[scribbs]

Frank Warren's Column - 18/05/13

Capturing a world title overseas, particularly across in the US, is just about the ultimate achievement for a British boxer. The list of those who've triumphed Stateside since the Second World War remains in single figures; Alan Minter, Cornelius Boza Edwards, Lloyd Honeyghan, Dennis Andries, Nigel Benn, Naseem Hamed, Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe comprise the elite band who've turned the trick.

Home advantage isn't just about a vociferous crowd spurring on the local man and inadvertently swaying the judges' favour in rounds which are close.

During the build-up, it also shields the fighter from becoming travel weary, even jet lagged, and permits them to prepare in their own gymnasium. They get to sleep in their own bed, surrounded by their loved ones, and feast on familiar cuisine. Press conferences and weigh-ins take place at familiar locations where they are surrounded by familiar faces.

 

[Roe]

Self-praise is no recommendation but it's a hard fact that besides being a promoter, I'm the most successful manager in British ring history.

The art is knowing both the strengths and limitations of your own fighter, then picking the right champion at the right time, securing every conceivable edge - including home territory - when you unleash your kid into world class.

Others are way too keen to chase a quick buck. Sure there are occasions, particularly if a seasoned fighter has peaked or isn't a prolific ticket seller, when you'll allow them a long shot, and a lucrative overseas assignment.

However, lately there has been a steady stream of decent British talent tossed abroad to cop a pay day and a beating. Darren Barker, Matt Macklin, Martin Murray, Gavin Rees, Matthew Hatton and Ryan Rhodes spring readily to mind.

The disturbing trend continues this evening when Colchester welterweight Lee Purdy is up against it in at just four weeks notice against formidable IBF champion Devon Alexander over in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

A product of the unlicensed scene, the 25 year old Essex lad had negligible amateur breeding and has already been exposed at domestic level by Denton Vassell and faded veteran Colin Lynes.

Good luck to him but he is spectacularly under qualified and ill equipped to challenge 'Alexander The Great', a top class southpaw who won 300 of 310 amateur gigs and has since collected three professional world titles in two weight divisions.

I envisage Purdy - an 11-1 outsider - will be very lucky to be still standing at the end. Good luck to him - he will need it.

In world championship boxing, there really is no place quite like home.

Check out Frank's full column here - http://www.frankwarren.com/news/fra...2013/05/18/frank-warrens-column-18-05-13.html - where he also talks previous British world champions, Jamie McDonnell, Ricky Burns and has this to say on the touted Chisora vs Wilder fight:

I've been copping some flak from ill-informed cyber warriors regarding the fall-out of the transatlantic heavyweight dust-up between Dereck Chisora and Deontay Wilder which we announced last week. So here are the FACTS.

Wilder has publically acknowledged that he accepted the purse that we offered. His matchmakers Golden Boy asked a question if we could delay the announcement but a conference had already been set-up and several press notified, so the answer was no.

It was only after the presser, it came to light that Wilder may not be able to fight.

 

[scribbs]

merged!

 

[JamieC]

Difference is Macklin, Barker and Murray were sent abroad to fight for the World Title, not fighting at home for some WBO trinket

 

[Roe]

Frank's just being a massive hypocrite anyway. He had no problems sending John Murray out to get a severe beating against Brandon Rios. Likewise with Gary Lockett facing Kelly Pavlik and Michael Jennings going in against Miguel Cotto. Obviously he fails to mention any of those. I wonder why..

 

[Nyanners :sad5]

Every king must be dethroned.

 

[JamieC]

Frank's just being a massive hypocrite anyway. He had no problems sending John Murray out to get a severe beating against Brandon Rios. Likewise with Gary Lockett facing Kelly Pavlik and Michael Jennings going in against Miguel Cotto. Obviously he fails to mention any of those. I wonder why..

What genuine world champions has he had? He could still have had the most in british history come to think of it

Naz
Hatton
Joe Calzaghe at Super-Middle and Light-Heavy

Did he have any of the names in the 80/early 90s? I dont know who was with who back then

 

[Lilo]

Frank's just being a massive hypocrite anyway. He had no problems sending John Murray out to get a severe beating against Brandon Rios. Likewise with Gary Lockett facing Kelly Pavlik and Michael Jennings going in against Miguel Cotto. Obviously he fails to mention any of those. I wonder why..

I have no problem with anything he said in honesty. John Murray and Gary Lockett were 'Seasoned veterans who were past prime' as he said. Michael Jennings got a mandatory payday which Id wager was far bigger than any purse Barker, Purdy or Rees received. Warren would have gotten Brook a shot at home rather than having him travel abroad in what is already at best a 50/50 fight.
@JamieC those middleweights were sent to fight for the title but Purdy and Brook aren't...

He normally is (understandly) bias in his column but this is the way he believes he should do business. He is public about. Who are we to complain? If we don't like then we won't buy tickets. Personally I totally understand his way of doing things - he has a great sense of timing; why fight the #1 guy now and get beat when you can wait a while, time it and then actually become the best. Hatton is the prime example of this.

 

[Lilo]

What genuine world champions has he had? He could still have had the most in british history come to think of it

Naz
Hatton
Joe Calzaghe at Super-Middle and Light-Heavy

Did he have any of the names in the 80/early 90s? I dont know who was with who back then

As far as true champions i.e. #1 at the weight he surely has the most. It's more impressive when you realise he guided those 3 from the start too. The list of true British champions is actually really small (not that I'm any sort of boxing historian!)

 

[JamieC]

I have no problem with anything he said in honesty. John Murray and Gary Lockett were 'Seasoned veterans who were past prime' as he said. Michael Jennings got a mandatory payday which Id wager was far bigger than any purse Barker, Purdy or Rees received. Warren would have gotten Brook a shot at home rather than having him travel abroad in what is already at best a 50/50 fight.
@JamieC those middleweights were sent to fight for the title but Purdy and Brook aren't...

He normally is (understandly) bias in his column but this is the way he believes he should do business. He is public about. Who are we to complain? If we don't like then we won't buy tickets. Personally I totally understand his way of doing things - he has a great sense of timing; why fight the #1 guy now and get beat when you can wait a while, time it and then actually become the best. Hatton is the prime example of this.

True Purdy and Brook arent fighting for the world title, but why pick on Macklin, Barker and Murray who all had decent stabs at the best middleweight on the planet and haven't had a better opportunity to win the title and are unlikely to again?

I agree he's done well, but many of his champions aren't actually the champ, but however i still think he's got a very good shout for being the most successful in British history, i can think of four titles (above) he's brought back, and i don't think anyone else can claim that in Britain

 

[JamieC]

As far as true champions i.e. #1 at the weight he surely has the most. It's more impressive when you realise he guided those 3 from the start too. The list of true British champions is actually really small (not that I'm any sort of boxing historian!)

exactly, i can't think of many in history tbh, so to have 3 champs (one with two weight credentials) is quite impressive and as you say he guided them from the off