bill and is thankfully now on the mend.

Napa, 30, said: "It was nice to be voted 'Fighter of the Night' by the fans and I could certainly do with the money..

"Boxers deserve every penny they earn, but I have still got a few years ahead of me in the ring.

"My world title dream is still there, but poor Gilbert will not box again. He deserves this prize more than me and hopefully when he recovers he will still be involved in boxing.

"Boxing is such a unique sport. When we face adversity we are always there for each other when it comes to the crunch."

Big-Hearted Napa (18-6) will make the first defence of his newly won crown early in the New Year when he could be in the world title shake-up.

Promoter Frank Maloney jets to the WBC convention in Chengdu, China on Saturday and will be campaigning for his latest stable star to be ranked highly by the prestigious organisation.

Maloney says: "It is a fairytale that Ian has got this far and it could get even better for him in 2009."

[Carbo]

IAN 'DAPA' NAPA has given £500 to injured boxer Gilbert Eastman.

Napa donated his cash prize for being voted 'Fighter of the Night' after taking the European bantamweight title from Carmelo Ballone on October 17.

Hackney's pocket dynamo edged out Henry Castle who knocked out Graham Earl on the York Hall show.

When Napa was told of his £500 windfall he immediately insisted the money went to Eastman.

The Battersea boxer needed brain surgery after collapsing shortly after losing to Sam Webb on the same bill and is thankfully now on the mend.

Napa, 30, said: "It was nice to be voted 'Fighter of the Night' by the fans and I could certainly do with the money..

"Boxers deserve every penny they earn, but I have still got a few years ahead of me in the ring.

"My world title dream is still there, but poor Gilbert will not box again. He deserves this prize more than me and hopefully when he recovers he will still be involved in boxing.

"Boxing is such a unique sport. When we face adversity we are always there for each other when it comes to the crunch."

Big-Hearted Napa (18-6) will make the first defence of his newly won crown early in the New Year when he could be in the world title shake-up.

Promoter Frank Maloney jets to the WBC convention in Chengdu, China on Saturday and will be campaigning for his latest stable star to be ranked highly by the prestigious organisation.

Maloney says: "It is a fairytale that Ian has got this far and it could get even better for him in 2009."

Well done Ian Napa. But there are some things that it's not best to publicise.

[Lenny]

Agreed Carbo

[doctorboxing]

Agreed as well! It was a nice gesture but not one that he should be brodcasting.

[Counter-puncher]

i take your points but it looks to me like its maloney thats publicising it

[FtmPress]

IAN 'DAPA' NAPA has given £500 to injured boxer Gilbert Eastman.

Napa donated his cash prize for being voted 'Fighter of the Night' after taking the European bantamweight title from Carmelo Ballone on October 17.

Hackney's pocket dynamo edged out Henry Castle who knocked out Graham Earl on the York Hall show.

When Napa was told of his £500 windfall he immediately insisted the money went to Eastman.

The Battersea boxer needed brain surgery after collapsing shortly after losing to Sam Webb on the same bill and is thankfully now on the mend.

Napa, 30, said: "It was nice to be voted 'Fighter of the Night' by the fans and I could certainly do with the money..

"Boxers deserve every penny they earn, but I have still got a few years ahead of me in the ring.

"My world title dream is still there, but poor Gilbert will not box again. He deserves this prize more than me and hopefully when he recovers he will still be involved in boxing.

"Boxing is such a unique sport. When we face adversity we are always there for each other when it comes to the crunch."

Big-Hearted Napa (18-6) will make the first defence of his newly won crown early in the New Year when he could be in the world title shake-up.

Promoter Frank Maloney jets to the WBC convention in Chengdu, China on Saturday and will be campaigning for his latest stable star to be ranked highly by the prestigious organisation.

Maloney says: "It is a fairytale that Ian has got this far and it could get even better for him in 2009."

Well done Ian Napa. But there are some things that it's not best to publicise.

This press release was put out by my office not Ian Napa, we could have kept this private but then we have had some of you anaraks screaming why haven't we announced a winner.

Napa unlike a lot of other people is not looking for any praise or glory he even declined to have his photo done handing over the money, I personally thought it was a nice gesture and felt that we should let other people know how boxers support each other in times of trouble-it was a very pro boxing release.

But you lot are like unhappy housewives just sitting around all day critisising people in the sport.

If anyone wants to complain or critisise direct them at me not my fighters.

Frank Maloney

[twenty six]

Calm down Frank.
It's a damned if you do, damned if you don't scenario.
You know that the boxing fraternity is a very generous Club, and often things "just happen" without anything said, and whilst I'm sure I'll be in the minority, I don't think there's anything wrong with the release.
If as a consequence, a few more donations flow then you've done your bit with this publicity.
Trust to your own instincts -that's what I've always done.
10 years ago I received a very generous donation to my charity work form the Queen Mother, said a few things publicly about it, but nearly got sent to the Tower !!! I was sworn to silence on it immediately - particularly the amount.
People are different - you'll never satisfy everyone.
Nice one, Ian. Well done.

[doctorboxing]

This press release was put out by my office not Ian Napa, we could have kept this private but then we have had some of you anaraks screaming why haven't we announced a winner.

Napa unlike a lot of other people is not looking for any praise or glory he even declined to have his photo done handing over the money, I personally thought it was a nice gesture and felt that we should let other people know how boxers support each other in times of trouble-it was a very pro boxing release.

But you lot are like unhappy housewives just sitting around all day critisising people in the sport.

If anyone wants to complain or critisise direct them at me not my fighters.

Frank Maloney

Fair point about announcing the winner. I do think it is a nice gesture by Ian and he always comes across as a nice guy, I think it was a very good thing to do. I think the fact Ian dint want photos handing over the money shows he didn't want any publicity for doing it, so I personally don't think a press statement announcing it was necessary.

[Twinkle Toes]

Nothing wrong with announcing it in my opinion - A nice gesture from Napa.

[Old bones Ian]

I can't see anything wrong with saying Napa has donated his £500, its not as if Napa is boasting or realising this statement himself.

Frank, Damed if you do, damned if you don't.

[leforge]

I dont think there anything wrong with the release, it show a nice gesture.

[Chambers2]

I can't see anything wrong with saying Napa has donated his £500, its not as if Napa is boasting or realising this statement himself.

Frank, Damed if you do, damned if you don't.

Same here

Well done Ian Napa

CAN YOU CUNTTS STOP MOANING ABOUT EVERYTHING!! DD ....apart from Hatton Vs Witter not happening

[THEBUTCH]

A lovely gesture by Napa and there's nothing wrong with publicising it IMO. Boxing is always getting bad press, sometimes justified, but stories like these tend to slip by...who wants to read a nice little story like this ? No dirt, no controversy etc

I'd much rather hear about this than someone who once happened to walk into a boxing gym and years later gets convicted of something and then the headlines read "ex-boxer attacks so and so" blah blah blah.

[Brian Moore]

I echo this. A lovely gesture by Napa and its nice to read a positive news story.

[TheGoods]

Terrific gesture given that Napa is hardly 'Money' Mayweather in the bank balance department and a nice feel good story. What's the matter with people having a pop at this going out? Give your heads a shake man. Boxing gets enough bad press and this story illustrates the spirit that is still very much alive and well in the game.

[boxingchat]

Fair Play to Napa. Perhaps FRank 'Millionaire' Maloney will do the same and add a nought too!

[Spud]

Respect to Ian Napa.

[Captain Hook]

Well done Ian, but it was worth people criticising to see Frank's lively post :)

[Asterix]

I can't see anything wrong with saying Napa has donated his £500, its not as if Napa is boasting or realising this statement himself.

Frank, Damed if you do, damned if you don't.

Same here

Well done Ian Napa

CAN YOU CUNTTS STOP MOANING ABOUT EVERYTHING!! DD ....apart from Hatton Vs Witter not happening

Except for the last bit.

[dapug]

Fair Play to Napa. Perhaps FRank 'Millionaire' Maloney will do the same and add a nought too!

Maybe Sports Network or your boss will dip into his pocket. Its funny how even at good stuff the people of Godfather towers have to try and cause trouble. I do not all ways agree with Maloney but i must say the one thing i have never heard him shouting about is money. Maybe there a little bit of jealousy here from certain people.

[dapug]

Thinking about your comments boxing chat, I wonder what sort of deal Maloney has done with the Irish Olympian and whose money he has used.

In all the time I have known the mighty midget he has always had backers or used OPM so has he got mystery backers behind him or has his dipped into the millions you claim he has??? becauce we all know that your boss, Hayemaker, Barry M'cguigan and Brian Peters were after him.

I find it hard to believe that Maloney outbid all of these maybe you know something more than you are letting on or maybe Maloney is back involved with Panos Eliadies the Greek shipping merchants????

[twenty six]

Wazza couldn't match a nought on the end - his direct debit to Don King is due.

[The Law]

I can't see anything wrong with saying Napa has donated his £500, its not as if Napa is boasting or realising this statement himself.

Frank, Damed if you do, damned if you don't.

Agreed.

Nice gesture Mr Napa

[Maelstrom]

IAN 'DAPA' NAPA has given £500 to injured boxer Gilbert Eastman.

Napa donated his cash prize for being voted 'Fighter of the Night' after taking the European bantamweight title from Carmelo Ballone on October 17.

Hackney's pocket dynamo edged out Henry Castle who knocked out Graham Earl on the York Hall show.

When Napa was told of his £500 windfall he immediately insisted the money went to Eastman.

The Battersea boxer needed brain surgery after collapsing shortly after losing to Sam Webb on the same bill and is thankfully now on the mend.

Napa, 30, said: "It was nice to be voted 'Fighter of the Night' by the fans and I could certainly do with the money..

"Boxers deserve every penny they earn, but I have still got a few years ahead of me in the ring.

"My world title dream is still there, but poor Gilbert will not box again. He deserves this prize more than me and hopefully when he recovers he will still be involved in boxing.

"Boxing is such a unique sport. When we face adversity we are always there for each other when it comes to the crunch."

Big-Hearted Napa (18-6) will make the first defence of his newly won crown early in the New Year when he could be in the world title shake-up.

Promoter Frank Maloney jets to the WBC convention in Chengdu, China on Saturday and will be campaigning for his latest stable star to be ranked highly by the prestigious organisation.

Maloney says: "It is a fairytale that Ian has got this far and it could get even better for him in 2009."

Well done Ian Napa. But there are some things that it's not best to publicise.

This press release was put out by my office not Ian Napa, we could have kept this private but then we have had some of you anaraks screaming why haven't we announced a winner.

Napa unlike a lot of other people is not looking for any praise or glory he even declined to have his photo done handing over the money, I personally thought it was a nice gesture and felt that we should let other people know how boxers support each other in times of trouble-it was a very pro boxing release.

But you lot are like unhappy housewives just sitting around all day critisising people in the sport.

If anyone wants to complain or critisise direct them at me not my fighters.

Frank Maloney

Good post.

And whoever suggested Maloney may be back in with Panos must be on a different planet.

[Spud]

I find it hard to believe that Maloney outbid all of these maybe you know something more than you are letting on or maybe Maloney is back involved with Panos Eliadies the Greek shipping merchants????

I think you are nuts to suggest that mate!!! - just an opinion but a silly comment to make!!!