Frank Warren Addresses Misconceptions About His Boxers Competing Against Each Other
Promoter Frank Warren has shed light on what people often misunderstand when his boxers fight each other, as Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley prepare for their heavyweight-title showdown in May. Both fighters are signed to Warren's Queensberry Promotions, and they will clash for Wardley's WBO heavyweight title on 9 May at Manchester's Co-op Live arena.
Heavyweight Stable Leads to Inevitable Match-Ups
With Queensberry building a strong heavyweight stable in recent years, these types of match-ups have become inevitable. Warren addressed whether this creates any awkwardness, stating in an exclusive interview with The Independent over Zoom: "I think everybody wins, to be quite honest." He highlighted that politics often prevent fights from happening, but Queensberry's strong presence in the division ensures these bouts occur.
Warren emphasized that a loss is not the end for a boxer, citing examples like Moses Itauma, who fought Dillian Whyte, and Derek Chisora, who continues to compete despite 13 losses on his record. "We don't give up on guys," Warren asserted.
The Strategy Behind the Fights
The promoter explained that the goal is to get boxers to their peak performance level before they face each other, maximizing earnings and reconnecting the public with the heavyweight division. "Fabio and Daniel is a cracking fight," Warren said. "There's such an argument for either of those, who's gonna win the fight. They're compelling fights, they're ticket-selling fights, the guys are doing well, we're doing well out of it, and the public are getting great value."
He added that fans are invested in the journey, following their favourite heavyweights, and noted that historically, desired fights often never materialized due to politics. "But it's happening now, we're making it happen," Warren concluded.
Upcoming Events and Broader Context
In addition to the Wardley vs Dubois bout, another Queensberry heavyweight, Moses Itauma, will headline against American Jermaine Franklin on Saturday at the same venue. A victory for Itauma could potentially set up a match with the winner of Wardley vs Dubois later this year.
Wardley recently stopped Joseph Parker in his last fight, while Dubois was knocked out by Oleksandr Usyk. These events underscore the competitive nature of the division and Warren's commitment to facilitating high-stakes fights.
The Itauma vs Franklin fight will stream live exclusively on DAZN worldwide, part of a broader trend in boxing broadcasting that offers fans extensive access to matches throughout the year.
