Frank Warren exclusive on the past season – and what’s coming up

Although boxing’s annual summer break seems to be getting shorter and shorter, August is traditionally the time when those involved in the sport take stock of what has happened over the previous months and begin making plans for when hostilities renew in the new season.

From Johnny Garton’s small hall classic with Gary Corcoran to Tyson Fury’s show stopping displays in the USA, BT Sport have provided boxing fans with some of British boxing’s most memorable moments over the past year and 32Red ambassadors have played starring roles in the action. For all the latest fight odds, visit our sportsbook.

IBF featherweight champion, Josh Warrington, successfully defended his belt twice while Daniel Dubois emerged as the most exciting heavyweight prospect in the world. Zelfa Barrett produced an eye catching performance to outpoint Lyon Woodstock and Jack Catterall cemented his place at the head of the WBO junior welterweight rankings and will get his shot at unified champion, Jose Ramirez, before Christmas.

Frank Warren gave 32Red his thoughts on last season’s action and gives a few hints as to what boxing fans can expect when the action resumes.

“I’m delighted with what we’ve done this season. We managed to deliver some big, meaningful fights for our guys. Tyson Fury fighting Deontay Wilder was a huge event. I think it was one of the biggest events in British boxing and certainly one of the most exciting. We also delivered two or three big fights for Josh Warrington. He’s had an excellent year. He got rid of his mandatory, beat Carl Frampton and obviously he beat Lee Selby before that. Carl himself was also doing extremely well at the time and we got him into position to fight Josh.

“Daniel Dubois has just gone from strength to strength. With him being a heavyweight, he’s probably the most exciting prospect in world boxing. He’s out again on September 27th at The Royal Albert Hall when he’ll fight Ebeneezer Tetteh for the vacant Commonwealth title. He’s maturing and growing up in every way and it’s exciting times for the heavyweight division.

“Jack Catterall is right there too. He’s got his fight. The unification fight between José Ramírez and Maurice Hooker went ahead on the understanding that the winner would take on Jack. He’ll get his chance now. Ramírez is a tough fight but Jack’s a fresh young fighter. It isn’t as if he’s burnt out. It’s not going to be an easy job but he does have the tools to win.

“There have been three major highlights for me.

“For drama and excitement I don’t think Tyson’s fight with Wilder can be topped. It was the most dramatic 12th round you’ll see. He got robbed too. Let’s not forget that.

“I think that the fight between Josh and Carl was one of the best I’ve seen between British fighters for a long, long time. It was competitive and absorbing. It was really great to watch.

“Look at Daniel’s last fight [with Nathan Gorman]. When do you see two young, undefeated heavyweights going in with each other at that stage of their career? Daniel became one of the youngest guys to ever win the British heavyweight title.

“There have been some great highlights and we have plenty of other exciting things happening.

“We have Anthony Yarde going out to Russia in a tough, tough fight against Sergey Kovalev. He’s going out there to the other guy’s back yard but that tells you a lot about him and what he’s about. We have another potential champion there. I do fancy him but even if he got beaten it isn’t the end of the world. He’s finally earned people’s respect but he should have had that a long time ago.

“Early in the new year we’re going to get Fury – Wilder 2. Tyson will have his next fight announced soon for some time in September and obviously Luis Ortiz is going in with Wilder. If they both come through, what a huge February we are set for. That’s going to be a huge, huge event.

“I want to try and get Josh a unification fight. Oscar Valdez moving up in weight has thrown the WBO route up in the air because somebody is going to have to fight for a vacant title. Leo Santa Cruz doesn’t want him. We offered him big money to come to the UK but got told that, basically, he didn’t want to do it. What they offered Josh to go to America, well, I wouldn’t have let Josh get into a cab and go to the airport for that.

“The thing that has got in the way of everything was that poxy fight with Kid Galahad. We didn’t need that at all. It was a nuisance for all concerned but Josh dealt with it and we’ll keep moving forward.

“We’ve also got some great young fighters coming through.

“Dennis ‘The Menace’ McCann is going to be something special, believe me. That kid has got what it takes. Providing he keeps his head on it we’ve really got something there. I keep telling the youngsters that talent will get them so far but after that it’s down to dedication and commitment and if you haven’t got that, stop wasting everybody’s time.

“Mark Chamberlain from Portsmouth can really whack. He’s a big puncher that kid and we’ve signed another fella from Leeds called George Davey. He trains with Henry Wharton and is supposed to be a really good fighter.

“It’s an exciting time. I’m loving it at the moment and I don’t care what anybody says, we’ve got the best young talent in the country.”

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