Being Frank

Frank Warren is one of the UK's most high-profile boxing promoters. From his humble beginnings in North London, he has created a multi-million-pound business empire as one of the UK's most high-profile promoters, staging shows that have featured some of the world's biggest names, such as Frank Sinatra. But it was the struggle to break the stranglehold with which a few key promoters ran the boxing business that really made Warren's name. It also led him to a partnership with American promoter Don King and to the brink of financial disaster. Frank has, however, weathered a number of financial storms in his turbulent career, not least one that followed the shooting incident that almost cost him his life. As he lay critically ill in hospital, his business suffered a near-terminal decline. True to form, Warren fought back, regaining his health and breathing new life into his business, only to fall foul of the legendary Don King. Warren's battle with King made headline news on both sides of the Atlantic, as what had seemed boxing's "dream team" suddenly turned into a nightmare of lawsuits.
No sooner had the King affair been laid to rest than the VAT men decided to prosecute Warren for #1.1 million in unpaid tax. More recently, Warren masterminded Mike Tyson's challenge to Julius Francis, which caused another storm of publicity.