Perhaps even in the toughest sports and toughest industries, there is a gradual mellowing as you get older. Gone are the days of glaring at your enemies across the battlefield. You begin to understand, respect, and maybe even appreciate them.
For now, life is looking rosy for Frank Warren and after beating rival Eddie Hearn in Riyadh, he must be boasting rather than complaining. His handpicked fighters have not only defeated the Matchroom group, they have beaten them so thoroughly that boxing's current supreme leader jokingly suggested that Eddie should consider retirement.
Standing next to Hearn in the center of the ring just after 3 a.m. local time, Frank is smiling broadly but he's not going to let anyone get away that easily. He wants to win more, so where does this 5-on-5 victory rank among his decades of in-ring achievements?
“One of my highlights,” Warren said. Boxing News He recently told me, “It's a new concept and it really has worked for everyone. Well, maybe not for everyone, but it certainly has worked for us!”
While praising the “great, competitive bouts”, the final totals looked lopsided and there were few one-sided bouts – this was by design, with the two promoters, with the assistance of Turki Ararcik, choosing the weight classes and naming their representatives accordingly.
After criticizing the commentators who predicted his team would struggle (“They can't make stupid predictions,” Frank boasted live on air), Warren had kind words for them after shutting out a struggling opponent, 10-0.
“I love Eddie. I love his passion for boxing. He's a better promoter than his dad was. It was great to sit down and talk to him. [with Eddie and Frank Smith] “And we had a few laughs. They have a good sense of humour and I think we do too – us, that is, myself and my sons Francis and George. It was very enlightening and we enjoyed every moment of it,” Frank continued, imparting invaluable wisdom to the British up-and-comer who shook up the national scene some 15 years ago and has barely lost steam since.
“Just keep doing what you're doing. He's a good promoter. Very good. I listened to him at the press conferences and he's promoting the promotion and doing what he needs to do. God bless him.”
Blessings are being bestowed as the clouds of brilliance shine upon the renaissance man of British boxing promotion. From Sky to ITV, Setanta to BoxNation and now comfortably situated at TNT Sports (formerly BT), Frank always finds a way to keep the momentum going, no matter what happens in the sport.
“Of course, every day is a challenge. Every day is a great day and we're just planning. Talent-wise we're in a great position. No one is going to be able to do that. [better] “There is no other boxing organization in the world other than Queensberry that has this young talent, I truly believe that,” he concluded.
