Who is the best promoter in uk

[WildWaylon]

At the moment I think you have to say its still FW/SN. FW is tops at negotiating and getting the big fights made. I think he has put better cards together since that awful Cardiff fiasco. To be fair to him he has been very unlucky with cards falling apart due to pullouts. Promoting is becomming a very competetive business and I think we are going to see a lot of changes in the next few years. Hayemaker and Hennesey look good for the new era.

[stujones]

Well if Degale is right in saying that the deal he has is close to the 2 million asking price, then thats a huge gamble. The amateur game is a completely different sport these days, its almost like a gamble of signing a rugby league player, to play Union. You could get a Jason Robinson, you could get an Andy Farrell - just because he might be athletic and look to have the skill set, doesn't mean that much.

Plus, if Warren thinks he is worth that price on his "name value", then I'm afraid he is mistaken.... the amount of, well not complete novice boxing fans, but not like us - that have actually forgotton we won a gold medal in Boxing is quite startling. He's not as "adhering" a Khan a personality, and not as good a talker as Harrison (even if Harrison talks alot of bollocks - its still compulsive viewing).

[lefthook82]

More than other UK promoters. None of them left for Hennessey etc

[chris s]

UFC, easily. Sells more tickets, sets more records at the biggest venues, best TV, best looking PR bloke, best at creating new stars, best in-arena experience by a mile etc etc etc.

Just boxing? Would say Hennessy - best shows, quality at small hall and big arena level, last promoter to create world champion in Froch (Haye also real star and champ, but he only recently settled into one promotion, Haymaker). Also like Maloney's small hall shows, although he is not a big stage/big arena promoter and never will be. Always good fights up and down card.

By end of 2009 it will be Hennessey and Hayemaker ushering a new era for British boxing, I feel. The old guard - and don't they know who they are - will fall and not before their time.

UFC do promote well and have a superb in house atmosphere, but how would so if they were here say 8 times a year?

[brian13]

Also like Maloney's small hall shows, although he is not a big stage/big arena promoter and never will be. Always good fights up and down card.

Wait till Munroe and Dunne then we can judge him on the big arena aspect

[whiskey]

Depends what you describe as 'best' ?

Best for the fighter ?

Well that again is debatable on who the fighter is !

If your happy to feed off bums, earn a good crust and become a minor celeb - then I'd definitely say allegedly.

He is in the entertainment business and he knows full well that the casual boxing fan has no idea how prestigious the WBU or WBO titles are in the grand scheme of things.

Unfortunately if you have ambition, then the above will only wash for so long. Ricky left after he finally got Kostya (after Shamrba, Kelson Pinto and Vivian Harris were replaced with Dennis Pedersen, Ray Olivera and Michael Stewart). Plus i read somewhere that Warren expected Ricky to lose against Kostya and was throwing a huge party for Amir the night Rick beat Olivera.

Warren has put on some blinding shows and has chose his moments carefully for his fighters, so in that respect you have to give him his props.

However, some of the shows have been absolutely dire. I remember Calzaghe v Manfredo which was supported by Enzo Macc vs Bobby Gunn and a raft of other lop-sided fights. The whole card only racked up 8 rounds in total or something daft. Yet 25,000 went to Cardiff for it.

For me nowadays as a boxing anorak i have to say that it's got to be Hennessy & Maloney putting on the truly legit fights.

Hennessy's shows on ITV to date have been exciting and credible. Thaxton sparked Melero in 3 for Euro title. Froch in FOTY candidate against unbeaten Pascal for the WBC world title. Witter vs Bradley was not a easy touch - then we had the blinding Murray vs McAllister fight last week. Throw in the entertaining Fury and the slick Barker and there is something for everyone's tastes.

Maloney has also been tremendous for his domestic shows. Ive enjoyed the likes of Johanneson vs Gomez, Rendall Munroe, Fewkes vs Gethin and the other recent cards. There are some decent tear-ups courtesy of the Shinfield stable.

If i had to attend the next 5 shows of any UK promoter, i think i'd certainly choose Hennessy

Purely because of the interesting mix of fighters and they always put legit match-ups for proper titles on.

[stujones]

Also like Maloney's small hall shows, although he is not a big stage/big arena promoter and never will be. Always good fights up and down card.

Who was promoting the biggest live gate in the UK in Years? Hatton vs Lazcano.

also Lennox Lewis?

[gobbles]

Depends what you describe as 'best' ?

Best for the fighter ?

Well that again is debatable on who the fighter is !

If your happy to feed off bums, earn a good crust and become a minor celeb - then I'd definitely say allegedly allegedly.

He is in the entertainment business and he knows full well that the casual boxing fan has no idea how prestigious the WBU or WBO titles are in the grand scheme of things.

Unfortunately if you have ambition, then the above will only wash for so long. Ricky left after he finally got Kostya (after Shamrba, Kelson Pinto and Vivian Harris were replaced with Dennis Pedersen, Ray Olivera and Michael Stewart). Plus i read somewhere that Warren expected Ricky to lose against Kostya and was throwing a huge party for Amir the night Rick beat Olivera.

Warren has put on some blinding shows and has chose his moments carefully for his fighters, so in that respect you have to give him his props.

However, some of the shows have been absolutely dire. I remember Calzaghe v Manfredo which was supported by Enzo Macc vs Bobby Gunn and a raft of other lop-sided fights. The whole card only racked up 8 rounds in total or something daft. Yet 25,000 went to Cardiff for it.

For me nowadays as a boxing anorak i have to say that it's got to be Hennessy & Maloney putting on the truly legit fights.

Hennessy's shows on ITV to date have been exciting and credible. Thaxton sparked Melero in 3 for Euro title. Froch in FOTY candidate against unbeaten Pascal for the WBC world title. Witter vs Bradley was not a easy touch - then we had the blinding Murray vs McAllister fight last week. Throw in the entertaining Fury and the slick Barker and there is something for everyone's tastes.

Maloney has also been tremendous for his domestic shows. Ive enjoyed the likes of Johanneson vs Gomez, Rendall Munroe, Fewkes vs Gethin and the other recent cards. There are some decent tear-ups courtesy of the Shinfield stable.

If i had to attend the next 5 shows of any UK promoter, i think i'd certainly choose Hennessy

Purely because of the interesting mix of fighters and they always put legit match-ups for proper titles on.

So you would pick Thaxton v ? over the Olympians and Skelton/Rogan and Elcock v Macklin over Khan v Barrera?

What is the difference between the empty smoke being blown up Tyson Fury to any Warren novice that gets so slagged on here?

And what risky fights or 50-50 fights have the likes of Froch, Barker or Murray ever had? Why hasn't Barker faced Elcock? They have been very carefully matched. It's one thing saying you are willing to face anyone, but proving it is a very different thing.

[WildWaylon]

Depends what you describe as 'best' ?

Best for the fighter ?

Well that again is debatable on who the fighter is !

If your happy to feed off bums, earn a good crust and become a minor celeb - then I'd definitely say allegedly allegedly allegedly.

He is in the entertainment business and he knows full well that the casual boxing fan has no idea how prestigious the WBU or WBO titles are in the grand scheme of things.

Unfortunately if you have ambition, then the above will only wash for so long. Ricky left after he finally got Kostya (after Shamrba, Kelson Pinto and Vivian Harris were replaced with Dennis Pedersen, Ray Olivera and Michael Stewart). Plus i read somewhere that Warren expected Ricky to lose against Kostya and was throwing a huge party for Amir the night Rick beat Olivera.

Warren has put on some blinding shows and has chose his moments carefully for his fighters, so in that respect you have to give him his props.

However, some of the shows have been absolutely dire. I remember Calzaghe v Manfredo which was supported by Enzo Macc vs Bobby Gunn and a raft of other lop-sided fights. The whole card only racked up 8 rounds in total or something daft. Yet 25,000 went to Cardiff for it.

For me nowadays as a boxing anorak i have to say that it's got to be Hennessy & Maloney putting on the truly legit fights.

Hennessy's shows on ITV to date have been exciting and credible. Thaxton sparked Melero in 3 for Euro title. Froch in FOTY candidate against unbeaten Pascal for the WBC world title. Witter vs Bradley was not a easy touch - then we had the blinding Murray vs McAllister fight last week. Throw in the entertaining Fury and the slick Barker and there is something for everyone's tastes.

Maloney has also been tremendous for his domestic shows. Ive enjoyed the likes of Johanneson vs Gomez, Rendall Munroe, Fewkes vs Gethin and the other recent cards. There are some decent tear-ups courtesy of the Shinfield stable.

If i had to attend the next 5 shows of any UK promoter, i think i'd certainly choose Hennessy

Purely because of the interesting mix of fighters and they always put legit match-ups for proper titles on.

So you would pick Thaxton v ? over the Olympians and Skelton/Rogan and Elcock v Macklin over Khan v Barrera?

What is the difference between the empty smoke being blown up Tyson Fury to any Warren novice that gets so slagged on here?

And what risky fights or 50-50 fights have the likes of Froch, Barker or Murray ever had? Why hasn't Barker faced Elcock? They have been very carefully matched. It's one thing saying you are willing to face anyone, but proving it is a very different thing.

Boxing is a business and its all about making money for the promoter and the fighters. When Warren had Hatton and Witter in his stable, he admitted he didnt want to match them and have one beaten by the other. It made good business sense to keep them apart and match them carefully. As someone said "its not so much who you beat that gets you to the top, its who you avoid".

[leforge]

On the 28th and 14th March three channles are showing boxing in UK. Surely promoters should not go head to head like this

[KO Artist]

allegedly, by miles. Most of the rest are amatuers by comparison, and some of them not even worthy of the title amatuer.

[whiskey]

I have watched nearly everyone of Khan's hand-picked crap fights and now we get a 20-year pro with a 71 fight record who started out at 110lb in weight aged 15 when Amir was only aged 2.

I love Barrera to death and hope he pulls out some kind of magic, but other than a pure 'spectacle' - what else does it offer ?

One interesting fight, from an entire year of WBU and inter-continental fights (with no British or European titles) hardly puts him at the forefront of the pack in 2009.

As for the Olympians, again, interesting - but do you expect them to take any risks for the first 4+ years ? of course not.

Of course i pick Thaxton over them right now - he is a consumate pro and always fights hard against legit opponents.

I will choose British, European and true World titles over the WBU and these 'inter-continental; baubles anyday.

[banjo]

While the likes of Hennessy and Maloney stage the most competitive and enjoyable shows neither of them match Warren when it comes to publicity and selling fighters to the mainstream audience.

[gobbles]

I have watched nearly everyone of Khan's hand-picked crap fights and now we get a 20-year pro with a 71 fight record who started out at 110lb in weight aged 15 when Amir was only aged 2.

I love Barrera to death and hope he pulls out some kind of magic, but other than a pure 'spectacle' - what else does it offer ?

One interesting fight, from an entire year of WBU and inter-continental fights (with no British or European titles) hardly puts him at the forefront of the pack in 2009.

As for the Olympians, again, interesting - but do you expect them to take any risks for the first 4+ years ? of course not.

Of course i pick Thaxton over them right now - he is a consumate pro and always fights hard against legit opponents.

I will choose British, European and true World titles over the WBU and these 'inter-continental; baubles anyday.

Well, first off, many people will say the best British title fight of last year was Mitchell-Johansson, while Haye v Maccarinelli was a helluva good fight.
Of the present British champions, Warren has four: Francis, Brook, Mitchell, Marsh and he put on two WBU title fights last year.
The March 14 show not only has Khan-Barrera (I cannot believe anyone rational would criticise that as a quality match), it has Cook v Martinez (an unbeaten Golden Boy Puerto Rican) and Maccarinelli v Ramirez (who just beat Alexseev). That's hardly a bad bill!
Thaxton is fighting a guy (apparently) who hasn't won in his last two fights and was beaten by Dave Stewart.
Double standard?

[beagleboy]

If your a good fighter and want to make a lot of money its gotta be Warren, if your a good fighter with ambition Hennessy is pretty good.

Hennessy is in my view an excellent promoter - but unfortunately I will have to repeat myself - lets see what happens with ITV and the money they are willing to give Hennessy for the "bigger" fights - with regards to building fighters he is indeed very good. There are some overly critical pundits who say "Who is Hennessy without Carl Froch" - in asnwer to that - its a big year 2009 for Hennessy Sports.

Frank Maloney is excellent - a born survivor - a bloke who knows the sport inside out and back to front - my personal criticism of Franks stable is - would he be as strong without the very real and strong back up of Steve Woods fighters from the North West??

Hayemaker - getting stronger and stronger - so much so the knives are out and the bitching has started - that tells me there are a few around who feel threatened by the strong team managed by Haye/Booth and Coldwell.

Sportsnetwork - Number 1 by some considerable distance at this stage - my criticism of SN and the team is unprintable and would get me in trouble - but without malice or jealousy they are by far the NO1 promotional outfit at this stage.

Matchroom - Barry Hearn has a bloke called John Wichusen running his boxing operation - John is one of the most genuine, honest people any fan,boxer trainer etc etc could deal with - Wichusen is one of those if he can help you, he will. Criticism if you can call it that is that Barry Hearn will refuse to pay over the odds for fights which is why sometimes you see him concede a number of purse bid situations.

Facts say - Sportsnetwork are the Number 1 outfit.

Head says - Watch out Hayemaker are a force to be reckoned with and are rapidly catching up.

Heart says - Matchroom are a top notch firm and always good to deal with.

Well constructed post.
But interesting that Fight Academy don't even make the list.

[whiskey]

Well, first off, many people will say the best British title fight of last year was Mitchell-Johansson, while Haye v Maccarinelli was a helluva good fight.
Of the present British champions, Warren has four: Francis, Brook, Mitchell, Marsh and he put on two WBU title fights last year.
The March 14 show not only has Khan-Barrera (I cannot believe anyone rational would criticise that as a quality match), it has Cook v Martinez (an unbeaten Golden Boy Puerto Rican) and Maccarinelli v Ramirez (who just beat Alexseev). That's hardly a bad bill!
Thaxton is fighting a guy (apparently) who hasn't won in his last two fights and was beaten by Dave Stewart.
Double standard?

I see your point Gobbles and the Macca fight will be interesting for sure. But these great shows and watered down with truly dreadful ones at times. Maybe the competition is a bit more fierce it's having a knock on effect all round.

The Haye fight was only pulled off on account of Haye saying he was 'too weak' to fight at Cruiser and being floored by Mormeck. It's an open secret it was a ploy to get Warren to put Macca in the ring with him. Warren originally wanted no part of it. Even as Haye and Booth warmed up on the pads pre-fight they will in fits of laughter that they were picking up a cool million to beat up Macca.

When Warren had Calzaghe, he had no intention of making a Froch fight either. He made derisory offers with 24 hours only to accept - before going to the papers and telling all that 'Froch turned them down'.

He has made out a career of swerving certain fights for his stable, whilst also trying to make the opponents look bad or that they dont want it. They did that with Haye, but got they're bluff called.

Thaxton is Euro champ and is defending against the nominated French champion. Thats the way it goes when your defend a title than does not let pick and choose your defences. Dave Stewart beat him? it should be an easy night for Jono then.

Lets not forget that Stewart is decent. He beat Scott Lawton (who was good enough for your Khan) who himself beat Gethin who beat Fireball Fewkes. So if Stewart beat him it don't mean he's a crock does it really ?

[boxingchat]

Also like Maloney's small hall shows, although he is not a big stage/big arena promoter and never will be. Always good fights up and down card.

Who was promoting the biggest live gate in the UK in Years? Hatton vs Lazcano.

also Lennox Lewis?

Maloney was "promoter" in name only for Hatton as Gareth Williams and Ray Hatton don't have BBB of C licences. And Panos and ran Panix Promotions, Maloney just turned up in a Union Flag suit and make a tit of himself.

[m1kee50]

I've always found Maloney shows to be good in terms of matchups.

Warren has the big names but they are not always matched well.... like it or not, people are entitled to remember the Gunn/Manfredo 'show' long after all the decent SN shows - why should Warren get praise for putting together a good product if people are paying for it (via buying what people advertise, or tickets, or PPV)?

I don't thank Tesco for my loaf of bread, I just pay them.
If it's fine, they still don't hear about it, if it's shit, they know all about it.
Same with any business, including the fight game.

[Autobarn]

Depends what you describe as 'best' ?

Best for the fighter ?

Well that again is debatable on who the fighter is !

If your happy to feed off bums, earn a good crust and become a minor celeb - then I'd definitely say allegedly allegedly allegedly.

He is in the entertainment business and he knows full well that the casual boxing fan has no idea how prestigious the WBU or WBO titles are in the grand scheme of things.

Unfortunately if you have ambition, then the above will only wash for so long. Ricky left after he finally got Kostya (after Shamrba, Kelson Pinto and Vivian Harris were replaced with Dennis Pedersen, Ray Olivera and Michael Stewart). Plus i read somewhere that Warren expected Ricky to lose against Kostya and was throwing a huge party for Amir the night Rick beat Olivera.

Warren has put on some blinding shows and has chose his moments carefully for his fighters, so in that respect you have to give him his props.

However, some of the shows have been absolutely dire. I remember Calzaghe v Manfredo which was supported by Enzo Macc vs Bobby Gunn and a raft of other lop-sided fights. The whole card only racked up 8 rounds in total or something daft. Yet 25,000 went to Cardiff for it.

For me nowadays as a boxing anorak i have to say that it's got to be Hennessy & Maloney putting on the truly legit fights.

Hennessy's shows on ITV to date have been exciting and credible. Thaxton sparked Melero in 3 for Euro title. Froch in FOTY candidate against unbeaten Pascal for the WBC world title. Witter vs Bradley was not a easy touch - then we had the blinding Murray vs McAllister fight last week. Throw in the entertaining Fury and the slick Barker and there is something for everyone's tastes.

Maloney has also been tremendous for his domestic shows. Ive enjoyed the likes of Johanneson vs Gomez, Rendall Munroe, Fewkes vs Gethin and the other recent cards. There are some decent tear-ups courtesy of the Shinfield stable.

If i had to attend the next 5 shows of any UK promoter, i think i'd certainly choose Hennessy

Purely because of the interesting mix of fighters and they always put legit match-ups for proper titles on.

So you would pick Thaxton v ? over the Olympians and Skelton/Rogan and Elcock v Macklin over Khan v Barrera?

What is the difference between the empty smoke being blown up Tyson Fury to any Warren novice that gets so slagged on here?

And what risky fights or 50-50 fights have the likes of Froch, Barker or Murray ever had? Why hasn't Barker faced Elcock? They have been very carefully matched. It's one thing saying you are willing to face anyone, but proving it is a very different thing.

Froch v Pascal was close enough to 50-50 though a few percent in Froch's favour due to location and experience.

Murray v Meager was supposed to be close to 50-50 beforehand. Murray v McAllister going in was a bad style matchup for Murray, turned out to be a good competitive fight vs a guy who'd campaigned at 140 before (far cry from another lightweight known for fighting super feathers).

Thaxton's obviously the main lightweight at Hennessy, and he's had some 4 or 5 main events from his last 5 bouts whereas Murray's only just started headlining last year (2 fights).

Guys like Gethin, McIntosh, Murray, Barker - have made the undercards interesting. There's usually a good fight or a good talent on the undercard.

Barker I rate, but that Commonwealth title hasn't catered for bringing in too many good opponents.

I usually find the Hennessy shows more watchable than the Warrens. Warren gets the big names, like Khan. But because of the big investment, the risk is always minimised. What kind of learning curve is St Clair, Kristjanse, Gomez - a backward learning curve that led to a KO loss the next fight. These cagey European promoters are having prospects drop like flies because they can't handle themselves in a fight! Now it's the big name, the legend, naturally he's ageing, and he's much smaller. You can almost always see the matchmaking involved, while you're watching the fight, which to me is a very bad thing. The house fighter always has a big advantage - just compared Cleverly v Oakey (Oakey - coming off loss, hort notice, not fully fit) with Francis v Oakey, a genuine fight staged by someone else.

[stujones]

Also like Maloney's small hall shows, although he is not a big stage/big arena promoter and never will be. Always good fights up and down card.

Who was promoting the biggest live gate in the UK in Years? Hatton vs Lazcano.

also Lennox Lewis?

Maloney was "promoter" in name only for Hatton as Gareth Williams and Ray Hatton don't have BBB of C licences. And Panos and ran Panix Promotions, Maloney just turned up in a Union Flag suit and make a tit of himself.

Well, it was only a few weeks ago I was in the discussions with Glyn Leach about this fight - as he said something like "we all know GBP promotions did nothing for this fight and it was all Frank Maloney".

[stujones]

Well, first off, many people will say the best British title fight of last year was Mitchell-Johansson, while Haye v Maccarinelli was a helluva good fight.
Of the present British champions, Warren has four: Francis, Brook, Mitchell, Marsh and he put on two WBU title fights last year.
The March 14 show not only has Khan-Barrera (I cannot believe anyone rational would criticise that as a quality match), it has Cook v Martinez (an unbeaten Golden Boy Puerto Rican) and Maccarinelli v Ramirez (who just beat Alexseev). That's hardly a bad bill!
Thaxton is fighting a guy (apparently) who hasn't won in his last two fights and was beaten by Dave Stewart.
Double standard?

Well I am a little annoyed that he has cheapend a once respectable belt (Commonwealth).

[chris s]

Maloney was "promoter" in name only for Hatton as Gareth Williams and Ray Hatton don't have BBB of C licences. And Panos and ran Panix Promotions, Maloney just turned up in a Union Flag suit and make a tit of himself.[/quote]

Well, it was only a few weeks ago I was in the discussions with Glyn Leach about this fight - as he said something like "we all know GBP promotions did nothing for this fight and it was all Frank Maloney".[/quote]

It was all done at this end and Maloney did a load. I'm sure Ray Hatton will vouch for it. GBP just turned up fight week when all the tickets had been shifted.

[Arnie]

allegedly by far

[Captain Hook]

Who is the best promoter in the uk

It depends on how you define 'best promoter'?

If it's in terms of delivering BIG fights for your fighters and keeping them active then it has to be Wazza, if it's in terms of delivering competitive cards then it isn't Wazza, Hennessy or Frank Maloney would probably get the nod if that was the criteria.

It's still early days for Hayemaker Promoter promotions, but I like what I've seen so far. As with David Hayes boxing career he's not afraid to go against traditional methods, he has "a Desire, a Dream, a Vision" of how the game should be in and out of the ring and I think he's here to stay in the promotional stakes and he'll have a BIG impact on British Boxing IMO

Agree with all of this, which pains me as it's written by Chambers :)

I'd give Hennessey the nod at the moment, Frankedly Warren has taken the piss for too long.

[Captain Hook]

....with VIP growing all the time they'll obviously be the number one from this year onwards though