He probably did - just a shame he was bankrupt when he moved over to Matchroom.Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑10 Oct 2020, 18:15Sure he made some good money with Hearn afterwards.
Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
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maverick23
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Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
Titanic fight ‘small purse’ – Court hears suggestions Frampton was under paid for Martinez win
Court told world title bout attracted £100,000 government grant and punters paying up to £750, but Belfast boxer's share under scrutiny
A Titanic Quarter world title fight attracted a government grant of £100,000 and a huge crowd with punters prepared to pay up to £750, but boxer Carl Frampton walked away from the win with a "small purse", the High Court heard yesterday.
Barry McGuigan and his wife Sandra negotiated directly with the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service David Sterling ahead of the September 2014 IBF super bantamweight title fight, the court heard as the Clones Cyclone endured a second day of cross-examination.
Mr McGuigan's company, Cyclone Promotions, received the £100,000 grant, while Mr Frampton's opponent Kiko Martinez pocketed more than £400,000 for the outdoor event that attracted thousands of people.
Mr Frampton received approximately £146,000, a "small purse" despite being the draw and the "reason for that huge audience", the boxer's counsel, Gavin Millar QC, suggested to Mr McGuigan.
"That was a very good purse, fighting the reigning champion, at home in his backyard," Mr McGuigan said.
Mr Frampton (33) is suing over the alleged non-payment of up to £6m in purse fees, broadcasting rights, ticket sales and merchandising during a four-year partnership that dissolved in acrimony in 2017.
A countersuit for breach of contract has been filed against the boxer by Mr McGuigan and his son Blain.
Mr McGuigan, who was provided with a magnifying glass after saying at an earlier hearing he had difficulty reading the small print on documents placed before him, was questioned by Mr Millar about ticket sales and other financial information.
VIPs including Rory McIlroy and Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody directly paid a company controlled by Mr McGuigan for tickets to Mr Frampton's two high profile fights in New York and Las Vegas, the court heard.
The money was then moved into another account linked to Cyclone Promotions, which Mr McGuigan, or family, is accused of using for personal benefit, including at an oyster bar, an antiques store and a Christmas Eve dinner at a Indian restaurant, it was claimed.
Mr McGuigan repeatedly answered questions about the company account and the sale of tickets by stating he knew little about finances.
Several times, Mr McGuigan told the court that counsel would have to ask his wife Sandra, son Blaine or his accountants about finances.
"That is not my domain," he said at one point. "I did not do finances", "accounts", or "look at those sort of things", he said during the hearing.
The court heard a Cyclone Promotions company account was allegedly used to pay restaurants, a clothes shop, antiques store and a furniture shop.
Bills paid through it were said to include:
*£250 at a department store in Canterbury
*£260 to a vet in Whitstable
*£270 at an antiques store near Canterbury
*£350 at a luxury furniture-maker in London
*£365 at Marks & Spencer in Canterbury
*£48 at a Tandoori restaurant in Canterbury on Christmas Eve
Mr Millar asked: "These are McGuigan family personal expenses being paid out of this account, aren't they?"
"It appears so, yes," Mr McGuigan replied, but added he had no knowledge of the details of the spending. The barrister suggested that using a company for personal expenses was one of the reasons Mr McGuigan was disqualified as a company director in 1996. Mr McGuigan agreed.
It is Mr Frampton's claim that he was promised a 30% share of profits to go into partnership with his ex-manager in another Northern Ireland-based Cyclone Promotions company.
But Mr McGuigan categorically rejected the allegations. "That's a joke. That's just nonsense," he said.
"The amount of money that we paid him, how could we possibly have been able to pay him 30%, that's nonsense, That's proper nonsense."
While Mr Frampton was named as a director of the company after he parted ways with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom organisation, the boxer "never once asked for accounts because he was being paid fantastic money", Mr McGuigan said.
During his evidence he stressed repeatedly that his focus was always on looking after his fighters, leaving others to deal with the financial side of the business.
However, Mr Millar claimed: "The idea was for this company to be a vehicle for McGuigan family members to earn money for themselves from the efforts of my client in the ring.
"That's why all those other family members were made directors of this company."
Mr McGuigan replied: "That's untrue, he got paid more than anybody else was willing to pay him, and handled perfectly and managed excellently to win him three world titles at different weight divisions. I don't know how I could have done a better job."
Asked why his wife Sandra, and sons Jake, Blain and Shane were made directors in the company, he said: "Because they worked their cotton socks off to make that young man a success.
"They worked exceptionally hard; long days, day after day after day, months after months to get him to where he had to be, I believed he could be, and I was right."
In negotiations ahead of receiving the £100,000 grant for the Titanic Quarter clash, Mr McGuigan represented himself as the promoter and described himself as Cyclone Promotions chief executive when signing an acceptance form, the court heard. But "we were working together as a team" and "I was the biggest name" and that was the reason "I was the one meeting government officials", said Mr McGuigan, adding that he was able to speak to Peter Robinson, the then First Minister.
Mr Millar put it to him that the negotiations surrounding the Martinez fight, with the government, television executives and others, was a "classic example" of a conflict of interest swirling around Mr McGuigan's position as both manager and promoter.
Mr Frampton received a "very small proportion" of the overall revenue generated from the event, Mr Millar suggested.
"It was not a small proportion of the income... it was a great opportunity, he won, succeeded," said Mr McGuigan.
The court heard also that Spaniard Martinez's purse of £427,845 was paid by a businessman named Christian Saunders, named earlier in court as Cyclone Promotion's main financial backer in its early days, "All the money was paid back," Mr McGuigan said.
"He gave me a substantial amount... he loved being around the fighters and did not want a big profit... he was a very wealthy guy," he said.
Mr McGuigan was questioned about the tickets sold for the boxer's various fights, including the world title bouts against Leo Santa Cruz.
Mr Millar noted, citing documents, that the number of complimentary tickets given to Cyclone was much larger than those given to Matchroom when that company was promoting the fighter. The percentage rose from 6.6% to between 12.25 and 17% in the first three Cyclone-promoted fights.
The court heard Mr McIlroy paid £1,280 into a Cyclone Promotions account for tickets for the first fight against Santa Cruz in New York in July 2016.
"He sat close to me," Mr McGuigan confirmed.
"It could be that he bought tickets for his colleagues, he had a couple of people with him, so that could have been for them.
"I would imagine Rory would have got a seat anywhere in the world for free."
But Mr Millar put it to him: "Nobody discussed with Mr Frampton charging Rory McIlroy for a ticket, did they?"
Tickets bought for the rematch with Santa Cruz in Las Vegas in January 2017 also came under scrutiny.
Mr Lightbody paid £2,000, the court heard, while television and radio presenter Colin Murray paid £750.
"Again, nobody spoke to Mr Frampton about these people being charged for tickets for his fights, did they?" counsel asked.
Mr McGuigan told him: "You go along to watch him fight, you expect them to pay for their tickets. That's the business, it has to work that way otherwise why not let everybody in for free."
He said he was sure that all of the money had been accounted for and put through the accounts.
"It was all straight and above board," he added.
The case continues.
Court told world title bout attracted £100,000 government grant and punters paying up to £750, but Belfast boxer's share under scrutiny
A Titanic Quarter world title fight attracted a government grant of £100,000 and a huge crowd with punters prepared to pay up to £750, but boxer Carl Frampton walked away from the win with a "small purse", the High Court heard yesterday.
Barry McGuigan and his wife Sandra negotiated directly with the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service David Sterling ahead of the September 2014 IBF super bantamweight title fight, the court heard as the Clones Cyclone endured a second day of cross-examination.
Mr McGuigan's company, Cyclone Promotions, received the £100,000 grant, while Mr Frampton's opponent Kiko Martinez pocketed more than £400,000 for the outdoor event that attracted thousands of people.
Mr Frampton received approximately £146,000, a "small purse" despite being the draw and the "reason for that huge audience", the boxer's counsel, Gavin Millar QC, suggested to Mr McGuigan.
"That was a very good purse, fighting the reigning champion, at home in his backyard," Mr McGuigan said.
Mr Frampton (33) is suing over the alleged non-payment of up to £6m in purse fees, broadcasting rights, ticket sales and merchandising during a four-year partnership that dissolved in acrimony in 2017.
A countersuit for breach of contract has been filed against the boxer by Mr McGuigan and his son Blain.
Mr McGuigan, who was provided with a magnifying glass after saying at an earlier hearing he had difficulty reading the small print on documents placed before him, was questioned by Mr Millar about ticket sales and other financial information.
VIPs including Rory McIlroy and Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody directly paid a company controlled by Mr McGuigan for tickets to Mr Frampton's two high profile fights in New York and Las Vegas, the court heard.
The money was then moved into another account linked to Cyclone Promotions, which Mr McGuigan, or family, is accused of using for personal benefit, including at an oyster bar, an antiques store and a Christmas Eve dinner at a Indian restaurant, it was claimed.
Mr McGuigan repeatedly answered questions about the company account and the sale of tickets by stating he knew little about finances.
Several times, Mr McGuigan told the court that counsel would have to ask his wife Sandra, son Blaine or his accountants about finances.
"That is not my domain," he said at one point. "I did not do finances", "accounts", or "look at those sort of things", he said during the hearing.
The court heard a Cyclone Promotions company account was allegedly used to pay restaurants, a clothes shop, antiques store and a furniture shop.
Bills paid through it were said to include:
*£250 at a department store in Canterbury
*£260 to a vet in Whitstable
*£270 at an antiques store near Canterbury
*£350 at a luxury furniture-maker in London
*£365 at Marks & Spencer in Canterbury
*£48 at a Tandoori restaurant in Canterbury on Christmas Eve
Mr Millar asked: "These are McGuigan family personal expenses being paid out of this account, aren't they?"
"It appears so, yes," Mr McGuigan replied, but added he had no knowledge of the details of the spending. The barrister suggested that using a company for personal expenses was one of the reasons Mr McGuigan was disqualified as a company director in 1996. Mr McGuigan agreed.
It is Mr Frampton's claim that he was promised a 30% share of profits to go into partnership with his ex-manager in another Northern Ireland-based Cyclone Promotions company.
But Mr McGuigan categorically rejected the allegations. "That's a joke. That's just nonsense," he said.
"The amount of money that we paid him, how could we possibly have been able to pay him 30%, that's nonsense, That's proper nonsense."
While Mr Frampton was named as a director of the company after he parted ways with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom organisation, the boxer "never once asked for accounts because he was being paid fantastic money", Mr McGuigan said.
During his evidence he stressed repeatedly that his focus was always on looking after his fighters, leaving others to deal with the financial side of the business.
However, Mr Millar claimed: "The idea was for this company to be a vehicle for McGuigan family members to earn money for themselves from the efforts of my client in the ring.
"That's why all those other family members were made directors of this company."
Mr McGuigan replied: "That's untrue, he got paid more than anybody else was willing to pay him, and handled perfectly and managed excellently to win him three world titles at different weight divisions. I don't know how I could have done a better job."
Asked why his wife Sandra, and sons Jake, Blain and Shane were made directors in the company, he said: "Because they worked their cotton socks off to make that young man a success.
"They worked exceptionally hard; long days, day after day after day, months after months to get him to where he had to be, I believed he could be, and I was right."
In negotiations ahead of receiving the £100,000 grant for the Titanic Quarter clash, Mr McGuigan represented himself as the promoter and described himself as Cyclone Promotions chief executive when signing an acceptance form, the court heard. But "we were working together as a team" and "I was the biggest name" and that was the reason "I was the one meeting government officials", said Mr McGuigan, adding that he was able to speak to Peter Robinson, the then First Minister.
Mr Millar put it to him that the negotiations surrounding the Martinez fight, with the government, television executives and others, was a "classic example" of a conflict of interest swirling around Mr McGuigan's position as both manager and promoter.
Mr Frampton received a "very small proportion" of the overall revenue generated from the event, Mr Millar suggested.
"It was not a small proportion of the income... it was a great opportunity, he won, succeeded," said Mr McGuigan.
The court heard also that Spaniard Martinez's purse of £427,845 was paid by a businessman named Christian Saunders, named earlier in court as Cyclone Promotion's main financial backer in its early days, "All the money was paid back," Mr McGuigan said.
"He gave me a substantial amount... he loved being around the fighters and did not want a big profit... he was a very wealthy guy," he said.
Mr McGuigan was questioned about the tickets sold for the boxer's various fights, including the world title bouts against Leo Santa Cruz.
Mr Millar noted, citing documents, that the number of complimentary tickets given to Cyclone was much larger than those given to Matchroom when that company was promoting the fighter. The percentage rose from 6.6% to between 12.25 and 17% in the first three Cyclone-promoted fights.
The court heard Mr McIlroy paid £1,280 into a Cyclone Promotions account for tickets for the first fight against Santa Cruz in New York in July 2016.
"He sat close to me," Mr McGuigan confirmed.
"It could be that he bought tickets for his colleagues, he had a couple of people with him, so that could have been for them.
"I would imagine Rory would have got a seat anywhere in the world for free."
But Mr Millar put it to him: "Nobody discussed with Mr Frampton charging Rory McIlroy for a ticket, did they?"
Tickets bought for the rematch with Santa Cruz in Las Vegas in January 2017 also came under scrutiny.
Mr Lightbody paid £2,000, the court heard, while television and radio presenter Colin Murray paid £750.
"Again, nobody spoke to Mr Frampton about these people being charged for tickets for his fights, did they?" counsel asked.
Mr McGuigan told him: "You go along to watch him fight, you expect them to pay for their tickets. That's the business, it has to work that way otherwise why not let everybody in for free."
He said he was sure that all of the money had been accounted for and put through the accounts.
"It was all straight and above board," he added.
The case continues.
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Counter-puncher
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 39141
- Joined: 20 May 2008, 11:41
Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
oh, I'm sure they did.Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑12 Oct 2020, 07:48 Asked why his wife Sandra, and sons Jake, Blain and Shane were made directors in the company, he said: "Because they worked their cotton socks off to make that young man a success.
"They worked exceptionally hard; long days, day after day after day, months after months to get him to where he had to be, I believed he could be, and I was right."
I'm sure that Sandra, and Jake, and Blain, all worked very 'long days'. for month, after month, after month. he doesn't say exactly what they were doing ('admin'?), but I'm sure it was very hard and long-lasting graft, whatever it was
no wonder they ended up eating out at so many restaurants... too exhausted from their long, long days to cook for themselves, the poor things.
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jameswilson
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 13363
- Joined: 08 Jan 2004, 18:01
Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
I have no recollection of that.
Oh right so we’re you in Canterbury on Xmas eve that year?
Yeah.
Did you have an Indian that evening,
Yeah you’re right how do you know that.
Well it seems you paid for that dinner using company money,
Oh. .....whoops!
Oh right so we’re you in Canterbury on Xmas eve that year?
Yeah.
Did you have an Indian that evening,
Yeah you’re right how do you know that.
Well it seems you paid for that dinner using company money,
Oh. .....whoops!
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Boxerbeetle
- Light Heavyweight
- Posts: 32661
- Joined: 19 Sep 2011, 10:59
Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
“Mr Millar asked: "These are McGuigan family personal expenses being paid out of this account, aren't they?"
"It appears so, yes," Mr McGuigan replied, but added he had no knowledge of the details of the spending. The barrister suggested that using a company for personal expenses was one of the reasons Mr McGuigan was disqualified as a company director in 1996. Mr McGuigan agreed.”
Wtf
"It appears so, yes," Mr McGuigan replied, but added he had no knowledge of the details of the spending. The barrister suggested that using a company for personal expenses was one of the reasons Mr McGuigan was disqualified as a company director in 1996. Mr McGuigan agreed.”
Wtf
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Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
- Posts: 100766
- Joined: 24 Apr 2016, 11:59
Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
TBH, Both McGuigan and Frampton are being made to look like fools on the stand..
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maverick23
- Cruiserweight
- Posts: 10375
- Joined: 26 Feb 2011, 18:20
Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
Quigg was bang on.
I’m also very surprised how big a purse Martinez received. Surely they could have got him to defend against Frampton for less than that?! Wonder if he actually received £400k+ for it?!
I’m also very surprised how big a purse Martinez received. Surely they could have got him to defend against Frampton for less than that?! Wonder if he actually received £400k+ for it?!
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maverick23
- Cruiserweight
- Posts: 10375
- Joined: 26 Feb 2011, 18:20
Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
Frampton’s being made to look like a fool. Mcguigan is being made to look like a thief.Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑12 Oct 2020, 08:14 TBH, Both McGuigan and Frampton are being made to look like fools on the stand..
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Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
- Posts: 100766
- Joined: 24 Apr 2016, 11:59
Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
Sometimes it costs if you want a title.. They probably offered Kiko, he probaby negotiated it as a cash out..maverick23 wrote: ↑12 Oct 2020, 08:22 Quigg was bang on.
I’m also very surprised how big a purse Martinez received. Surely they could have got him to defend against Frampton for less than that?! Wonder if he actually received £400k+ for it?!
It's kind of like Martin vs. AJ.
Only difference is, it was Martin who offered AJ. Basically saying, you want the IBF belt? It's yours, just give me £6m.
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jameswilson
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 13363
- Joined: 08 Jan 2004, 18:01
Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
At the time they were under pressure having left Matchroom. Had Quigg got a genuine World title before Frampton it would have been big news. As it was Frampton getting Martine over and beating him was big. Remember that first defence against the American where they had Quigg in the ring afterwards.maverick23 wrote: ↑12 Oct 2020, 08:22 Quigg was bang on.
I’m also very surprised how big a purse Martinez received. Surely they could have got him to defend against Frampton for less than that?! Wonder if he actually received £400k+ for it?!
Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
Martinez getting 70% as champion is quite reasonable and I bet he was very happy with purse.jameswilson wrote: ↑12 Oct 2020, 09:07At the time they were under pressure having left Matchroom. Had Quigg got a genuine World title before Frampton it would have been big news. As it was Frampton getting Martine over and beating him was big. Remember that first defence against the American where they had Quigg in the ring afterwards.maverick23 wrote: ↑12 Oct 2020, 08:22 Quigg was bang on.
I’m also very surprised how big a purse Martinez received. Surely they could have got him to defend against Frampton for less than that?! Wonder if he actually received £400k+ for it?!
However that show generated a lot of money, government grants, big outdoor crowd, tv too.
For sure Martinez wasn't the biggest earner that night.
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Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
- Posts: 100766
- Joined: 24 Apr 2016, 11:59
Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
Depends if it was even a purse bid.. I know the first bout for the European belt went to purse bid.Coco wrote: ↑12 Oct 2020, 09:14Martinez getting 70% as champion is quite reasonable and I bet he was very happy with purse.jameswilson wrote: ↑12 Oct 2020, 09:07At the time they were under pressure having left Matchroom. Had Quigg got a genuine World title before Frampton it would have been big news. As it was Frampton getting Martine over and beating him was big. Remember that first defence against the American where they had Quigg in the ring afterwards.maverick23 wrote: ↑12 Oct 2020, 08:22 Quigg was bang on.
I’m also very surprised how big a purse Martinez received. Surely they could have got him to defend against Frampton for less than that?! Wonder if he actually received £400k+ for it?!
However that show generated a lot of money, government grants, big outdoor crowd, tv too.
For sure Martinez wasn't the biggest earner that night.
The second bout was a voluntary challenge, but obviously, Kiko wasn't going to just give it them on a low amount, he would want to be paid well to travel and defend his belt in a hostile location.
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maverick23
- Cruiserweight
- Posts: 10375
- Joined: 26 Feb 2011, 18:20
Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
Yeah - I get that re: getting a fight if you’re not the mandatory. I’m just surprised it needed near half a million to get the fight signed. I wouldn’t have thought the other champs at the time would have been getting that kind of money - would have been equivalent to $700k!Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑12 Oct 2020, 08:55Sometimes it costs if you want a title.. They probably offered Kiko, he probaby negotiated it as a cash out..maverick23 wrote: ↑12 Oct 2020, 08:22 Quigg was bang on.
I’m also very surprised how big a purse Martinez received. Surely they could have got him to defend against Frampton for less than that?! Wonder if he actually received £400k+ for it?!
It's kind of like Martin vs. AJ.
Only difference is, it was Martin who offered AJ. Basically saying, you want the IBF belt? It's yours, just give me £6m.
I can understand paying Martin loads as the value of a heavyweight title is massive
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Black Sam Bellamy
- Heavyweight
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- Joined: 25 Sep 2008, 13:51
Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
I always thought Frampton came across as an intelligent bloke. Obviously not.
Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
Like i've said before , while McGuigan's KIDS WERE IN SCHOOL LEARNING abc Frampton would of been in the gym learning left , right , left hookBlack Sam Bellamy wrote: ↑13 Oct 2020, 02:15 I always thought Frampton came across as an intelligent bloke. Obviously not.
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Counter-puncher
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 39141
- Joined: 20 May 2008, 11:41
Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
mmmm me too.Black Sam Bellamy wrote: ↑13 Oct 2020, 02:15 I always thought Frampton came across as an intelligent bloke. Obviously not.
having said that, a great deal of Bazza's testimony leaves me with the feeling that he can't possibly be that stupid, and I'm pretty sure he isn't, he's just trying to plead ignorance ('Sandra used to take care of that'
) as the alternative is worse. So i guess (obviously there will be a lot of stuff that hasn't and won't come to light in the court case) there's a chance that Frampton's testimony simply makes him seem like he is a bit thick, because the alternative is admitting stuff that makes him look worse than thick. if that makes sense -
Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
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- Joined: 24 Apr 2016, 11:59
Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
He knows his boxing, that's for sure.Black Sam Bellamy wrote: ↑13 Oct 2020, 02:15 I always thought Frampton came across as an intelligent bloke. Obviously not.
Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
Sounds like they need to get Sandra in the dock.
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Counter-puncher
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 39141
- Joined: 20 May 2008, 11:41
Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
I've heard a few stories over the years about Sandra but tbh I always found her quite a nice woman when I briefly worked with them. Never lent her my debit card though lol so can't say for sure.
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Counter-puncher
- Heavyweight
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Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
I imagine you have, for a start any time you chased Bazza for money he'd instantly say 'Sandra deals with all of that, mate', I'm sure
Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
Saying nothing haha.
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Counter-puncher
- Heavyweight
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Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
or if you happened to run into him when you owed him a few quid, 'bazza mate I've got that thousand quid I owe you, cash ok?', and Bazza absolutely wouldn't trouser it, he'd refer you to Sandra 'but i've got the cash on me now baz' 'no mate, sandra deals with the finances, I don't get involved, let her have it next time you see her, I'm just busy, errrm, making sure the fighters are ready and errrrrm supervising all the huge mounds of work that Blain and Jake have got to do, it's nonstop mate, all day for them'
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jameswilson
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 13363
- Joined: 08 Jan 2004, 18:01
Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
They all came out the woodwork for Frampton v Quigg. Not sure I saw Blaine in any fights previous or since.
Although in saying that Eddie Hearn said it was mostly Blaine that he was negotiating things with as Barry would just be too stubborn, bitter and long in the tooth.
Although in saying that Eddie Hearn said it was mostly Blaine that he was negotiating things with as Barry would just be too stubborn, bitter and long in the tooth.
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Ruthless-RKO
- Welterweight
- Posts: 100766
- Joined: 24 Apr 2016, 11:59
Re: Cyclone / Frampton Court Case
Barry McGuigan says High Court claims he had Carl Frampton tied to 'slave contract' are "nonsense"
He also denied manipulating figures to declare a loss from Mr Frampton's world title contests staged in Belfast
Boxing manager Barry McGuigan today branded High Court claims that he had Carl Frampton tied to a so-called slave contact as "nonsense".
Mr McGuigan rejected allegations that the fighter was under "lock and key" at the height of his career to stop him from exploring other opportunities.
He also denied manipulating figures to declare a loss from Mr Frampton's world title contests staged in Belfast.
He insisted: "We never tried to pull the wool over Carl Frampton's eyes, ever."
The two sports stars are locked in a legal battle over the acrimonious ending of their partnership in 2017.
Mr Frampton, 33, is suing his ex-manager and Cyclone Promotions for alleged withheld earnings of up to £6m.
In a counter-suit, Mr McGuigan is claiming against the Belfast-born boxer for breach of contract.
Both men deny the respective allegations against them.
As his cross-examination continued on day twelve of the case, Mr McGuigan was pressed on an International Promotional Agreement (IPA) signed in 2015.
The court heard the deal involved the rights to Mr Frampton's fights for three years, and could potentially be extended by nearly two more years.
According to counsel for the boxer, Gavin Millar QC, a clause prohibited his client from any other promotional contracts. "It's lock and key, isn't it?" he suggested.
"You might as well have put the handcuffs on him."
Mr McGuigan insisted the arrangement provided the "flexibility" for the boxer to work with other promoters.
"He got the very best fights available to him and he got the best money," he said.
But the barrister cited a term Mr McGuigan used in his memoir about an arrangement from his own boxing days. "It is a slave contract, isn't it Mr McGuigan?" he asked.
Rejecting the characterisation, Mr McGuigan replied: "That's a nonsense comment if you look at what happened with his career.
"Look at the opportunities he had, look at the success he had and the amount of money he made, that is a ridiculous comment."
It was put to him that at that point in Mr Frampton's career, having just won a world title, he could have "tested the market" for promotional opportunities.
Again, however, Mr McGuigan described the suggestion as "ridiculous" and pointed to how he guided the boxer.
"He got the very best fights out there in the super-bantamweight division, avoided the danger men and got wonderful opportunities and made lots of money.
"I don't know how I could have handled his career better, I really don't."
He was told that it would would have been in the boxer's interests to see what other deals were on offer.
"(The IPA) copper-bottom guaranteed cast-iron rights over the rest of his career for nearly five years," Mr Millar submitted.
He suggested the boxer might have been tempted by a "bigger, better promoter", and that the manager wanted to prevent that happening.
"It worked both ways," Mr McGuigan answered.
"Obviously we gave him the best opportunity, but I'm not sitting here and saying we didn't want to be protected ourselves given the efforts we put in too."
When it was put to him that his son Blain was named promoter to avoid any questions about a potential conflict of interests, he responded: "I disagree, there was no conflict, we got him the very best opportunities and he got the best results. That's it."
Ticket sales, purse fees and sponsorship arrangements for some of the boxer's big hometown shows in Belfast also came under scrutiny.
In September 2014 Mr Frampton defeated Kiko Martinez in front of a crowd of up to 16,000 at Belfast's Titanic Quarter to take the IBF world super-bantamweight title.
The court heard tickets worth just over £1m in total were available for the fight, excluding 855 complimentary seats provided to Cyclone Promotions.
Sales at the venue were said to have been £485,000, with the company having £557,000 worth of the tickets.
Mr McGuigan repeatedly stated that he didn't deal with the financial side of the business, focusing instead on looking after his fighters in the gym.
"I'm going to have to sound like a broken record, but that was not my domain," he said.
Referring to figures given for the contest, Mr Millar said a loss of £120,000 was reported on declared income of £1.3m.
The loss was attributed to figures given for sales and expenses, and a refusal to allocate £333,000 as sponsorship, the court heard.
"You manipulated the figures to make it look like this fight was loss-making, when in fact it wasn't." the barrister said.
Mr McGuigan replied: "No, we didn't manipulate the figures, no."
When told there are no contemporaneous accounting documents for the fight, he said: "I can't help you with that, you may ask the accountants."
Up to 12 private sector businesses were involved in sponsoring the show, the court was told, but only one paid money.
"We tried very hard, we did everything we could to get sponsorship, but it's very difficult to come by these days, it's just nigh-on impossible unless you're Anthony Joshua," Mr McGuigan said.
It was then put to him: "Your evidence on this is not true, and you did receive sponsorship income, and you're just trying to keep it out of the accounting for this fight for the purposes of these proceedings." But Mr McGuigan maintained: "That is not true."
The hearing continues.
He also denied manipulating figures to declare a loss from Mr Frampton's world title contests staged in Belfast
Boxing manager Barry McGuigan today branded High Court claims that he had Carl Frampton tied to a so-called slave contact as "nonsense".
Mr McGuigan rejected allegations that the fighter was under "lock and key" at the height of his career to stop him from exploring other opportunities.
He also denied manipulating figures to declare a loss from Mr Frampton's world title contests staged in Belfast.
He insisted: "We never tried to pull the wool over Carl Frampton's eyes, ever."
The two sports stars are locked in a legal battle over the acrimonious ending of their partnership in 2017.
Mr Frampton, 33, is suing his ex-manager and Cyclone Promotions for alleged withheld earnings of up to £6m.
In a counter-suit, Mr McGuigan is claiming against the Belfast-born boxer for breach of contract.
Both men deny the respective allegations against them.
As his cross-examination continued on day twelve of the case, Mr McGuigan was pressed on an International Promotional Agreement (IPA) signed in 2015.
The court heard the deal involved the rights to Mr Frampton's fights for three years, and could potentially be extended by nearly two more years.
According to counsel for the boxer, Gavin Millar QC, a clause prohibited his client from any other promotional contracts. "It's lock and key, isn't it?" he suggested.
"You might as well have put the handcuffs on him."
Mr McGuigan insisted the arrangement provided the "flexibility" for the boxer to work with other promoters.
"He got the very best fights available to him and he got the best money," he said.
But the barrister cited a term Mr McGuigan used in his memoir about an arrangement from his own boxing days. "It is a slave contract, isn't it Mr McGuigan?" he asked.
Rejecting the characterisation, Mr McGuigan replied: "That's a nonsense comment if you look at what happened with his career.
"Look at the opportunities he had, look at the success he had and the amount of money he made, that is a ridiculous comment."
It was put to him that at that point in Mr Frampton's career, having just won a world title, he could have "tested the market" for promotional opportunities.
Again, however, Mr McGuigan described the suggestion as "ridiculous" and pointed to how he guided the boxer.
"He got the very best fights out there in the super-bantamweight division, avoided the danger men and got wonderful opportunities and made lots of money.
"I don't know how I could have handled his career better, I really don't."
He was told that it would would have been in the boxer's interests to see what other deals were on offer.
"(The IPA) copper-bottom guaranteed cast-iron rights over the rest of his career for nearly five years," Mr Millar submitted.
He suggested the boxer might have been tempted by a "bigger, better promoter", and that the manager wanted to prevent that happening.
"It worked both ways," Mr McGuigan answered.
"Obviously we gave him the best opportunity, but I'm not sitting here and saying we didn't want to be protected ourselves given the efforts we put in too."
When it was put to him that his son Blain was named promoter to avoid any questions about a potential conflict of interests, he responded: "I disagree, there was no conflict, we got him the very best opportunities and he got the best results. That's it."
Ticket sales, purse fees and sponsorship arrangements for some of the boxer's big hometown shows in Belfast also came under scrutiny.
In September 2014 Mr Frampton defeated Kiko Martinez in front of a crowd of up to 16,000 at Belfast's Titanic Quarter to take the IBF world super-bantamweight title.
The court heard tickets worth just over £1m in total were available for the fight, excluding 855 complimentary seats provided to Cyclone Promotions.
Sales at the venue were said to have been £485,000, with the company having £557,000 worth of the tickets.
Mr McGuigan repeatedly stated that he didn't deal with the financial side of the business, focusing instead on looking after his fighters in the gym.
"I'm going to have to sound like a broken record, but that was not my domain," he said.
Referring to figures given for the contest, Mr Millar said a loss of £120,000 was reported on declared income of £1.3m.
The loss was attributed to figures given for sales and expenses, and a refusal to allocate £333,000 as sponsorship, the court heard.
"You manipulated the figures to make it look like this fight was loss-making, when in fact it wasn't." the barrister said.
Mr McGuigan replied: "No, we didn't manipulate the figures, no."
When told there are no contemporaneous accounting documents for the fight, he said: "I can't help you with that, you may ask the accountants."
Up to 12 private sector businesses were involved in sponsoring the show, the court was told, but only one paid money.
"We tried very hard, we did everything we could to get sponsorship, but it's very difficult to come by these days, it's just nigh-on impossible unless you're Anthony Joshua," Mr McGuigan said.
It was then put to him: "Your evidence on this is not true, and you did receive sponsorship income, and you're just trying to keep it out of the accounting for this fight for the purposes of these proceedings." But Mr McGuigan maintained: "That is not true."
The hearing continues.