British Boxing Board of Control chiefs have strenuously denied claims made by
promoter Frank Warren that they admitted allowing unlicensed shows within their
jurisdiction.
Warren alleged in his newspaper column on Sunday that Fight Academy - the
Sheffield-based organisation involved in Ricky Hatton's next fight on November
26 - is an unlicensed promoter.
Warren went on to accuse the sport's governing body of "a clear breach of
board rules", adding: "Their failure to enforce them raises questions about
their role as the sole custodians of our sport".
Warren on Friday dropped his court bid for an injunction to prevent Hatton's
first IBF light-welterweight title defence against Carlos Maussa from taking
place, but will still pursue a legal claim for damages.
However in a statement released to PA Sport the board responded to Warren's
accusations and added they may summon the promoter to explain his comments.
The board's general secretary Simon Block said in the statement: "The
stewards of the British Boxing Board of Control will be very disappointed to
learn of promoter Frank Warren's article.
"These comments will no doubt be the subject of further consideration and it
may well be that Mr Warren will be required to give an explanation as to why,
and on what grounds, they have been made.
"There can be no question that any tournament sanctioned by the British
Boxing Board of Control was not covered by the board's insurance policy and the
board categorically and absolutely refutes any suggestion that "by its own
admission" it has permitted an unlicensed promoter to promote a boxing
tournament within its jurisdiction."
Warren's claim has highlighted a technicality within the board's licensing
regulations which requires a specifically named individual or party to act as a
show's sole promoter.
Fight Academy's three main backers - Dennis Hobson, Robert Waterman and Jim
Evans - all hold individual promoters' licenses but not as a collective.
When organisations such as Warren's Sports Network or Barry Hearn's Matchroom
'promote' a show, they are careful to always refer to Warren or Hearn - the
specific licence holders - as acting on their company's behalf.
The board are likely to pursue Fight Academy's oversight and will require one
of the above named individuals to make it clear they are effectively acting as
the individual promoter of next month's show.
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