Frank Warren spoke to Umar from iFL TV in a wide-ranging interview on 13 September 2023. Here are some of the highlights:
Frank Warren reacted to a clip of Turki Alalshikh, the current powerbroker of boxing in Saudi Arabia. In the clip, Alalshikh says not to believe rumours about fights, and to wait to hear news from him. Warren implies this is about the seemingly cancelled Joshua vs Wilder, which was arranged by Skills Challenge, and not Alalshikh. “If you can’t understand what he is saying… then you are delusional”.
Warren critcised the conduct of Fabio Wardley and David Adeleye. Warren also spoke about banning entourages, and said neither Warsley nor Adeleye will be allowed them for their press conferences, or for fight itself. This follows their brawl last week which saw a member of David Adeleye’s team leave Wardley cut and injured. You can read about that story here
Frank Warren also said the brawl wouldn’t help sell the event, as it isn’t the main event. Wardley vs Adeleye takes place on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou on 28 October 2023.
Speaking about Daniel Dubois, Frank Warren once again stated his belief that the shot Dubois landed in the 5th round was a low blow. Warren mentioned that the WBA appeal process for Usyk vs Dubois is ongoing. Warren also said Dubois needed more grit, after the failed to rise from the canvas in time when Oleksandr Usyk knocked him down the second time.
Frank Warren also said he has no problem with Dan Rafael. He said he was cooking a treble beef burger and wondered what sauce Dan would recommend.
Warren said he wasn’t sure that Usyk would face his IBF mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic, as there’s no large purse for the fight. Warren said he believed a unification (undisputed) fight would happen. Frank Warren spoke about Saudi Arabia replacing Vegas as the fight capital of boxing.
The dicussion then turned to Moses Ituama, the rising heavyweight at Queensbury. Warren said he’s not that interested in Ituama becoming the youngest heavyweight champion.
Finally, speaking on drugs testing, and in response to Eddie Hearn’s recent comments about VADA at every show, Warren discussed Dennis McCann vs Ionut Baluta. The fight only had UKAD testing, but the fighters were tested four times. Warren also said Baluta is also on the same VADA program as Conor Benn.