The Bitterness of being Frank

[earsjohn]

In the aftermath of last nights action and the comments that have been circling this past week, I feel the need to get something off my chest about Mr Warren

The man is coming across like a spoiled little child. He's now demanding an immediate rematch claiming that "One way or another that fight will happen again. If it doesn't happen, George Groves should be ashamed of himself. I haven't found one person who thought George won that fight and I'm sure he's got a lot of pride and he wouldn't want it to be like that. I'm sure he wants his victory to be an emphatic one."

Now can anyone genuinely see that had the result been the other way, with Degale taking it by the closest of margins that he'd have been straight in there offering a rematch? Nil chance, I suspect.

His comments on Sky after the fight were typically snide and utterly lacking in respect. He blamed the loss on James throwing the fight away and never once acknowledged the performance of Groves. I'm thoroughly looking forward to his column next saturday in which everyone will get the blame for Degales defeat, while making himself out to be the poorly downtrodden, innocent party who was just trying to do his best for the fans and his boxers. We'll hear nothing of fleecing the fans for a show that was barely better than Khan - McCloskey, a show he was so outspoken about when contemplating its value as a PPV.

We so often hear how is the best promoter in the game and he's been doing it for over 30 years, but I think he is feeling the pressure from Matchroom and it is showing in some increasingly angry behaviour. If he truly believes in Degale as a boxer, then this close loss should mean very little and that he'll be able to bring him back and build him towards title level. However, I don't think he gives a damn about Degales boxing prospects and his anger stems from the defeat hurting his future PPV earning potential, certainly in the short term. With that defeat, Warren simply doesn't have a boxer that can justify PPV status on his own, so in order to squeeze more money from the paying public, he'll either have to do more Magnificent 7 type shows (and dilute his share of the profits by paying out higher sums to the fighters) or will have to put his stable in with highly competitive challengers / world titlists - an approach that he has been against throughout his entire promoting career and again a strategy that would cost more as decent opponents don't come cheap.

He doesn't seem to acknowledge that the sport and the broadcasting environments have changed significantly in recent years. His dismissal of forum users as people who just complain and know nothing about the difficulties of boxing promotion simply don't reflect that forum users represent those people that p[ay his wages - we buy the tickets for shows, we pay our subs and PPV fees, we buy Boxing News and Boxing Monthly and we congregate on forums to discuss forthcoming and past events. I may know nothing about running a boxing show but as a paying consumer, I have purchased a right to comment and hold an opinion. His ostrich like approach to the internet barely seems to acknowledge that it simply provides an instant outlet for opinions that didn't exist in the past. The opinions, however, have always existed. His use (or lack of) Twitter is also pretty pre-historic. Now I appreciate not everyone 'gets' Twitter, but in a sport that thrives on engagement with its paying public, to try to operate a promotional company without it is nonsensical. In the immediate aftermath of last nights fight, Twitter was abuzz with comment and reflection from a range of interested spectators, including journalists from both sides of the Atlantic, other sports figures, a number of fighters backing both sides and some key figures from across the fight game. One of these, Eddie Hearn, has only recently taken to tweeting, but his comments do seem to measure the temperature of public opinion fairly well and he seems to be getting well-timed digs in at Warren at many opportunities. It is fair to say that our Frank is leaving himself open with his comments, actions and negligent treatment of his public.

[banjo]

I haven't found one person who thought George won that fight

I can think of two immediately.

[Syntax Error]

I almost feel sorry for Fr ank Warren, not!

Instead of him bleating about robbery or remacth, he should tell James to focus on preparation & not running off his mouth.

If DeGale had dedicated as much time to his preparation as he did to telling us how ugly he thought Groves was, he'd have won every round last night!

[SteveDow]

I have to say that I really dislike Warren.

He's extremely bitter, a poor loser, hugely critical of fighters who leave his stable who he used to worship the ground they walked on (Hatton, Calzaghe and Brook to name but a few) and is happy to serve up complete and utter garbage as a PPV offering time and again.

How often are his shows completely different to what was originally advertised come fight night! This happens far more often on his shows than anyone elses and while pull outs may not be his fault lack of an adequate replacement usually is.

In addition, I'm far from convinced that the Bellew fiasco was not a promotional tool. Even if it was legitimate his poor planning by calling a press conference which duped people into buying tickets for the show was disgraceful.

I'm happy to say that I watched on a stream last night and I hope the PPV viewing figures stank!

[m1kee50]

I haven't found one person who thought George won that fight

I can think of two immediately.

find him on twitter @frankwarrenprom and let him know, I have

[Newport Daz]

Fantastic post Earsjohn, I agree completely. If the shoe was on the other foot there is no way in hell Groves would get a rematch. Groves and Hayemaker should tell them to piss off. Groves and Booth were shown nothing but disrespect in the lead up and now Warren, Degale and Jimmy Mac have serious egg on their faces. As for rematches, I don't remember Frank telling Calzaghe that he should be ashamed of himself if he didn't rematch Robin Reid or BHop.

As Earsjohn said, Frank no longer has anyone PPV worthy and is desperate for the rematch so Degale can clean the slate. Groves should just vacate if they try and force issue. Will a Britsih titlefight against someone like Kenny Anderson be PPV worthy. Dont think so. Bad luck Frank !!

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

Is it true that Fwank burst into tears after the result was announced?

[dazzer]

great post

[tonyevs]

earsjohn - good post sir

[NazNaci1]

Good post and I 100% concur.

Warren is the sole reason the sport has suffered in the UK. He took his stable and went for the money with SKY. For me, we cant get rid of him fast enough. Especially when you got people like Eddie Hearn, who is actually a genuine fight fan and is looking at pushing boxing back into the big time.

Fw@nk has always been a bitter person, his newspaper column is totally biased and his hype is piss poor (anyone remember the 'Salita is a big puncher and will test Khan' comment? Then on Buncey's show last week he said it was a poor fight and he was arguing with Khan's for a better undercard - tosser imo)

Bitter, greedy & a rich tosser who doesn't give a shit about boxing long term or otherwise. I, seriously NEVER EVER believe anything he says, let alone pay him money for his PPV shows.

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

Good post and I 100% concur.

Warren is the sole reason the sport has suffered in the UK. He took his stable and went for the money with SKY. For me, we cant get rid of him fast enough. Especially when you got people like Eddie Hearn, who is actually a genuine fight fan and is looking at pushing boxing back into the big time.

Eddie Hearn is the future of boxing - thank God!

[n1ebf]

I can't stand allegedly. Comes across like an idiot. He was sat making snide comments at Groves in the press conference like a brat and then he allegedly comes out with all that bull sh*t above about demanding a rematch.

If he genuinely said Groves should be "ashamed" then what a fcking prick!

For the life of me I can't see what he's got about him that helps him get the top fighters, it's not brain surgery. When he was sat giving it "this fight is to see who will be "guv'nor" or the "manor" I thought who is this Cockney clown, Peggy Mitchell??

I wouldn't go near him with a bargepole personally.

[Mighty Moose]

Wank Warren only works for Wank Warren. He treats the punters as mugs (which some of us are, because we fall for the same old WBO/Pentatriangle or PPV shit every single time) and he's continually bleating about other fighters/promoters shortcomings whilst failing to notice that he's spent more time in court than a certain Twitter/Super injunction footballer.

In fact if Warren's court win/loss record was a boxing record he'd be regarded as a "mexican roadsweeper".

When you wind up your company rather than pay the debt you incurred as a result of selfishness/ignorance/greed/just being a sore loser, (delete or add as you see fit) then I've got even less respect for you.

[n1ebf]

Wank Warren only works for Wank Warren. He treats the punters as mugs (which some of us are, because we fall for the same old WBO/Pentatriangle or PPV shit every single time) and he's continually bleating about other fighters/promoters shortcomings whilst failing to notice that he's spent more time in court than a certain Twitter/Super injunction footballer.

In fact if Warren's court win/loss record was a boxing record he'd be regarded as a "mexican roadsweeper".

When you wind up your company rather than pay the debt you incurred as a result of selfishness/ignorance/greed/just being a sore loser, (delete or add as you see fit) then I've got even less respect for you.

hit - nail - head.

what a winker.

[palooka]

Wank Warren only works for Wank Warren. He treats the punters as mugs (which some of us are, because we fall for the same old WBO/Pentatriangle or PPV shit every single time) and he's continually bleating about other fighters/promoters shortcomings whilst failing to notice that he's spent more time in court than a certain Twitter/Super injunction footballer.

In fact if Warren's court win/loss record was a boxing record he'd be regarded as a "mexican roadsweeper".

When you wind up your company rather than pay the debt you incurred as a result of selfishness/ignorance/greed/just being a sore loser, (delete or add as you see fit) then I've got even less respect for you.

That is a good point; it is not the action of an honest or honourable man.

[Bard of Boxrec]

Great post OP . Also, just out of interest has any journalist ever tried to subtly quiz him on the Sports Network demise and the debt implications?

[NazNaci1]

The man, during pressers, sits there with a stupid smirk on his face which I seriously want to twat.

[Dan Dares]

The man, during pressers, sits there with a stupid smirk on his face which I seriously want to twat.

His suit at the DeGale/Groves weigh in awful. Somebody should have told him.

[chinny]

Great post OP . Also, just out of interest has any journalist ever tried to subtly quiz him on the Sports Network demise and the debt implications?

No chance of that mate, they are all scared sh*tless

[Boxing Pirate]

Fantastic post Earsjohn, I agree completely. If the shoe was on the other foot there is no way in hell Groves would get a rematch. Groves and Hayemaker should tell them to piss off. Groves and Booth were shown nothing but disrespect in the lead up and now Warren, Degale and Jimmy Mac have serious egg on their faces. As for rematches, I don't remember Frank telling Calzaghe that he should be ashamed of himself if he didn't rematch Robin Reid or BHop.

As Earsjohn said, Frank no longer has anyone PPV worthy and is desperate for the rematch so Degale can clean the slate. Groves should just vacate if they try and force issue. Will a Britsih titlefight against someone like Kenny Anderson be PPV worthy. Dont think so. Bad luck Frank !!

You are completely right with your post

[earsjohn]

Great post OP . Also, just out of interest has any journalist ever tried to subtly quiz him on the Sports Network demise and the debt implications?

It maybe that boxing journalists are reluctant to go over the issue as they may find their accreditation to future Warren shows withdrawn which may make it harder to make a living out of a niche sport (I believe, but am not certain, that this has happened in the recent past.)

I'd love for someone like David Conn or Matt Scott of the Guardian to do a piece, but the murky world of boxing finances isn't as glamourously murky as the world of football finance and governance. A reluctance to attract time consuming and irritating litigation action is likely to dissuade editors from sanctioning such pieces.

[palooka]

F W on his deathbed; 'Rosebud' :(

[subsy]

Great post OP . Also, just out of interest has any journalist ever tried to subtly quiz him on the Sports Network demise and the debt implications?

It maybe that boxing journalists are reluctant to go over the issue as they may find their accreditation to future Warren shows withdrawn which may make it harder to make a living out of a niche sport (I believe, but am not certain, that this has happened in the recent past.)

Theres a big thing ATM about this happening with the UFC too.

Good thing here is some competition coming through in UK boxing promotions.

[Bricks]

Re a degale-groves rematch....am i hearing this right.

Old frankie boy has taken it upon himself to start demanding a shot?.......

Can you beleive this impertinence?......frankie wants a shot so bad......i say someone should give him a shot........for degale to get groves back in the ring.....

[whicker]

In the post fight interview , he actually said something like "I'll ask the British Board of Control to Order an immediate rematch."

What the f....???

Thats not how it works.

This was close but not controversial. The board (quite rightly) shouldn't sanction rematches just because the decision was close. Let the challenger earn a rematch. (or skip it and go for another belt...).