A defence of Mick Hennessy

[wrimc]

Mick Hennessy is a name that will often evoke some harsh reactions amongst boxing fans often derided as "Fat Mick" he is a man who many believe nearly squandered the career of Carl Froch. He has been constantly berated for his poor promotion.

I feel that this is an unfair criticism and would like to state the claim that Hennessy is one of our best promoters.

This may be an impassioned response as it was watching Fight Nights on ITV4 that got me into regularly watching boxing and converting me from a casual to a hardcore fan and for this I am ever grateful.

The primary charge I see leveled at Mick is that he "ruined" Frochs mainstream career and was a poor promoter not getting Froch the exposure that is star deserved. I think this is harsh as Carl's rise to prominence coincided with the start of the recession and the ultimate end of Hennessys terrestrial contract. Before this however he had delivered Froch in a FOTY candidate at primetime on ITV. This apparently was not enough to save his contract. He then placed Froch in at the deep end in the US against Taylor, before getting him a place in the S6 not bad promotion if I say so myself. The fact he was blacklisted from Sky should not be held as a mark against him. When inferior shows and headliners were fighting whilst Froch was banished to Primetime.

Hennessy had at one time Froch, Barker, Fury, Witter, Murray all in his stable. Those that have left have gone onto big fights however I dont think any of those would have been void of the same opportunities under Hennessy.

I think his prospect matchmaking is very good if you look at Froch, Fury and more recently Eubank he rarely puts fighters in matches that dont demonstrate some sort of progression. His ability to bounce back with a terrestrial tv deal despite these setbacks demonstrates he is a survivor I am in no doubt that. Fury, Degale and Galahad will all get big fights in 2013.... on terrestrial tv.

Mick Hennessy I salute you!

[twenty six]

The fact that you feel he needs defending is a bit weird.

[Dan Dares]

A lot of people saw the Fury v Chisora fight as his last serious throw of the dice. It looks like he 'bounced' back, and i think chunky and meaty will go on to get a world title.

[chad]

I don't really have a problem with Mick. Felt sorry for him when ITV left him high and dry. He's doing a good job on Channel 5 but needs to tone down some of the cringe worthy praise he gives his fighters in post fight interviews.

I think Mick is maybe 1 or 2 fighters away from having a really solid stable. One of the 2012 Olympians plus tempting John Murray back would be ideal.

[Dan Dares]

He's doing a good job on Channel 5 but needs to tone down some of the cringe worthy praise he gives his fighters in post fight interviews.

I actually really like it, I think it's funny and I've no problem with promoters going over the top a bit, that's their job to an extent.

When TV presenters and journalists do it, it winds me up.

[Khaosai-Galaxy]

The fact that you feel he needs defending is a bit weird.

Yeah, i know what you mean.

He "defense" was a bit flimsy too, just a list of excuses.

[Bronxbull666]

I don't hate Fat Mick, just think the way he has handled his top fighters recently is very poor. Fury shouldn't be fighting the 40th best boxer in America when he's generally accepted as a top 10 heavy. Not saying Fury should be fighting Klitschkos just yet, but there are better fights that won't tarnish his reputation. DeGale's opponent is a joke, Galahad needs to be making some noise now, before Quigg and Frampton disappear off his radar. I do think Galahad is being reasonably matched though, as is Eubank Jr, that needs to continue for Jr, but Galahad needs to step up now.

ITV missed a trick with the boxing, it was good to see the whole card on ITV4 before the main event on ITV. Froch's attitude stunk at the time and he didn't help himself or Mick. Mick should have told him to zip it!

[mickey1975]

I don't hate Fat Mick, just think the way he has handled his top fighters recently is very poor. Fury shouldn't be fighting the 40th best boxer in America when he's generally accepted as a top 10 heavy. Not saying Fury should be fighting Klitschkos just yet, but there are better fights that won't tarnish his reputation. DeGale's opponent is a joke, Galahad needs to be making some noise now, before Quigg and Frampton disappear off his radar. I do think Galahad is being reasonably matched though, as is Eubank Jr, that needs to continue for Jr, but Galahad needs to step up now.

ITV missed a trick with the boxing, it was good to see the whole card on ITV4 before the main event on ITV. Froch's attitude stunk at the time and he didn't help himself or Mick. Mick should have told him to zip it!

That's a good point. I could not stand Froch at the time and neither could a few of my mates who watched. He certainly did not endear himself to viewers.

[Bronxbull666]

I don't hate Fat Mick, just think the way he has handled his top fighters recently is very poor. Fury shouldn't be fighting the 40th best boxer in America when he's generally accepted as a top 10 heavy. Not saying Fury should be fighting Klitschkos just yet, but there are better fights that won't tarnish his reputation. DeGale's opponent is a joke, Galahad needs to be making some noise now, before Quigg and Frampton disappear off his radar. I do think Galahad is being reasonably matched though, as is Eubank Jr, that needs to continue for Jr, but Galahad needs to step up now.

ITV missed a trick with the boxing, it was good to see the whole card on ITV4 before the main event on ITV. Froch's attitude stunk at the time and he didn't help himself or Mick. Mick should have told him to zip it!

That's a good point. I could not stand Froch at the time and neither could a few of my mates who watched. He certainly did not endear himself to viewers.

He is a bit outspoken, has been misquoted a few times, but I've grown to like him more of late, Rinside with Calzaghe was good and Eddie Hearn is nice guy and doesn't have to talk trash.

[josh fg]

He puts on some good shows, he's also over matched some of his rising stars a bit too hard in my opinion - David Walker would be a good example, also Matthew Thirwall was a fighter who never reached his potential.

I think where he cops flack is because he's a smaller promoter than some others his press team sees the need to use trash talking to get people into the ring. Froch never looked like he meant it when trashing others although he seems to have found a dream fighter in Fury.

On DeGale I'm glad he's got a promoter when he was on his own it was an accident waiting to happen, perhaps he can bring himm back in the way that he did with Witter.

[Cholo_cws]

He was the promoter of the boxer with the widely looked upon toughest run of opponents by a British boxer so I don't see why he gets so much flack. I couldn't see allegedly entering his biggest name in a Super Six tournament.

I don't see how Hennessy can be responsible for ITV simply falling out of love with boxing again.