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Frank Warren hopes Warrington-Frampton and Whyte-Chisora won’t clash


Frank Warren is hopeful that Carl Frampton‘s world title challenge this December will be the only show in town.

The Belfast featherweight takes on IBF champion Josh Warrington at the Manchester Arena on December 22nd, live on BT Sport Box Office, but the earning potential for the fight could be severely impacted by the actions of Warren’s promotional rival.

Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn this week revealed that he intends to put on a big show at the O2 Arena in London between feuding heavyweights Dillian Whyte and Dereck Chisora. This rematch would be shown on Sky Box Office and would be in direct competition with Warrington-Frampton.

Hearn has noted that he is restricted by a lack of venues in December but Warren is unhappy that his English rival is looking to proceed on the date.

Speaking on the potential clash, Queensberry boss Warren told Boxing Social that “I hope that’s not going to be the case because that’s not fair on the fans and it’s the fans that matter.”

“We’ve mentioned our date many, many weeks ago.”

It should be noted that – bar deducive fans and media reports – there had been no public talk of December 22nd from Warren before Friday although, granted, his intentions may have been known behind the scenes.

Warrington v Frampton was finally officially announced yesterday but confirmation for Whyte v Chisora 2 is still forthcoming.

Warren, no doubt looking to stir the pot, does not believe that a rematch between the Jamaican and Zimbabwean is the best way forward.

The promotional veteran instead feels one should face WBA-WBO-IBF champion Anthony Joshua who defends his belts versus Alexander Povetkin next Saturday at Wembley and already has an April date lined up for the stadium.

While the winner of Whyte-Chisora 2 will remain a potential Joshua opponent for April – Warren feels both should be pushing for a fight with the unified champion now rather than risking fighting each other.

He outlined how “it’s a decent rematch but if I was one of them [I’d be thinking] what are they fighting each other for.”

“One of them should be fighting Joshua, that’s where the big payday is, that’s what I would be doing if I was Dereck or Dillian, I wouldn’t be standing for that.”

Indeed, Warren also hinted that the repeat heavyweight brawl, which was one of the Fights of 2016, is further away than some may think.

The Londoner revealed that “I don’t think Dereck has signed for the fight.”

“Yesterday [Thursday] he was having breakfast with – well, I’m not going to say who it was with – but, as I understand, he certainly had not signed for that fight yet.”

Watch Frank Warren’s interview with Boxing Social in full below:

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Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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