MALONEY SIGNS LONG-TERM SKY DEAL

[FtmPress]

Just to let you know our office will post all Frank Maloney press releases on this site from now on. Frank or someone from his office will answer genuine questions and queries from time to time, but will not get involved in forum wars about other promoters, fighters, TV networks and boxing personalities.

Frank says: "Unfortunately I may not agree with some of the so-called armchair experts on here, but the internet is part of every day life, and is a good medium for a promoter to get his message out, good or bad."

Here is the first press release that kicks off a busy season


PRESS RELEASE



FRANK MALONEY has signed an exclusive two-year deal with Sky Sports.

The London based promoter has worked solely with British Sky Broadcasting since the early 1990s, when he expertly handled the career of former undisputed world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis.

And Maloney is delighted to have agreed another multi-fight deal with boxing’s number one television network.

Maloney said: “If it wasn’t for Sky Television, British boxing would have been on its knees years ago.

“For almost 20 years they have made British boxers household names and been responsible for most of our fighters challenging for world championships, around the globe.

“In recent years they have brought respectability back to domestic boxing by featuring British and European title fights instead of meaningless world titles.”

Maloney’s first fight under his new long-term deal will be Rendall Munroe’s (15-1) European super-bantamweight title defence against French based Armenian Arsen Martirosian (12-1) At Nottingham’s Harvey Hadden Leisure Centre on Friday September 5.

Also on the bill is leading British lightweight title contender John Fewkes (17-0) and Ricky Hatton’s younger brother Matthew Hatton (33-4-1).

Yorkshireman Fewkes challenges Walsall’s Martin Gethin (14-0-1) for the vacant English title, and welterweight Hatton takes on promising Ramsgate youngster Scott Woolford (8-1)

The 12-fight bonanza sets the standards for a new season of top class boxing being promoted by Maloney.

[Poncey]

Have you considered setting up a facebook group?

Hennessey have one and it works really well for getting info to fans.

[bennie]

Leicester surprise package Rendall Munroe makes a voluntary defence of his European super-bantamweight title against Arsen Martirosian, an Armenian based in France, on Friday week at Nottingham's Harvey Hadden Leisure Centre (September 5).
Munroe won the title with a shock but comprehensive decision over Spanish puncher Kiko Martinez at the same venue earlier this year and hammered French veteran Salem Bouaita in seven rounds in his first defence (corner retirement at the bell), also in Nottingham. The east Midlander works as a bin man by day but can surely see a future when he concentrates full time on the sport, although he jogs between wheelie bins to stay trim (as well as more customary roadwork) and always looks in fantastic nick and huge for the division. In 16 outings only Wythenshawe stylist Andy Morris has beaten "The Punching Dustman": on a close decision for the British featherweight title back in 2006. Southpaw Munroe came of age that night, then dropped down to super-bantamweight and pulled off that surprise win over the much-vaunted Martinez, who had smashed previously unbeaten Dubliner Bernard Dunne in 86 seconds for the title.
Munroe outclassed a man who had NEVER lost before, amateur or pro.
To the little-known Martirosian, a name which can earn you a helluva lot of points in Scrabble but, joking aside, the Lyon-based challenger brings over a hot run of form, a No. 11 ranking with the WBA and the lesser EE (What?) super-bantamweight belt, which he won with a unanimous 12-round decision over durable but so-so Ukrainian Nikita Lukin in January in France and retained against decent Russian Marcel Kasimov on an eight-round knockout in Lyon in July. He's won 12 on the spin since dropping an eight-round decision on his debut to more experienced Frenchman Nordine Barmou in January 2004 - a loss he avenged a year later, also on an eight-round decision.
The visitor doesn't look a big puncher with only three early wins (all late on) but has earned his shot and we can expect a big effort from him.
Still, we can also expect the strong, more 'rounded' Munroe, on local turf, to come through.

[FtmPress]

Have you considered setting up a facebook group?

Hennessey have one and it works really well for getting info to fans.

We are dinosaurs in this office when it comes to computers. I've just learnt to text on my mobile and when on a open top bus ride when I learned to use a fax.

We would be interested if you can PM us and advise on setting up. We're always open to constructive suggestions which will help get more people interested in boxing.

[jomothepure]

Your fax machine must have a bloody long cable.

[twenty six]

FTM Press / Frank M,
Can we please have an update on the Jamie Moore European challenge ?

[BigEars]

Small mistake in that press release, Matirosian is the EBU-EE(external EUropean), champion not EBU-EU(European Union).
Great piece of matchmaking by Maloney here, Matirosian won't just provide an easy defense of the title but also amazingly carries a #11 rank with the WBA. Rendall is #8 so he should move up a few places there.

What's the story with Ian Napa's potential European title challenge ?

[bennie]

Small mistake in that press release, Matirosian is the EBU-EE(external EUropean), champion not EBU-EU(European Union).
Great piece of matchmaking by Maloney here, Matirosian won't just provide an easy defense of the title but also amazingly carries a #11 rank with the WBA. Rendall is #8 so he should move up a few places there.

What's the story with Ian Napa's potential European title challenge ?

Cheers, brother.

[Old bones Ian]

mmmmm i wonder if all these SKY deals are something to do with Setanta over spending on the Haye deal.

[twenty six]

I dont believe so Ian.
Maloney was always going to be on Sky, so was Hearn.
Setanta wanted SN and Hayemaker, and thought it was a done deal.
Where Hennessey and Hobson spring up is anyone's guess.
The move from Setanta to Sky by Wazza is nothing more than a spoilt child reaction to him realising his exclusivity was not binding.
I doubt the money side of things is very much different - hence suddenly Khan warrants PPV status.
Maybe PPV was the only way Wazza could match Khan's financial requirements.
Anyway the proof of the pudding is in the eating so to speak.
Let's see what the respective promotional outlets serve up and then they can all be judged.

[leforge]

Hobson only got Clinton who could get on tv. Is it a guaranteed 12 fights a year is there possibilty of more? I think thats good undercard for first fight

[rhino222]

well done frank, nice to see a long term deal, rhino

[Scrap]

Made up for Frank He is a grafter.

[whiskey]

I just signed a long term sky deal... 12 months with Sky movies + family pack (cartoons etc).

On a seperate note, Frank Maloney is a good honest enough promoter who has put on some good little scraps on the domestic front, like many of the fireball Fewkes fights, Rendall Munroe v Kiko Martinez and the recent Gomez vs Johaneson fights.

I look forward to seeing Jamie Moore come up trumps next and maybe see Brian Magee fight for the vacant British. Between him and Hennessy, hopefully Friday Fight night will be well stocked over the coming months.

[rhino222]

im not bothered about the locations, i just want good honest 50/50 ish fights, when the opponent has a decent chance of winning, i firmly believe that hennessy and maloney could well provide this.

[DavidPayne]

I always liked the Harvey Hadden, I loved atmos for Khaliq and Booth fights.

[twenty six]

Is anyone able to clarify what is happening with Sky on 26-09-08.
Both Promotions I assume will not be televised.
Please tell me FTM's bill has got the TV exposure, not a certain other Promotor's bill.

[leforge]

As I see it there no fight down for 19th one of these bills will get moved, it should be Marsh bill, I cant see sky not showing Moore as he been a favourite over the years.

[scrap iron]

Maloney has always and will always be a joke in british boxing. who can forget this plank proudly poroclaiming "julius francis showed how lennox lewis would destroy mike tyson" etc and then when lewis dropped him like the bad habit he is, he went live on sky during the analysis of the fight saying, "tyson will definately ko lewis". what a clown. his brother is no different,
"matt skelton is 29, I have his passport myself"
Craig Slater : "Well can you show us this passport",
Eugene Maloney "It's at home".

Well you would hardly expect Eugene to be carrying Skelton's passport in his back pocket whilst working his corner, but I do see your point. I thought it was a little unfortunate that Frank wanted Skelton to get the crap knocked out of him live on Setanta earlier this year. It just seemed sour grapes after Skelton had dumped him a few years earlier. Sounds like the Lewis v Tyson fight was also a bitter pill for him to swallow. Having said that Frank has been a great campaigner for British boxing over the years and I'm pleased to see him actually promoting bills where there isn't any television involved. Good luck to him with these non-televised shows.

[fatton]

As I see it there no fight down for 19th one of these bills will get moved, it should be Marsh bill, I cant see sky not showing Moore as he been a favourite over the years.

Knowing Sky they will probably plump for the Marsh - Dean megafight and put it on PPV to boot.

[whiskey]

I read in the Nottingham Evening post that the Rendall card is not in TV.

Bummer for those who aren't attending.

I'll be there though

[fatton]

As I see it there no fight down for 19th one of these bills will get moved, it should be Marsh bill, I cant see sky not showing Moore as he been a favourite over the years.

Knowing Sky they will probably plump for the Marsh - Dean megafight and put it on PPV to boot.

Unbelieveably it looks like Sky are going to go with Marsh and Dean. See this from the Nottingham Evening Post:

"Newark's Esham Pickering bids to resurrect his career when he takes on English super-bantamweight champion Mark Moran at the Robin Park Arena in Wigan on September 26.

Adnan Amar's Commonwealth welterweight fight with Craig Watson could also be on the bill. Unfortunately, there is no television coverage despite Frank Maloney's new two-year deal with Sky."

That would also make me wonder about the Jamie Moore European title fight which was supposed to headline that show. Surely without TV money Maloney won't be able to afford to stage the Moore fight.

[Chambers2]

Just to let you know our office will post all Frank Maloney press releases on this site from now on. Frank or someone from his office will answer genuine questions and queries from time to time, but will not get involved in forum wars about other promoters, fighters, TV networks and boxing personalities.

Frank says: "Unfortunately I may not agree with some of the so-called armchair experts on here, but the internet is part of every day life, and is a good medium for a promoter to get his message out, good or bad."

Here is the first press release that kicks off a busy season


PRESS RELEASE



FRANK MALONEY has signed an exclusive two-year deal with Sky Sports.

The London based promoter has worked solely with British Sky Broadcasting since the early 1990s, when he expertly handled the career of former undisputed world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis.

And Maloney is delighted to have agreed another multi-fight deal with boxing’s number one television network.

Maloney said: “If it wasn’t for Sky Television, British boxing would have been on its knees years ago.

“For almost 20 years they have made British boxers household names and been responsible for most of our fighters challenging for world championships, around the globe.

“In recent years they have brought respectability back to domestic boxing by featuring British and European title fights instead of meaningless world titles.”

Maloney’s first fight under his new long-term deal will be Rendall Munroe’s (15-1) European super-bantamweight title defence against French based Armenian Arsen Martirosian (12-1) At Nottingham’s Harvey Hadden Leisure Centre on Friday September 5.

Also on the bill is leading British lightweight title contender John Fewkes (17-0) and Ricky Hatton’s younger brother Matthew Hatton (33-4-1).

Yorkshireman Fewkes challenges Walsall’s Martin Gethin (14-0-1) for the vacant English title, and welterweight Hatton takes on promising Ramsgate youngster Scott Woolford (8-1)

The 12-fight bonanza sets the standards for a new season of top class boxing being promoted by Maloney.

Excellent news, glad that Sky are looking to put up some sort of challenge to Setantas coveage, with siging Khan and Our Frank! How many Maloney shows will there be over the 2-year period?

As long as Frank & co continue to put on good fights for proper titles all is good. He knows what the fans like, we've old him often enough.

Looking forward to seeing Fewkesy back in action especially, hopefully the Murray match can get remade in the not too distant. I'm a Rendell Munroe fan as well after his performance against that Tyson like Spaniard

[twenty six]

Can Maloney stage a Euro fight for Moore without TV ?

[leforge]

Surely move the Dean v marsh fight back a week