FRANK WARREN is still slugging away against Covid-19’s attack on boxing and jokes it’s still not as bad for business as getting shot.
England’s Hall of Fame promoter has lost three fights from his Friday night card to the virus.
Frank Warren is battling back against Covid – but insists being shot was tougher to deal withCredit: PA:Press Association
Frank Warren, right, was shot in Barking in 1989Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
But Warren is biting down on his gumshield and marching on with the show.
The main event middleweight clash for the British title between Denzel Bentley and Mark Heffron is safe – as is the return of Tyson Fury’s heartthrob little brother Tommy.
And 68-year-old Warren concedes this is the biggest challenge he has ever faced in the sport – aside from the bullet he couldn’t dodge during back in 1989.
Just over 30 years ago, Warren lost half a lung after being shot by an ‘incompetent lunatic’.
On his 2020 crisis, Warren claimed: “These are unprecedented times and it is a huge shame to lose three great fights.
“I’m obviously gutted for the boys who have worked so hard for this week.
“But I am pleased to see the excellent safety measures implemented by my team and the board are working so effectively.
“I am thankful to our partners at BT for working with us to ensure the event can continue safely.
FRANK WARREN ON BEING SHOT IN 1989
It hurt! It made me jump! It was a surreal moment, it’s not something you were expecting to happen.
I was just getting out of my car in Barking, Colin McMillan was fighting there. I was getting out the car and I heard a bang. I thought it was a car backfiring.
I looked around and I’ve seen somebody standing there holding a gun.
First of all I thought it was a joke, I was looking around and I thought, ‘What’s all this about?’
I could see him shaking a bit, then there was a click and I realised there was another bang and I felt pain in my side.
“What had happened, it had gone in my chest and I was standing at an angle and thankfully it went through my lung – and I lost half a lung – and came out.
A friend of mine, a barrister called John Buttress, he went, ‘What the f*** are you doing?’ And he jumped on him.
I didn’t realise, I suddenly felt this gurgling in my throat and because obviously the blood through my lungs had got into my throat.
And then I was losing my breath, I went down on one knee and then I remember my late uncle Bob coming out and my brother Robert.
They were standing over me, they were helping me and they said, ‘Get a doctor, get a doctor.’
At every show we have doctors and the Boxing Board of Control’s doctor came out. I remember him saying, ‘Have you got a hankerchief?’
I said, ‘Yeah,’ and he said, ‘Hold it on.’
At the time the ambulances were all on strike so the next minute they bundled me into the back of a police van.
They done like a 16-point turn up the curbs and everything.
And they drove me off to the hospital and that was it.
*Warren was speaking to talkSPORT…
“Fans can look forward to a cracking main event between Mark and Denzel.
“We wish those affected a speedy recovery.
“It’s almost the most difficult time of my career.
“But getting shot was probably a bit more painful for me personally.”
Frank Warren says that Tyson Fury clash with Anthony Joshua to be 50-50 purse split
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
