UK boxing news round up.

[BrilliantAJ]

Can’t remember the full story but they had a partnership in the 90’s, then Naz went to America and Frank felt Don wasn’t securing the sort of lucrative deals Naz deserved so Frank started working with other promoters like Arum instead, I think they made the Soto fight together. King then took Frank to court, claiming he had rights to 50% of Frank’s stable/assets due to their partnership but they settled out of court. I think Frank basically paid him off to dissolve their partnership.

I think that’s the gist of it, King had all of the US rights and Frank would have 50% of any European shows the promotion (was it Sports Network) did I believe. It went **** up as you say, I don’t know about the settlement, I thought Frank lost to Don and ended up owing him high seven figures, but that may not be accurate. Definitely true that Frank and Don definitely haven’t always seen eye to eye. Hopefully Jack wins and they can bring him to the UK, less interesting than Makabu but at least Don won’t be keeping the belt at ransom.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

I think that’s the gist of it, King had all of the US rights and Frank would have 50% of any European shows the promotion (was it Sports Network) did I believe. It went **** up as you say, I don’t know about the settlement, I thought Frank lost to Don and ended up owing him high seven figures, but that may not be accurate. Definitely true that Frank and Don definitely haven’t always seen eye to eye. Hopefully Jack wins and they can bring him to the UK, less interesting than Makabu but at least Don won’t be keeping the belt at ransom.

I thought Frank owned Sports Network but I’m not 100% sure, maybe he only fully owned it after the settlement with Don. The Calzaghe lawsuit was the end of Sports Network, he liquidated the company to avoid paying Joe the ?m he owed him.

I’m sure they settled out of court, I remember Don years later saying Frank still hadn’t paid him in full or something like that. It was around the time Boxnation was starting up.

They should make a film about Frank’s life, so many crazy stories.

[BrilliantAJ]

I thought Frank owned Sports Network but I’m not 100% sure, maybe he only fully owned it after the settlement with Don. The Calzaghe lawsuit was the end of Sports Network, he liquidated the company to avoid paying Joe the ?m he owed him.

I’m sure they settled out of court, I remember Don years later saying Frank still hadn’t paid him in full or something like that. It was around the time Boxnation was starting up.

They should make a film about Frank’s life, so many crazy stories.

I'd definitely watch, I wasn't around for much of it but there'd be loads I'd be interested in hearing about, the shooting, the London Arena etc. King had a 50% ownership in Sports Network, Frank and a holding company the other 50%, when it was established in 1994, according to a judgment in the Court of Appeal (Don King Productions Inc v. Warren). Quite a lot of interesting info about the partnership in there. The bold may well be the case, yeah.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

I'd definitely watch, I wasn't around for much of it but there'd be loads I'd be interested in hearing about, the shooting, the London Arena etc. King had a 50% ownership in Sports Network, Frank and a holding company the other 50%, when it was established in 1994, according to a judgment in the Court of Appeal (Don King Productions Inc v. Warren). Quite a lot of interesting info about the partnership in there. The bold may well be the case, yeah.

Ah right, I was young at the time, so didn’t really remember/understand the early Sports Network days. He’s writing an autobiography I think, should be released soon, will definitely be worth a read.

[BrilliantAJ]

That was not in the script … Wow.

[Mammoth]

Jake Donavan saying Meng isn't the name he heard Smith is fighting.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

That was not in the script … Wow.

Incredible fight. Yarde takes a lot of credit from that performance. With a proper trainer I think he could be so much better too. Tunde can’t take him any further IMO.

I think they rushed Itauma a little, he still should be dealing with those type of guys but he looked lost in there IMO. Shocking upset.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

Jake Donavan saying Meng isn't the name he heard Smith is fighting.

I hope it’s not Boesel.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t fight at all March 11th the way it’s going. They’ve been scrambling for an opponent for weeks now.

I could see him just waiting out for the Beterbiev fight.

[BrilliantAJ]

Incredible fight. Yarde takes a lot of credit from that performance. With a proper trainer I think he could be so much better too. Tunde can’t take him any further IMO.

I think they rushed Itauma a little, he still should be dealing with those type of guys but he looked lost in there IMO. Shocking upset.

If we get Yarde-Buatsi at some point this year I’ll be delighted. That’s a fight they can still make even if Buatsi fights and loses to Bivol in the meantime.

Yes, was very surprised Karol didn’t get the job done, I know the guy he’s fighting didn’t have any high level wins but he looked decent in there and had mixed with high quality opposition. Couldn’t miss with the right hand. Would you go back to putting Karol in with a couple of semi-cans now then, build his confidence a bit?

Wasn’t massively impressed with Fletcher, but then again his oppo was in there to survive from the first minute and rarely gets stopped.

Not sure what to make of the Moses fight. Probably a bit of a dive when the bloke felt his power.

Frank’s lucky Yarde turned up for him and put on a great display, because the rest of that card was a shocker.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

If we get Yarde-Buatsi at some point this year I’ll be delighted. That’s a fight they can still make even if Buatsi fights and loses to Bivol in the meantime.

Yes, was very surprised Karol didn’t get the job done, I know the guy he’s fighting didn’t have any high level wins but he looked decent in there and had mixed with high quality opposition. Couldn’t miss with the right hand. Would you go back to putting Karol in with a couple of semi-cans now then, build his confidence a bit?

Wasn’t massively impressed with Fletcher, but then again his oppo was in there to survive from the first minute and rarely gets stopped.

Not sure what to make of the Moses fight. Probably a bit of a dive when the bloke felt his power.

Frank’s lucky Yarde turned up for him and put on a great display, because the rest of that card was a shocker.

Buatsi doing BT punditry was surprising, got me thinking, I wonder how many fights he has left with Matchroom.

I think you’ve got to tbh, he couldn’t deal with a basic 1-2 last night, I think it also goes to show the guy who taught you how to fight in the amateurs can’t always teach you how to fight in the pro’s.

Fletcher basically sparred for 6 rounds and you can’t really take anything from the Moses fight, I think he’ll have a few of them this year.

I think Frank blew the budget on the main event, I reckon he probably lost money on this card tbh.