BoxRec

Frank W tells story of the night he was shot by an ‘incompetent lunatic’ and lost half a lung, insists he knows who fired the gun

Frank W remarkably opened up on talkSPORT about the time he was shot and lost half a lung back in 1989.

The Hall of Fame boxing promoter has been involved in the sport for 44 years, but nearly had his life dramatically cut short when he was shot twice by a masked gunman over three decades ago.

When he was 27, Warren was shot twice in the chest

Warren opened up about the incident when he spoke to White and Jordan on talkSPORT.

Asked what he remembers about it, Warren replied: “It hurt! It made me jump!

“It was a surreal moment, it’s not something you were expecting to happen.

“I was just getting out of my car in Barking, Colin McMillan was fighting there. I was getting out the car and I heard a bang. I thought it was a car backfiring.

“I looked around and I’ve seen somebody standing there holding a gun.

First of all I thought it was a joke, I was looking around and I thought, ‘What’s all this about?’

“I could see him shaking a bit, then there was a click and I realised there was another bang and I felt pain in my side.

“What had happened, it had gone in my chest and I was standing at an angle and thankfully it went through my lung – and I lost half a lung – and came out.

“A friend of mine, a barrister called John Buttress, he went, ‘What the — are you doing?’ And he jumped on him.



“I didn’t realise, I suddenly felt this gurgling in my throat and because obviously the blood through my lungs had got into my throat.

“And then I was losing my breath, I went down on one knee and then I remember my late uncle Bob coming out and my brother Robert.

“They were standing over me, they were helping me and they said, ‘Get a doctor, get a doctor.’

“At every show we have doctors and the Boxing Board of Control’s doctor came out. I remember him saying, ‘Have you got a hankerchief?’

“I said, ‘Yeah,’ and he said, ‘Hold it on.’

“At the time the ambulances were all on strike so the next minute they bundled me into the back of a police van.

“They done like a 16-point turn up the curbs and everything.

“And they drove me off to the hospital and that was it.”

Terry Marsh – a boxer formerly represented by Warren who was at the time being sued by the promoter for libel – was charged with attempted murder two months after the shooting.

He was ultimately cleared at the end of a trial and nobody else has ever been convicted of the crime.

When asked if he believes the incident was the case of someone trying to settle a score, Warren replied: “I don’t know about a score being settled, just a lunatic.

“But at the end of the day I’m here doing what I’ve always been doing and that’s all that matters.”

Pressed further as to whether he knows who did it, Warren said: “Yeah, I do now. I didn’t know then but I do know now, yeah.

“You get lunatics, don’t you? The Pope got shot, Ronald Reagan got shot. It happens, doesn’t it? It just happens.

“You find a lunatic and actually an incompetent lunatic at that.

“Very lucky to get away with it.


Warren was the founder and owner of the London Arena

“And even if I knew who it was then – at that time when I was in court, because I wouldn’t want to be committing perjury.

“Had I known who it was then, I still wouldn’t have said because rightly or wrongly that’s the way I was brought up. That’s how it is.

“Afterwards you find out and obviously you wanna settle things, obviously that is in your head.

“My family, I come from Islington, they’re a well-known family in Islington and I know they wanted to sort things out and I just wouldn’t go down that road.

“For me that would’ve been a defeat. My thing was to stay relevant and do what I was trying to do.

“I had a big problem, I had London Arena at the time, we’d built that and it was a massive problem for us, we were just doing a big syndication deal and the banks just backed off with it.

“I was then fighting on two fronts, at the time fighting for my life and fighting to keep my business going.”

31 years later, Warren remains at the forefront of British boxing.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑24 Sep 2020, 10:12

“I was just getting out of my car in Barking, Colin McMillan was fighting there. I was getting out the car and I heard a bang. I thought it was a car backfiring.

“I looked around and I’ve seen somebody standing there holding a gun.

First of all I thought it was a joke, I was looking around and I thought, ‘What’s all this about?’

“I could see him shaking a bit, then there was a click and I realised there was another bang and I felt pain in my side.

“What had happened, it had gone in my chest and I was standing at an angle and thankfully it went through my lung – and I lost half a lung – and came out.

“A friend of mine, a barrister called John Buttress, he went, ‘What the — are you doing?’ And he jumped on him.[/i]

after all these years, solved, it definitely wasn't Terry Marsh.

I very much doubt he would have been shaking.

Counter-puncher wrote: ↑24 Sep 2020, 10:34

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑24 Sep 2020, 10:12

“I was just getting out of my car in Barking, Colin McMillan was fighting there. I was getting out the car and I heard a bang. I thought it was a car backfiring.

“I looked around and I’ve seen somebody standing there holding a gun.

First of all I thought it was a joke, I was looking around and I thought, ‘What’s all this about?’

“I could see him shaking a bit, then there was a click and I realised there was another bang and I felt pain in my side.

“What had happened, it had gone in my chest and I was standing at an angle and thankfully it went through my lung – and I lost half a lung – and came out.

“A friend of mine, a barrister called John Buttress, he went, ‘What the — are you doing?’ And he jumped on him.[/i]

after all these years, solved, it definitely wasn't Terry Marsh.

I very much doubt he would have been shaking.

Youre joking Marsh isnt a professional killer he was a boxer, who im guessing had never shot a person before. Standing in front of a bloke with a gun ready to take his life, im sure he would have been shaking a bit thinking of a life behind bars if the hit didnt come off.

MasterG wrote: ↑24 Sep 2020, 10:57

Counter-puncher wrote: ↑24 Sep 2020, 10:34

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑24 Sep 2020, 10:12

“I was just getting out of my car in Barking, Colin McMillan was fighting there. I was getting out the car and I heard a bang. I thought it was a car backfiring.

“I looked around and I’ve seen somebody standing there holding a gun.

First of all I thought it was a joke, I was looking around and I thought, ‘What’s all this about?’

“I could see him shaking a bit, then there was a click and I realised there was another bang and I felt pain in my side.

“What had happened, it had gone in my chest and I was standing at an angle and thankfully it went through my lung – and I lost half a lung – and came out.

“A friend of mine, a barrister called John Buttress, he went, ‘What the — are you doing?’ And he jumped on him.[/i]

after all these years, solved, it definitely wasn't Terry Marsh.

I very much doubt he would have been shaking.

Youre joking Marsh isnt a professional killer he was a boxer, who im guessing had never shot a person before. Standing in front of a bloke with a gun ready to take his life, im sure he would have been shaking a bit thinking of a life behind bars if the hit didnt come off.

i was being slightly facetious but as a fully-trained Royal Marine, i doubt he'd be shaking

actually more to the point he'd have had enough sense not to shoot him on a busy street in front of witnesses and having friends of the victim fking jumping on him

how did the gunman get away if the FW friends jumped on him ? doesnt add up ..
I sort of vaguely remember this from the time and back then things didnt seem to be so clear either ..

stevec@france wrote: ↑24 Sep 2020, 11:25 how did the gunman get away if the FW friends jumped on him ? doesnt add up ..
I sort of vaguely remember this from the time and back then things didnt seem to be so clear either ..

I was thinking the same.. Unless he's exaggerating 'jumped' on him. He might mean, he went towards him?

Also, how close/far was the shooter from Frank.

If it wasn't Terry Marsh I wonder who it was then ? And if it wasn't TM I wonder what evidence the coppers had to nick him with ?

tony1234 wrote: ↑24 Sep 2020, 11:42 If it wasn't Terry Marsh I wonder who it was then ? And if it wasn't TM I wonder what evidence the coppers had to nick him with ?

Because Frank was sueing him?

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑24 Sep 2020, 11:52

tony1234 wrote: ↑24 Sep 2020, 11:42 If it wasn't Terry Marsh I wonder who it was then ? And if it wasn't TM I wonder what evidence the coppers had to nick him with ?

Because Frank was sueing him?

well that narrows it down!

I got the impression he thought it was Terry Marsh then, but doesn’t now.

Marsh would’ve been obvious perfect suspect for the lazy cops to go for anyway, as he was suing him. The shooter wore a scarf round his face I think.

A man like Frank would’ve made plenty of enemies it could’ve been some screw loose disgruntled boxer, not necessarily his main man world champion Terry Marsh.

One part of Marsh's defence was that he was a profesional soldier and if It had been him, he would have killed FW

Coco wrote: ↑24 Sep 2020, 13:11 One part of Marsh's defence was that he was a profesional soldier and if It had been him, he would have killed FW

I always got the impression he was entirely serious (and probably accurate) in that

Why was Marsh charged with it in the first place, surely they didn't just assume it was him?

Controversial wrote: ↑24 Sep 2020, 13:33 Why was Marsh charged with it in the first place, surely they didn't just assume it was him?

Maybe they just took him in for questioning?
Maybe ‘witnesses’ said it was him.

Has this shooting happened today, there would be soooo much more.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑24 Sep 2020, 13:35

Controversial wrote: ↑24 Sep 2020, 13:33 Why was Marsh charged with it in the first place, surely they didn't just assume it was him?

Maybe they just took him in for questioning?
Maybe ‘witnesses’ said it was him.

Has this shooting happened today, there would be soooo much more.

He wasn’t just interviewed though he was charged but found not guilty at the Old Bailey.

Terrys book is interesting’! He’s loopy. And very anti authoritarian.

Controversial wrote: ↑24 Sep 2020, 13:33 Why was Marsh charged with it in the first place, surely they didn't just assume it was him?

Plenty of motive, similar stature to the gunman and no alibi and as a boxing ex royal marine he was an aggressive man.

On the other hand no witnesses to put him in the area, no weopan recovered, no residue on clothing found, no criminal record and wasn't the only person in the world who had fallen out with FW.

Lots of people still think it was Marsh because of his motives and the timing of when it happened, a short time after he lost his commentating job and when he had a hiding at the boxing show in Cardiff.

Nevertheless 2 + 2 etc, etc.

I wouldn't be a 100% that FW actually knows himself

i didn't realise ol fish was so young when it happened, already a major boxing promoter and business in mid 20s, what a stud

Coco wrote: ↑24 Sep 2020, 13:56

Controversial wrote: ↑24 Sep 2020, 13:33 Why was Marsh charged with it in the first place, surely they didn't just assume it was him?

Plenty of motive, similar stature to the gunman and no alibi and as a boxing ex royal marine he was an aggressive man.

On the other hand no witnesses to put him in the area, no weapon recovered, no residue on clothing found, no criminal record and wasn't the only person in the world who had fallen out with FW.

Pretty flimsy grounds to charge him then!

Sounds like he thought it was t m but has come to the conclusion in the time since it was someone else. Is that Steve Collins in the photo?

So when is he gonna tell us?

Ok his death bed? When his shooter dies?

He probably doesn’t know for sure who shot him.

Coco wrote: ↑24 Sep 2020, 13:56

Controversial wrote: ↑24 Sep 2020, 13:33 Why was Marsh charged with it in the first place, surely they didn't just assume it was him?

Plenty of motive, similar stature to the gunman and no alibi and as a boxing ex royal marine he was an aggressive man.

On the other hand no witnesses to put him in the area, no weopan recovered, no residue on clothing found, no criminal record and wasn't the only person in the world who had fallen out with FW.

Lots of people still think it was Marsh because of his motives and the timing of when it happened, a short time after he lost his commentating job and when he had a hiding at the boxing show in Cardiff.

Nevertheless 2 + 2 etc, etc.

I wouldn't be a 100% that FW actually knows himself

Terry got a hiding at a show in Cardiff after ??

Also frank is 27 in the photo ??? Does he count his birthday every other year.

He's not said anything peole did'nt already know ,, he got shot , he claims to know who done it ,, If it was TM he got away with it , If it was'nt the other guy got away with it , , But I hope he's given a lifetime pass for front seats to every and any show he has to his barrister mate ,, . Brave thing to do , jump on a man with a gun who's just shot someone , Frank should be thanking this guy everyday .

high tower 1 wrote: ↑24 Sep 2020, 15:47

Coco wrote: ↑24 Sep 2020, 13:56

Controversial wrote: ↑24 Sep 2020, 13:33 Why was Marsh charged with it in the first place, surely they didn't just assume it was him?

Plenty of motive, similar stature to the gunman and no alibi and as a boxing ex royal marine he was an aggressive man.

On the other hand no witnesses to put him in the area, no weopan recovered, no residue on clothing found, no criminal record and wasn't the only person in the world who had fallen out with FW.

Lots of people still think it was Marsh because of his motives and the timing of when it happened, a short time after he lost his commentating job and when he had a hiding at the boxing show in Cardiff.

Nevertheless 2 + 2 etc, etc.

I wouldn't be a 100% that FW actually knows himself

Terry got a hiding at a show in Cardiff after ??

Also frank is 27 in the photo ??? Does he count his birthday every other year.

After Marsh had quit and sold his story to the sun, he turned up in Cardiff(I think it was Cardiff but I'm not100%)expecting to carry on his commentating gig and was refused entry(replaced by McGuigan).
It was just before Xmas and he snuck back in dressed as Santa Claus, only to be found and given a hammering by some security.
Not long after FW was shot

A horrible night for British boxing. You take a promoter like F rank Warren out of the sport and you hurt not just the 'name' fighters topping the bill but the promoter's whole stable and all the opponents brought in to face his fighters. Frank paid their wages.