Matchroom Sport and Barry Hearn are not taking too kindly to some comments from Frank Warren earlier in the month. Read on to see what Warren had to say, and Hearn’s reaction to the “potentially defamatory nature” of what he had to say.
At a press conference hosted by Frank Warren on September 3rd, when referring to the administration of his company, W. Promotions Limited (formerly Frank Warren Promotions Limited), Mr Warren stated:
“It’s not just us, I think Matchroom Boxing went into Administration last week, errr, I’m sorry went into, errr, some form of … they wound it up last week.”
In response, Barry Hearn, Chairman of Matchroom Sport Limited said:
“Mr Warren’s comment about Matchroom Boxing is untrue and misleading. He has suggested that one of my businesses has been closed due to insolvency, when that is simply not the case.
“By saying “it’s not just us”, Mr Warren has sought to compare Matchroom to his own insolvent company, W. Promotions Limited, which was put into administration last month owing, what is thought to be, over £3m to creditors (according to the company’s Administrators).
“This follows the liquidation of Frank Warren’s previous trading vehicle, Sports Network Limited, which had reported creditors of over £5.5m.
“I feel strongly that Mr Warren’s statement should be corrected as I have never wound up or put any company into Administration owing money to creditors. All of our boxing business is run through the parent company, Matchroom Sport Limited, which has been trading successfully for the last 31 years. Matchroom Boxing Limited was a subsidiary company which was dissolved with no creditors, having been dormant for nearly ten years.
“Given the misleading and potentially defamatory nature of Mr Warren’s comments our lawyers have written to him asking that he correct his comments and make a donation to the British Boxing Board Charity. Having been given 7 days to respond he has failed to do so.”
