F. Warren Reveals New Series To Showcase Young Talents on BT Sport

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release

Frańk Wârren & Queensberry have announced the introduction of a series of shows that will see our hugely talented prospects take centre stage in front of the BT Sport cameras.

With an extra 6 shows added this year to BT’s existing offering, Queensberry's band of young professionals will be put under the spotlight on promotions designed to further their experience, take part in headline contests and give the viewers in the halls or at home the chance to identify talent and get behind fighters at an early point in their careers.

Regular competitive activity is paramount for young boxers to progress and this programme will deliver additional and valuable action in an environment that replicates major televised productions and will be broadcast on BT Sport and available for anyone to watch on the BT Sport Boxing YouTube channel.

The increase in fight dates for the younger contingent represents a timely boost, especially following a year of restrictions that included a cap on the number of fights permitted per show.

Frank W, who has explored the concept previously with 'Box Academy', believes this to be an extremely positive project that will sit alongside BT Sport's current boxing output. Details of the first show will follow in due course.

"I'd like to pay tribute to BT Sport for getting right behind this initiative and supporting the sport at more of a 'grassroots' level. Right from the start BT made clear their intention to tell the story and maximize the exposure of our young fighters and they have been true to their word - and now even more so," Warren said.

"It is particularly important in the times we are currently living to provide every opportunity we can for those starting out in the sport and the restrictions imposed over the last year has denied many youngsters the regular experience in the ring they require.

"We have prioritized and done our utmost to keep as many of our young pros as active as possible, but with limits put on the number of fights at each show and no ticket revenue coming in, it has not been an easy job.

"What we have found through showcasing the young talents in TV slots is that fans and viewers have been given the chance to see who is coming through the ranks from an early stage and have the opportunity to get behind their journeys.

"Now, these fighters will have their own platform on which to shine and show themselves to the nation. The pressure will be on, the cameras will be rolling and the spotlight applied. It will serve them so well in terms of their career progression and, when the time comes for them to headline on the big stage, they will be well prepared and familiar with the experience.

"I believe we have got the best, bumper crop of young fighters in the business on our books and I am so looking forward to this series of fight nights providing a vehicle to propel them forward and shine a big light on their undoubted abilities.

"I would encourage fight fans to get behind the series and help us with the continued development of potential future world champions."

[Ruthless-RKO]

Go on ok’ Frank lad!

This sounds quite decent.

Free boxing on BT’s YouTube channel as well.

[Dioufy]

Showcasing the talent that’s a few levels below television.
Scary,
I’m scared.

[Black Sam Bellamy]

Is this going to be prospects smashing up no hopers or will the prospects fight one another ? I guess I know the answer already.

[brilo33]

like dennis mccann looking more soild now as well not like the young kid a few fights back

[Rezzer1967]

Firstly, he won’t get 6 extra shows in by the end of the year. He might not get 6 in total. I remember when he signed up to BT first of all, he was going to do 20 shows on BT with a further 10 smaller shows exclusively to allegedly, a year ! That never happened. Also the quality of these 6 shows are going to be rank. His current shows have been pretty lousy so the ‘ Nextgen ‘ shows are going to be terrible. As someone said previously, sub TV talent going the distance with fighters with a massive losing record ( no disrespect to them, they are the lifeblood of the sport ). Sorry to be so cynical but I think we’ve all learned to be disappointed by any announcement in boxing.

[maverick23]

How is this much different to his show the other week? Dennis McCann/Archie Sharp are still young prospects.

The more boxing on TV the better but I worry that it will be at the expense of his already poor shows.

He’ll need to add more prospects to his line up (which he has today and will announce 3 more tomorrow) but he can’t build a fighter (profile and experience wise) like he used to.

[brilo33]

truth be told boxing now domestically particularly is in a real bad way due to the corna, they have to try something i fear weve lost this generation of boxers coming through

[Ruthless-RKO]

Frank does sign a lot of young fellas.

He was going signature crazy during the pandemic last year.

[maverick23]

Frank does sign a lot of young fellas.

He was going signature crazy during the pandemic last year.

Yeah - I get the impression that he’s using a bit of a scatter gun approach. Get loads in and hopefully a few turn out really good fighters. He used to get the cream of the amateurs which hasn’t been the case for the last couple of Olympic cycles. Will be interesting to see what happens to the Tokyo guys.

[mickey1975]

Frank does sign a lot of young fellas.

He was going signature crazy during the pandemic last year.

Yeah - I get the impression that he’s using a bit of a scatter gun approach. Get loads in and hopefully a few turn out really good fighters. He used to get the cream of the amateurs which hasn’t been the case for the last couple of Olympic cycles. Will be interesting to see what happens to the Tokyo guys.

Eddie will definitely sign Whittaker.

[Manchester Hitman]

Frank will go hard for Frazier Clarke and now that Eddie is off Sky, BT might be an attractive proposition.

Caroline Dubois has got star quality and I think it’s an open secret she is signing for Warren and training with McGuigan after the games.

Eddie will probably have McCormack and as somebody else said, Whitaker already in the bag.

As for the announcement, this will put pressure on Frank to deliver quality shows on the main BT cards.

Saturday bill is a good start and he apparently is planning a big card on Sept 11th for Sunny Edwards’ defence and the Birmingham card is also very tasty.

[brilo33]

Frank will go hard for Frazier Clarke and now that Eddie is off Sky, BT might be an attractive proposition.

Caroline Dubois has got star quality and I think it’s an open secret she is signing for Warren and training with McGuigan after the games.

Eddie will probably have McCormack and as somebody else said, Whitaker already in the bag.

As for the announcement, this will put pressure on Frank to deliver quality shows on the main BT cards.

Saturday bill is a good start and he apparently is planning a big card on Sept 11th for Sunny Edwards’ defence and the Birmingham card is also very tasty.

hmm dont know i like the Dubois family but no chance Caroline Dubois will have the fame of katie taylor , katie taylor had the whole country and every irish person on the planet behind her she was like her own football team at the euros thats how big her gold medal win was
dennis mccann is his brightest star in terms of he is sellable he is entertaining fighter good boxer wants to fight cheeky chappy also hes a smart kid talks well can hold his own very marketable if he is an irish traveller i would get the shamrock on the shorts aswell he would take off in america

[maverick23]

Frank does sign a lot of young fellas.

He was going signature crazy during the pandemic last year.

Yeah - I get the impression that he’s using a bit of a scatter gun approach. Get loads in and hopefully a few turn out really good fighters. He used to get the cream of the amateurs which hasn’t been the case for the last couple of Olympic cycles. Will be interesting to see what happens to the Tokyo guys.

Eddie will definitely sign Whittaker.

Yeah - I agree. I think he’ll also get the Clarke brothers and the McCormacks. I’ve met Frasier at a couple of Eddie’s shows when he’s done the security. Always seemed a good guy and Eddie’s got a handful of recently turned pro heavys that could be fighting Clarke in 18 months/2 years.

[margaret thatcher]

who is the non-fraser half of the clarke bros? is that cheavon? i didnt know they were bros. cheavon is turning 31 this year and will be a short cruiser or small heavy, looks powerful though. the british cabbage babic maybe

who is the uk olympian with the most pro potential.........people act like whittaker in particular is a sure thing for eddie, is that because he's the best of the lot?

[mickey1975]

who is the non-fraser half of the clarke bros? is that cheavon? i didnt know they were bros. cheavon is turning 31 this year and will be a short cruiser or small heavy, looks powerful though. the british cabbage babic maybe

who is the uk olympian with the most pro potential.........people act like whittaker in particular is a sure thing for eddie, is that because he's the best of the lot?

I don't think they're brothers.

[JimJim2009]

Firstly, he won’t get 6 extra shows in by the end of the year. He might not get 6 in total. I remember when he signed up to BT first of all, he was going to do 20 shows on BT with a further 10 smaller shows exclusively to allegedly, a year ! That never happened. Also the quality of these 6 shows are going to be rank. His current shows have been pretty lousy so the ‘ Nextgen ‘ shows are going to be terrible. As someone said previously, sub TV talent going the distance with fighters with a massive losing record ( no disrespect to them, they are the lifeblood of the sport ). Sorry to be so cynical but I think we’ve all learned to be disappointed by any announcement in boxing.

The numbers never add up with this guy but hey, an additional 6 shows a year means 8 in total so not to be sniffed at.

[maverick23]

who is the non-fraser half of the clarke bros? is that cheavon? i didnt know they were bros. cheavon is turning 31 this year and will be a short cruiser or small heavy, looks powerful though. the british cabbage babic maybe

who is the uk olympian with the most pro potential.........people act like whittaker in particular is a sure thing for eddie, is that because he's the best of the lot?

I read an article about them being brothers after they both qualified. May well have been incorrect as I can’t find anything about it now.

Cheavon will be an exciting pro. Just needs to have the right division. Cruiser will probably be best and there are several decent Brits for him to have fights with in the next couple of years.

Pat McCormack has the best potential for me. He’s world number 1 and has an exciting style too.

Him and his brother could be a big deal in the North East - it certainly helps Eddie that he’s got a crop of North East fighters already (Ritson, Josh Kelly, Savannah Marshall, Cyrus Pattinson, Thomas Patrick Ward) and he’s fairly regularly promoted shows there.

[bennie]

Maybe Frank will dig up Paddington's still unbeaten Tommy Shiels.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release | Thompson, Bostan, Owen Ink Promotional Pacts With Warren

With the announcement of a new prospect-centric series of shows, to air on BT Sport and the BT Sport Boxing YouTube channel, Frank's Queensberry have unveiled the first trio of new signings hoping to impress in the coming months.

CALLUM THOMPSON

FORMER Team GB ace Callum Thompson has signed a long-term promotional agreement with Queensberry Promotions.

The Liverpool boxer, 22, could have been heading to this summer’s Tokyo Olympics, but had his dreams shattered when rule changes were made in June 2019.

It was decided that weight classes for men would be reduced from ten to eight so the women’s competition could increase from three to five divisions.

It meant heartbreak for Thompson when the 60kg division was dropped and last year he decided to turn professional under manager and trainer Joe Gallagher.

Thompson who will box at Super-Featherweight explained: “The Olympic weights changed and they took the Lightweight (60kg) class out so I was put in a position to move up or move down.

“Dropping to 57kg was too much of a stretch especially as I would have had to make that weight day after day at competitions.

“At 63kg there were too many lads on the squad and I didn’t think I was big enough anyway.

“I could have grown into that weight and would have had a chance of making the 2024 Olympics, but I didn’t want to wait that long.

“It is a bitter-sweet situation because it has given me more time to gel with Joe, but at the same time I don’t like to be inactive so it has been frustrating.

“I haven’t boxed for two years, but it is what it is. People have been and are in worst situations. I have got to be grateful for what I have now.

“With Joe and Frank I am in a very good position. I am ready to fight once they give me a date.”

Thompson won a Three Nations gold medal twice and five bronze medals for Team GB in six international competitions during his two years on the squad.

Callum started boxing aged seven and had 96 amateur bouts. He was also in the England squad from the age of 13 for five years before getting his GB place.

It was a chat with former WBA World Lightweight champion Anthony Crolla that brought Thompson to Gallagher’s attention.

Thompson explained: “I’d already left GB and I got speaking to Anthony Crolla. He spoke to Joe and I went to the gym to spar with Scott Quigg before his fight with Jono Carroll last year.

“I knew how good a trainer he was and I went down on a trial basis. I loved every minute and I have never left.”

Gallagher said: “Callum doesn’t take any short cuts in training, listens, learns and for me as a trainer it’s exciting to start from the beginning with a very good young fighter.

“People who watch Callum will say afterwards, ‘Who is that? I want to see him again.’ That is the reaction from people who come to the gym.

“I am sure allegedly will keep him busy, and with his track record of development, Callum will get the right fights at the right time.”

JUNAID BOSTAN

ENGLAND amateur star Junaid Bostan is the latest top prospect to turn professional with allegedly’s Queensberry.

The Rotherham Super-Welterweight is a double national champion and boxed for England since he was 13-years-old.

Junaid, 19, boxes out of the Sheffield’s fast rising Steel City gym where he trains alongside IBF World Flyweight champion Sunny Edwards. He is trained by the gym’s head Grant Smith.

“Grant asked me if I wanted to turn professional and I wasn’t too sure because I wanted to go in the National Elite Championships,” said Bostan who will make his professional debut in late July or August.

“I decided to have a meeting with Queensberry. I liked what I heard, what I was offered and decided to accept it.

“The Elites have been rescheduled for later this year and it would have been next year before I boxed professional had I entered them.

“There is no time to waste. I believe my style is more suited to the professionals and my personality should help me do well.

“I don’t feel I am just a boxer. I want to entertain people inside and out of the ring.”

The youngster has been trained by Smith since he was 12-years-old, having spent his earliest boxing years training under the late Brendan Ingle.

Having started boxing with Ingle it’s no surprise to learn that Bostan is a tricky switch hitter who can expect to bamboozle opponents.

He has sparred with a string of top fighters and helped European Welterweight champion David Avanesyan prepare for his win against Josh Kelly.

There is no doubting the influence that Edwards and of course, trainer Smith have had on him.

Bostan added: “Sunny started at the gym two weeks before I did so I have been with him since the start.

“Seeing him winning the Elites and going on to win a professional World championship has given me confidence.

“If he has done it with Grant there is no reason why I can’t.

“Right now, turning over I will get good experience and I will be in very good hands with Grant and Queensberry.

“I know in my career I will be wanting to do stuff a lot quicker than Grant will. What he says I will do.

“This has been a long time coming and I want to show what I am about. In the first year I want to prove myself and I will from my first fight.

“I won’t say I am the biggest puncher, but if I land, you know about it. I am more of a boxer and I like to entertain.

“I don’t really have idols but I love watching boxers with personality like Pernell Whitaker, Hector Camacho, Caleb Plant, Fernando Vargas and of course Naseem Hamed.”

MACAULEY OWEN

TELFORD AMATEUR STAR Macaulay Owen is set to turn professional and has signed promotional terms with allegedly and Queensberry.

Owen, 23, who holds a Masters degree in sports nutrition from Coventry University, intends to campaign at super featherweight after gathering the experience of 75 fights in the amateur ranks, where he won the CYPs, two British University championships and was a double winner of the Haringey Box Cup, where in the second of which he was declared Boxer of the Tournament.

With 30 fights as a senior amateur under his belt and with the pandemic shutting down this code of the sport for a prolonged period, Owen believes the timing is now right for his entry into the professionals.

"It is the best move possible really and it is what I have worked for," said Owen, who will train under England amateur coach Shiney Singh in Walsall. "Obviously you build your craft in the amateurs and to get the backing of allegedly is a great reward, with the history of his promotions. It is a massive thing.

"I've known about it for a little while now, but it was a case of waiting to get my licence because Covid delayed everything and put it on hold. It was the chance to sign with Frank that really sparked me to turn over."

Owen, who fought last in February of last year, originally planned another assault on the ABAs but, with them being aborted last year, he elected switch codes.

"It was a big one for me, but it didn't necessarily make my mind up because we were looking towards it anyway. I was thinking about one last good run in the ABAs and then turn pro after that.

"I am the right sort of age - I am nearly 24 - and that was one of the biggest things and we need to get moving in the pros now.

"I had 75 fights and really my amateur career was booming towards the end of it and I was at the top of my game in the lightweight division. I won 50, but I lost a lot in the early days because I was a bit of a brawler who liked to have a fight with people

"I went to uni, changed my style and ended up winning much more than I was losing," added Owen, who firmly believes his extended stint as a senior will serve him well.

"I've seen a few lads turn over and it is way too soon because they are not strong enough. I know myself from the amateurs boxing in the seniors that I was often the stronger one in the ring.

"It will be to my benefit and after sparring these pros now I am not going to struggle at this weight at all.

"I am glad I stuck around until 23 and got the fights under my belt fighting fully grown men. It means I can get cracking now and I am ready."

In terms of what we can expect with regard to fighting style, his proposed stage name suggests he will be relentless in approach.

"I don't want to give too much away, but I am an aggressive counter puncher, I'm gonna get them on their front foot and stick it on them. I was talking about what to call myself the other day with my coach and he said 'No Mas' because of the pressure I am gonna put on people.

"Don't get me wrong, I am a boxer, but I am a pressure boxer and if you don't quit I am gonna take you out one way or another."

[jameswilson]

Remember when every Warren card had Boy Jones Jr and Romeo Romeao on them?

[margaret thatcher]

lol boy jones, any time a fighter gets hyped in press releases etc as being 'angel faced' or 'cherub faced' it makes me want them to get ktfo

[Wales]

Is this going to be prospects smashing up no hopers or will the prospects fight one another ? I guess I know the answer already.

Exactly right.

Watching “young talent” win 40-36 against a guy who’s record is 1-100 doesn’t appeal to anybody.

Get the best 6 young middleweights and have a super six type affair. Or the best 8 young welters and bring back the one night prizefighter type event . Also, don’t throw the losers on the scrap heap and break the stigma in boxing that being undefeated is the be-all and end all .

[Ruthless-RKO]

More Signings | Press Release

On the back of announcing a new series of prospect-centric shows to air on BT Sport and for free on the BT Sport Boxing YouTube page, Queensberry unveiled another trio of new young signings hoping to impress and forge impressive pro careers - with Khalid Ali, Frank Arnold and Arnold Obodai coming on board.

KHALID ALI

REPTON BOXING CLUB graduate Khalid Ali is set to turn professional. The welterweight, who is nearly 20, hails from the heart of Brick Lane in London and is trained in Bethnal Green by Roger Hunt - a nephew of former world champion Maurice Hope - and his own father, Wolid.

"The fans can expect someone strong and confident," pointed out Khalid, by way of an introduction. "I want to be the best out of the young crop. Frank signs a lot of young people and amateur stars and I want to prove I am one of the best.

"This is a fabulous opportunity for myself and it is great for my community. Hamzah Sheeraz, his father and the whole team, helped me get this opportunity and I am so grateful. I cannot wait to showcase my skills."

Khalid is following in his father's footsteps, who was also a product of the Repton and steeped in the sport.

"I started off at Newham ABC when I was eight or nine and had my first four amateur fights from there. In my fourth fight I fought a multi-national champion and lost, due to being cocky! After that I had a bit of a gap year and trained in my dad's gym, working with top pros to learn my trade.

"When I was 15 I went to Repton and had around 25 fights, losing something like five. I won the Londons, boxed for England and suffered a bad decision in the Haringey finals. I was on the same amateur team as Dennis McCann, Adan Mohamed, Henry Turner and all the other Repton boys.

"My father is a boxing man and has been in the game since he was 16. He used to be at Repton when he was younger and always said to the coaches that he would bring his son down eventually. My dad is one of the most important people in my boxing career and has taught me so much, everything really."

Khalid states that his style of fighting is anything but basic, but insists he did not model himself on the obvious Asian inspirations. In fact, he might well be one of a kind in being a Bengali turning professional in boxing.

"Oh yeah, I am flashy! I also hit hard and look good as well. It just comes naturally, I watch fights but I don't try to be like anyone. I think some fighters watch Prince Naseem too much and want to be like him instead of being themselves.

"As far as I am aware, I will be one of the first British Bengalis to be signed by allegedly. Hopefully I can inspire other kids because loads of Bengali kids are good and just don't get the opportunity.

"Naseem was the first to inspire Asian kids, Amir Khan was the second and Hamzah will be the third. Hopefully I will help other Bengali kids to turn professional and be successful," added Khalid, who will get to launch his professional journey in early 2021.

"I am always in the gym. I just need six weeks to turn up the oven and I will be ready to go."

FRANK ARNOLD

SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT PROSPECT Frank Arnold, 22-year-olds from Hackney, holds a record of seven wins, with one draw, having made his professional debut in December 2017 at York Hall. Arnold is trained by Gareth Lawrence and managed by Tunde Ajayi.

"I am pretty happy, yeah, and it is my first big opportunity," said Arnold, who trains in Lakeside, West Thurrock. "I am 100 per cent buzzing to get started.

"Back in the amateurs I only had 15 fights. I wouldn't say I wasn't dedicated, but I wasn't all there. I boxed in the national finals and turned pro because my brother was doing it at the time.

"It has been slow and steady so far, but I didn't have the right people with me at first to get me going, like the right promoter. This will be a springboard for me, I have been sparring with good people and now I want to get in there with them."

Parental guidance pushed Arnold towards the gym while growing up and, in his case, it wasn't love at first fight, although he indicates a preference for getting stuck in these days.

"My dad and mum forced me to go and I didn't really like boxing. After a couple of years I did like it after only sticking with it because my brother was going.

"I can box on the back foot, but I am mainly aggressive. I think I punch hard, although my knockout count says otherwise. Hopefully I will get a fight in August and show people what I can do."

ARNOLD OBODAI

TWO-time National amateur champion Arnold Obodai gave up a promising basketball career in the United States and could have been playing in the NBA, but for his boxing love affair.

“I played college basketball in North Carolina, but I was torn between that and boxing. I picked boxing because I don’t have to rely on team-mates,” said the athletic Cruiserweight who was awarded a collegiate scholarship.

“In boxing it’s down to the individual. You either crumble or rise to the occasion. I will never let myself down.

“I got a basketball scholarship and perhaps I could have gone on to play in the NBA where some of my mates are.

“One of my best mates Rayjon Tucker plays for Philadelphia 76ers and another friend Bam Adebayo is with the Miami Heat.

“You can make it as an individual in the NBA, but your team also carries you in a way. In boxing the pressure is on you.

“You can have an exceptional basketball game, but if your team-mates don’t play as good as you, then you can still lose and it takes away how well you played.”

Obodai took up boxing, aged 19, when he returned home from the USA in what he expected to be a brief visit.

Obodai who often spars with close friend Lawrence Okolie, the WBO World Cruiserweight champion explained: “There was an issue with some documents when I was in the United States.

“When I came back to England to sort out the issue too much time had lapsed to go back and do collegiate and basketball.

“I decided it was too late and put all my eggs in one basket and that is boxing.”

While boxing in the world famous Repton ABC vest, Obodai won a NABC title and the Class B 91kg+ crown at the National Development Championships in 2018.

Obodai who will trains under Will Jones hopes to make his debut next month after injury wrecked his Olympic dream.

He added: “My heart isn’t in the amateurs anymore so this is the right time to turn professional.

“I had a goal that I wanted to achieve and go to the Olympics, but I ruptured my Achilles in early 2019 and that didn’t allow me to do that.

“When I had the injury I looked at the time frame and my age so I decided to turn professional.

“I am still a baby in boxing terms, but if I waited until the 2024 Olympics I would be nearly 28.

“I am ambitious, don’t mind the pressure and I want the world. But, I am young. I don’t want to rush and I’ve only been boxing five years.

“As long as I do what I need to do and do things right we can start looking at belts in 18 months, but who knows what can happen or how soon."

[margaret thatcher]

im gonna take a guess and say he's a ko waiting to happen

remember what happened to fwank's last basketball tall man signing -- that dude KO'd in his debut by the lithuanian. wasnt he a friend of okolie's too