Frank Warren has said he is happy to help out one of his former heavyweight boxers even if he no longer promotes him.
Warren has been in the sport for several decades so will know first hand that it is often fighters themselves who are the last to recognise when they should walk away from the sport.
Many go on and have several more fights than their nearest and dearest would recommend, whether that’s great champions like Muhammad Ali or modern-day fighters such as Derek Chisora, who always said he would retire after 50 contests but has not yet officially announced his retirement.
One boxer in a similar situation right now is Brit Joe Joyce. He has lost five of his last six contests, with just one low-key win against Kash Ali in the midst of that run, which dates back to April 2023.
Speaking to Seconds Out, Warren confirmed he no longer promotes Joyce but wished him well and offered any help he may need.
“Our contract expired with him. I like Joe, I think Joe is a super bloke, I really enjoyed promoting him and being involved with him. I know he had some problems. It’s not my business to say what they are, but I wish the best for him. If I can help in any way, doing anything, I’m here for him.”
A month after his latest loss out in Russia to the unknown Artem Suslenkov, Joyce suggested this week he is ready to continue fighting.
The former Olympic silver medallist is known for being a rather slow mover who has taken plenty of punishment in losses to the likes of Zhilei Zhang, who stopped him twice, Chisora and Filip Hrgovic.
Without a promoter, he may find it hard to get back in action, which may be a blessing in disguise given that he admitted recently that he cannot remember the end of his last contest.
