Frank Warren BoxingInsider.com Exclusive Biofile Published by Scoop Malinowski Last Updated on April 10th, 2008

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Status: Boxing promoter.

Born on: February 28, 1952 In: London, England

Childhood Heroes: “Bobby Moore – soccer player.
George Best. Muhammad Ali.”

Hobbies/Interests: “Music, reading, going to art exhibitions.”

Early Boxing Memory: “When I first got into boxing, when Henry Cooper fought Muhammad Ali, then Cassius Clay (in 1963). When Cooper floored him with the left hook. Finally Ali got up and got him. I was there. Went with my father. Just the atmosphere, electric. For an 11-year old kid it was something. Cooper was a pretty average fighter, but he was very big here. When Clay was on the floor it as amazing.”

Pre-Fight Feeling: “I hide it. I get pretty nervous. It depends on who it is. Sometimes I have a lot of confidence in them. Sometimes I worry about if they’re gonna do it.”

Childhood Dream: “To be a good soccer player. I was always interested in soccer. I got into boxing because I had a couple of cousins who were boxers and I went to go watch them fight. Got bitten by the bug.”

Favorite Movies: “All Godfathers. Apocalypse Now. Arsenic and Old Lace.”

Musical Tastes: “All music, opera, Frank Sinatra, Stax, Philly records.”

People Most Admired: “Boxers. I think it takes great courage to get into a ring. The discipline that great, quality boxers have. If they have discipline, they’ll have longevity. Anybody that gets into a ring has to be a special guy.”

Favorite Meal: “Fish or pasta with wine.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “I suppose…difficult. I have a few actually. When Frank Bruno won the heavyweight title (vs. McCall in ’95). First British fighter to win it in the ring. Also, Benn-McClellan fight. A terrible tragedy, but a great fight. Watching Naseem Hamed fight. Most colorful fighter I’ve seen since Ali.”

Most Painful Moment: “When I got shot. In the chest. Set me back a few years. Outside a fight in Barking, England. After a Colin MacMillan fight. Cost me a few pearls in the business.. But I sided on.”

Favorite Fights: “Hagler-Hearns, Ali-Frazier I, Duran-Leonard I.”

Favorite Boxers To Watch: “Mike Tyson, when he won the title. When he was 20-21. I think he was the best of his age. He was the most exciting heavyweight I’d seen, including Muhammad Ali at that age. But now he’s just a shell of that fighter. Ray Robinson. Joe Louis. Naz – exciting, confidence like you wouldn’t believe. He used to psyche guys out before he got to the ring. Joe Calzaghe.”

Future Ambition: “To promote quality, successful shows, with four or five title fights. Major cards.”

Scoop Malinowski is a boxinginsider.com contributer.