Frank Warren worked closely with the late Ricky Hatton and has admitted there is another boxer in his current ranks who reminds him of the Manchester legend.
Warren guided Hatton through the first eight years of his career and saw him win all 38 fights before he then stepped into the ring with Australian Kostya Tszyu in 2005.
It was Hatton’s maiden world title fight, and though he was the underdog, he came through with an 11th-round KO victory to lift the IBF and Ring Magazine light welterweight belts.
Hatton fought on under other promoters before retiring, but reunited with Warren a year later when he became a promoter and partnered with BoxNation, the boxing TV channel backed by Warren.
Warren has since worked with many stars including heavyweight champions Daniel Dubois and Tyson Fury, but also former British and Commonwealth middleweight champion Nathan Heaney, who fights for the last time this weekend.
Speaking to BoxNation, Warren was asked what it was like to promote Heaney and he was full of praise for the Stoke-on-Trent man.
“I think the first time we promoted him we did what we call a small hall show and I think he sold every ticket in the venue and the atmosphere was amazing. He normally takes 2000 people along with him.
“He’s a big ticket-selling fighter and I think its really down to who he is, which is like Ricky Hatton, a man of the people, just an all round good guy and I’m really pleased and proud with what he’s done. He’s used the best of his ability and every time he steps in the ring he gives everything.
The hugely popular Heaney takes on Gerome Warburton in a much anticipated rematch at Birmingham’s bp pulse LIVE, having taken a shock defeat in the first fight that extinguished any dreams of a world title contest for the 37 year old.
