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November 16, 2011updated 14 Sep 2012 5:03pm

Frank Warren sues over website’s ‘gangster’ claims

By Sarah Limbrick

Boxing promoter Frank Warren is suing John Sheppard, the publisher of boxing website boxrec.com, for libel over claims is financial backers were gangsters.

Warren claims an article headlined 'New boxing subscription channel ready to go'published in September was defamatory and is demanding damages of up to £100,000.

The story said that Warren's financial backers were London gangsters and that those dealing with him should be fearful of him, according to a High Court claim.

Warren says the story gravely injured his reputation and caused him embarrassment and upset.

In 1989 Warren cheated death when he was shot by an unknown assailant outside a theatre in Barking.

A bullet missed his heart by an inch but he lost half a lung and part of his ribs in the attack.

Boxer Terry Marsh stood trial for the attack but was acquitted.

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Warren argued that the boxrec website has previously published stories about him which had led to litigation, and said that in 2010 one case was settled on terms including an undertaking by Sheppard that he would not publish any 'further defamatory statement of or concerning Mr Warren".

The story at the centre of this claim involved a flagrant breach of the undertaking given, Warren argues.

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