Tag: Queensberry Promotions

Frank Warren proposes ‘Queensberry vs. Matchroom’ series to Eddie Hearn

Frank Warren says the time is right for he and Eddie Hearn to put their differences aside for the good of British boxing.

Frank Warren has issued a challenge to rival boxing promoter Eddie Hearn to set up a card in the near future pitting some of Warren’s best Queensberry Promotions fighters against Matchroom Boxing’s elite.

However, many — including Hearn himself — seem to be uncertain as to whether this is something Warren would really like to discuss or if it’s simply gamesmanship on the road to an eventual heavyweight unification megafight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

Warren wrote in a column on his official website entitled ‘A Message To Matchroom And Sky’ that “the time is right to throw off the shackles”.

Those “shackles” would presumably be the delicate nature of television rights, with Warren’s Queensberry airing on BT Sport as opposed to Matchroom’s deal with Sky.

With both promotions working to find a way around that conflict and deliver Joshua vs. Fury in the future, it appears Warren doesn’t believe that all-British heavyweight extravaganza should be the only cross-promotional outing.

Hearn was quoted in June as saying titleholders champion Fury and Joshua had agreed to a two-fight deal, though the finer details were yet to be worked out.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 has forced both promoters to get creative in order to get live fights back on the schedule. Hearn has begun to stage Fight Camp shows from the back garden of his headquarters, while Warren has been operating out of BT Sport studios in London.

“Queensberry’s finest versus the best of Matchroom,” wrote Warren. “What I am proposing is to break down the borders and give the fans the fights they want to see.

“Forget about promoter pride and egos, it is not about us,” he continued. “This is the time to turbo-charge boxing right back into the mainstream and capture the imagination of the watching public.

“Who wouldn’t want to see Dillian Whyte taking on the best young heavyweight in the world, Daniel Dubois, later this year or early next while Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are busy making other plans?

“Any takers for Joe Joyce against Dereck Chisora? Archie Sharp v Zelfa Barrett? Hamzah Sheeraz v Ted Cheeseman? Charlie Edwards v Kal Yafai?

“What about seeing Nathan Gorman step in the ring with Dave Allen? There are numerous potential bangers there to be made and no good reason not to make them.

“You could say I am throwing down the gauntlet and I would hope this honest proposal is taken at face value and not blithely dismissed. For the long-term good of our sport, now is the time to put up or shut up.”

Hearn later responded to the challenge, noting that while he’s open to some co-operation down the line, it isn’t as easy as Warren is suggesting.

“It was an interesting move,” Hearn told the Mirror. “There’s no reason why we can’t discuss it. But it’s important for people to know that last week alone, the British Boxing Board of Control received three or more emails of complaint from Queensberry about our Fight Camp card, trying to grass on things that didn’t even exist.

“Apart from that, all I ever get from them is legal letters and fake Twitter accounts. So let’s see where it goes, but I understand it’s tough times, so if I can help them out in any way, I will consider it for sure. Right now I’m laser focused on our business and delivering for our fighters.”

On Wednesday, Warren responded to Hearn’s quotes on Twitter:

While it’s understandable that Hearn (and others) would question the sincerity of Warren’s proposal, there’s no denying the appeal of such an inter-promotional challenge series, if this post-coronavirus age did indeed make it the right move for all involved.

Josh Warrington leaves Frank Warren, signs with Eddie Hearn

In a quick two-step, Josh Warrington left Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions and signed with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.

Josh Warrington didn’t waste time. Neither did Eddie Hearn.

In a quick two-step, Warrington left Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions and signed with Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.

“It’s great to be back with Matchroom, Sky and now DAZN, and I’m very excited about the future,” Warrington (30-0, 7 KOs) said in a release Wednesday announcing his return to Matchroom. “I have enjoyed my time at BT [Sport], but now I’m looking forward to going on to achieve my dreams of both fighting in the USA and unifying the division.”

A news conference is scheduled for Thursday in Warrington’s hometown, Leeds, England.

Warrington has defended his 126-pound title three times, including a victory over Carl Frampton, since winning it by outpointing Lee Selby in May 2018.

Shakur Stevenson, who won a featherweight belt by beating Joet Gonzalez in October, has been calling out Warrington. However, Stevenson’s first title defense will be against Miguel Marriaga on March 14 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

“I’m ecstatic to welcome Josh Warrington back to Matchroom,” said Hearn, who re-signed Warrington within hours after he split with Warren. “We had some amazing times helping to build Josh in Leeds, and now we re-unite at a time when he is the king of the division.

 “Josh has some of the most loyal and passionate supporters in sport, and we look forward to delivering nights they will never forget. There is so much more for Josh to accomplish, and today starts a new chapter in the thrilling Josh Warrington story.”