Queensberry Promoter Frank Warren has been staging fights for over four decades, rightfully earning his place in the Hall of Fame. Now, at 72-years-old, Warren has opened up on plans for the future.
His first televised show came back in 1982, where Clinton McKenzie knocked out Steve Early to defend his British super-lightweight title, and since then Warren has gone from strength to strength, promoting the likes of Naseem Hamed, Nigel Benn, Joe Calzaghe and Tyson Fury.
Yet, despite his age, the recent involvement from Saudi Arabia appears to have rejuvenated Warren, who was begun an unforeseen friendship with rival promoter Eddie Hearn in recent weeks, and he told Boxing News that he has no intentions of hanging up the proverbial gloves any time soon.
“I’ve always worked hard and I’ve got a good team around me. The day to day running of the business is with George [Warren], Francis [Warren] looks after and manages very successfully a good group of boxers, he’s got a very good roster of boxers, but I enjoy it. If I didn’t enjoy it, I wouldn’t do it.
“I love the sport, I always have done. I’ve always been interested in all sports since I was a kid, I am a massive sports fan and boxing is my passion, being involved in this is just a joy.
“Look at Bob [Arum], his itinerary over the next few weeks is going to Australia, Japan, Saudi, coming back to the U.K., going back to Saudi and then going to L.A. and somewhere else, over the course of four weeks or something. He is 92-years-old now Bob, he has got tremendous energy and he loves it, he enjoys it and it keeps him going.”
Warren’s relationship with Hearn will be put to the test on June 1st, in a one-of-a-kind event, full of jeopardy for the promoters and their fighters.