Queensberry promoter Frank Warren joined Ariel Helwani’s show to discuss a number of topics including this weekend’s heavyweight fight between Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois, plans for Moses Itauma, his fractured relationship with Turki Alalshikh and more. Here’s some of what he had to say with the full video segment in the link at the top!
Warren on Wardley vs Dubois
“I love it…Two massive, massive punchers. It’ll be excitement. We call the show ‘Don’t Blink’ and there’s a reason for that…I expect from round 1 they get down
on it and let their bombs go.”
On plans for Moses Itauma
“[Itauma] will probably fight [at the O2] on the 8th of August and that’s what will happen. If [Joshua’s] got this warm-up fight coming up against this guy he’s fighting — me, I’d love him to have the warm up fight against Moses. That would’ve been a great warm up fight and a good test for him.
“Another fight I’d like to see him in, and I’d do it if they’re interested, is against Usyk. [He’s ready for that]. I haven’t spoken with [Usyk] about it, he’s fighting this kickboxer, isn’t he?
On his current relationship with Turki Alalshikh after reports of them falling out
“Well, the last time I’ve seen him was at the show in Tottenham, Tyson’s show. We sat together and said hello and shook hands and we watched the fight together…That’s the last time I’ve spoken to him and it is what it is, and where am I with it? I’m doing what I always do, we’re putting on great shows and I’ll continue to do so.
“Riyadh Season was a blast for me, I enjoyed it. There were some great shows, I mean everybody cooperating to make them work, and I enjoyed it. I really did enjoy it and it was a good time but things are what they are and you’ve got to keep evolving and moving on.”
On whether he’s suing Alalshikh and Riyadh Season
“I mean, it’s well documented I’ve sent a letter to him. That’s where it is at the moment. I can’t really comment on any of that. I don’t want to because whatever happens is I’d much rather keep my counsel to myself on that.
“I felt we were very close but we were renewing our deal to be involved in doing more shows there but it just didn’t happen and that was it.”
On his thoughts on the Senate hearing on the Ali Act
“How do I feel about it? The hearing, when you’ve got one of the senators at the hearing who was cross-examining and was asking [Dana White] to bring a UFC show to his state — I mean, if a politician had done that in the UK, they’d have been thrown off the committee…[The hearing] is a formality and that’s what’s happening.”
