Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
WBN Editor
Veteran promoter slams Matchroom boss
Frank Maloney is obviously still feeling the effects of his
recent split with Sky and has taken a dig at the only promoter left dealing with the Network, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport in a recent interview with The
Independent.
The long-time promoter, who guided Lennox Lewis to the world
heavyweight title, has signed a twelve-month deal with BoxNation this week and
feels that his loyalty has gone unappreciated after over twenty years with the satellite TV
giants.
"I went with Sky when they first went to air against
everyone's advice when everyone told me I was wrong,” Maloney told The
Independent.
“I could have done a deal with Barry Hearn to put Lennox
Lewis on ITV, but I wanted to be independent and do it my way. It's ironic that
Sky now tell me to do a deal with his son, Eddie Hearn. What he knows about
boxing I could put on a postage stamp and still sign my name under it."
"What I'm finding is that fighters are listening to
other fighters. Certain promoters are using fighters to get to them - buttering
them up and making them promises. When those fighters have got no use the
promoters will drop them. The grass always looks greener on the other side, but
I know from experience that it isn't.
"If I'd had known Hearn would be the only one to stay
with Sky, and if they'd had the decency to tell me before I'd done my final
show in Aintree [when Price became British and Commonwealth champion], I would
have worked within the proper budget. But they tricked me. I accept that's
business but they should have told me before. If they had, I'd have done the
show within the proper budget I'd set aside.
"But I'm now looking forward to a new era, and I'm sure
I'll be celebrating my time in boxing for a lot longer than some other people
that have come into the sport."
Maloney is hoping to replicate his successful time alongside
Lewis with new up and coming heavyweight David Price, who has been tipped for
big things in the next few years after picking up the British title.
The 6ft 8ins Olympic bronze medallist is a focal reason why
Maloney has persevered with the fight game after some setbacks over the past
few years and it seems that the Sky situation has only made the Londoner more
determined to continue in the sport for the foreseeable future.