Frank Warren has engaged in a remarkable one-million-pound bet with Eddie Hearn, setting the stage for a high-stakes rivalry between their boxing promotion companies, Queensberry and Matchroom. The veteran boxing promoter shared his insights with Mail Sport’s Charlotte Daly after the press conference for the Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou bout in London.
Expressing his thoughts on the upcoming fight scheduled for March 8, Warren acknowledged the potential threat Ngannou poses to Joshua: “If [Ngannou] hits him on the chin, he’ll knock him down, he’s a big puncher. It’s a jeopardy fight for AJ.” Emphasizing the significance of Ngannou having footage available for analysis, Warren compared it to Tyson Fury’s situation, suggesting that Ngannou’s team had the advantage of studying his previous bout.
Warren, who, at 71, operates Queensberry Promotions alongside his son George, has a storied history of promoting esteemed fighters like Frank Bruno, Amir Khan, Ricky Hatton, and Tyson Fury. Indicating a long-standing desire to pit the best fighters from Queensberry against Matchroom, Warren hinted at turning this ambition into reality.
Addressing the potential clash between the two promotional giants, Warren explained, “We’ve got to sort out the weights… there will be a winner; one of the teams will win unless we get a draw. To make it a little bit more spicy, I’d like to have a wager on it with [Hearn] as well. [I’d be willing to bet] a million pounds.”
Looking ahead to the future, Warren hinted at the possibility of a bout between Fury and Joshua, stating, “You heard what his excellency said, he would like to see the winner of the fight on the 17th in with the winner of this fight on the 8th March.” Warren expressed confidence in Fury’s promoter, indicating that such matchups could materialize.
Analyzing the pressure on Joshua, Warren noted, “There’s a lot of pressure on AJ because he’s the guy who’s expected to win. Ngannou’s in a position where he has nothing to lose, so it will be quite interesting.” Acknowledging Ngannou’s impressive performance against Tyson Fury, Warren expressed his anticipation for the clash with Joshua, highlighting the potential for Ngannou to become one of the top three heavyweights in the world.
In discussing a potential rematch between Fury and Ngannou, Warren asserted his confidence in Fury’s boxing acumen, emphasizing that a second encounter would yield different results. Warren concluded with his belief that Fury, facing a tough bout with Usyk, would emerge victorious.
