Meeting Legendary boxing promoter Frank Warren has had more scraps with the newspapers than most of his top fighters have had world-title bouts.
To date, his libel action fight figures are: fought 40, won 39 with KOs, lost one on a technicality. Clearly not someone to mess with once you get over the keyboard.
During 25 years in boxing, Warren has also taken on all-comers to become the main contender who stages the biggest fights. He even came out swinging just nine days after he was shot by a masked gunman in November 1989. Former boxer Terry Marsh stood trial for the shooting, but was acquitted.
One battle that had Warren on the ropes was with Kelvin MacKenzie, who frenziedly splattered him across The Sun, most notably when he was rumbled bobbing and weaving with a flower-stall girl.
For the son of a bookmaker who was brought up in a council flat in Islington, the boy Warren has done good. Now 53, he is worth a few quid and has a country mansion in Hertfordshire, a pad in Belgravia and a home on the Algarve. He has six children aged between 15-30 from two marriages, the second of which happily continues with former Vogue model Susan.
I meet Warren at his empire HQ not far from his home. In Frank’s large office, there’s a renovated Wurlitzer in one corner and stacked everywhere is rare boxing memorabilia awaiting auction. He’s been having a clear out. Warren is slighter and more quietly spoken than you might expect. He’s smooth, bright as a button, up front and likes a laugh.
He is neatly snuggled into multiply cashmere, from his black casual top, neatly tucked into to dark grey checked trousers, to his fluffy socks. The shoes are Gucci loafers with chunky soles.
For the full interview see this weeks Press Gazette.
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