Frank Maloney Q&A

Following on from our announcement last week of doing a regular Q&A with Frank Maloney, I am pleased to publish the answers that Frank provided in their entirety. I spent close to an hour on the phone with Frank who was more than happy to keep chatting away about boxing for longer.

He was willing to answer all of your questions and certainly didn't duck any topics of discussion. Due to time constraints, as well as being safe in the knowledge that I can ask any of the missed questions next time, I chose to quiz Frank on what I thought were the most important areas this week.

Below are the answers in full. At this time, I would like to thank Frank and his team for helping out v2, as well as just being top, decent people in a sometimes, not so welcoming sport.

Interview with Frank Maloney

Do you think Fury will fight David Price, even after today's announcement by Tyson?

I personally believe that Tyson Fury will get beat before the fight ever happens with David. This is a huge loss for British boxing. Tyson should have given up his titles a lot earlier if he was not going to face David.

Boxing promotion is a notoriously cut throat profession, what do you think are the keys to your longevity and who do you class as your best friends in the profession?

The key is working with good fighters, belief in your own ability and loyal staff. For me, don't think of it as a job but as a love and a passion. Friends wise, My general manager James Russell and Mark Harnell. They are friends outside of the business too. Steve Woods who I argue with like cat and dog but who is still a great friend. Steve Lillis (journalist) as well and Finally Tony Breen who was adviser to Crawford Ashley. . I try not to get close to my fighters as it can effect my decision making.

What did you make of the fall out from the recent Amir Khan fight and the appeals that were launched?

I didn't actually see the fight as I was travelling at the time but I feel that Golden Boy messed up the contract as they were complacent and thought he would walk through Peterson.

For a number of reasons, some of which couldn't be helped, David Price has been fairly inactive (having had only 12 fights in close to 3 years) for someone at the start of his career. How difficult is it to match-make for a genuine prospect like David and has this changed since you were guiding Lennox at a similar stage in his career?

He hasn't been with me that whole time and he has fought a lot more since he did join me. I have a format for heavyweight boxers and David is following it. I will not change it. The plans for the next year are to get him fighting 5 to 6 times in the next 12 months. We are aiming for a world title fight in 18 to 24 months.

If you could dispose of 2 of the world boxing authorities, which ones would you choose?

I would like to see that there was one sanctioning body. It won't happen due to the fees wanted by the bodies. I think you should get the champ of each body fighting each other, with the winner eventually being crowned undisputed champ. The sanctioning bodies still get their fees as they still have their fighters going for the top belts.

So do you mean that the belts effectively become a number one challenger symbol?

Yes

What do you think of Bob Arum?

I think he is a good promoter. There are too few good promoters in the US. In the US, a promoter is only really a booker.

Is BoxNation good or bad for boxing?

Boxing needs BoxNation to succeed. You need competition for boxing to succeed overall. The sport was better when Hearns, Warren and myself were all competing to be the number one promoter.

How closely do you follow the amateur side of the sport, with regards signing new professional talent?

Amateur and Pro boxing are so far apart that I don't watch it anymore. I read the boxing news and then ask my amateur contacts on anything I notice.

Have you already identified any amateur talents that you would like to sign after the Olympics?

Not sure if I want to sign any more fighters. I will continue to promote the ones I have got and when the current crop finish up, I will retire.

Mayweather v Pacquiao. Who wins?

I used to think Manny but I would lean toward Mayweather now. I think that Mayweather is the consummate pro.

Tyson Fury's last fight was inexplicably dubbed the Hagler v Hearns of heavyweights by his promoter. What do you think is the actual Hagler v Hearns of heavyweights ?
The first part I refuse to comment on! The promoter must have had a shandy before hand! As for the Hagler/ Hearns of the heavyweights I would go for two fights - Bowe v Holyfield I and Ali v Frazier I.

Did the discovery of the body of your talented charge Darren Sutherland change your outlook on life, boxing and the way you promote and handle fighters?

The day I discovered his body will live with me forever. Since I had my heart attack, I live my life a different way now. The inquest still hasnt happened and the day still haunts me. I have dark days about it which I try to blank out. But because of the internet, I still get reminded about it, when I see a picture for example. He lived with me for 6 months and I got really close to him which broke all my own personal rules.

What would you change in boxing if you had the chance?

Fighters avoiding each other and the stupidity of fighters who think that a zero on the record is the be all, end all of everything. I would also make it a lot harder to get a [manager/trainer] license in this industry - its the only one where you don't need any qualifications.

How would you rank British boxing at the moment in comparison to the last 20 years?

We don't have the stars anymore. The last big era for boxing was when we had Lewis, Benn and Hammed.. I am a great believer that boxing is only as good as its heavyweight division - that's why it isn't considered very good at the moment. We had the chance to lift it with the Fury fight. Them giving up the title has done more harm for boxing than any other event in the last 5 years.

I had a promoter in the US all lined to broadcast it. The Fury/ Price fight would have drawn as much attention as a Klitschko fight would have.



I would like to once again thank Frank for his time and if any of you would like to ask Frank a question for next time, please do so below.

If you want to check out the upcoming fights from Frank Maloney Promotions, please visit www.frankmaloney.com

Excellent work Adam, and would echo the thanks to Frank for taking part in this, is extremely good of him to take the time.

Great stuff, some unexpectedly candid and honest answers there.

Thanks to all involved.

Really good work lads, hats off to all.

Yeah thanks Frank great answers, very honest.

I love this picture from Frank's site:

Spoiler:

Adam, I take my hat off to you for your hard work in securing this for our enjoyment. Very well done, and thank you. I also take my hat off to Mr. Maloney for giving us his time. He reveals himself to be a very nice and down to Earth fella.

I don't care much for promoters as a breed, but he is a shining example of the exception proving the rule.

Great to have this at the forum, and I don't mind saying I had serious reservations when you first suggested it.

Sometimes it's so nice to be wrong.

Adam D wrote:I love this picture from Frank's site:

Spoiler:

I prefer this one myself :

Spoiler:

Question: When you have these meetings over a phone I presume you record the conversation to be able to write up the responses? If so why don't you upload the recording so we could all have a listen?

Secondly have you thought about opening up a you tube channel for any face to face Q&A sessions or boxing functions that anyone happens to attend?

No1Jonesy wrote:Question: When you have these meetings over a phone I presume you record the conversation to be able to write up the responses? If so why don't you upload the recording so we could all have a listen?

Secondly have you thought about opening up a you tube channel for any face to face Q&A sessions or boxing functions that anyone happens to attend?

didnt record last nights (hand wrote the responses!) but hopefully we will in the future.

Have done a test skype one with David Jackson (pro rugby player) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmUMHS7Stxo

Some other rugby stuff on there but hopefully we will get a lot more video stuff going forward.

Good to hear steps in right direction to embrace this day & ages technology and media advancements are in place!

Rugby is a decent one to start with before moving onto the big boys of Boxing....

Great stuff, didn't get in my best questions but I'm still massively grateful for the effort that must go into these. He comes across very well, but not wanting to step on any big, American toes.

You should get a video interview Adam, like that one you did with Joe Calzaghe, you know the one. The one where you were gazing into his eyes like a smitten teenage girl haha just kidding