What we know in the latest Ben Shalom, Frank Warren dispute

The British boxing scene has recently been marked by a series of disputes between prominent promoters Ben Shalom and Frank Warren, the pair have had a number of disputes. Most recently Ben Shalom deemed Frank Warren’s statement about Ben Whittaker v Liam Cameron as “over the top as usual”. He went on to say he was confused by the situation. Boxing fans will hope that Shalom and Warren will be able to put differences aside and make Whittaker vs Cameron happen.

Ben Shalom, the 30-year-old founder and CEO of Boxxer, becamw the youngest licensed promoter in the United Kingdom at just 23 years old. Since establishing Boxxer, he has aimed to bring a fresh perspective to boxing, focusing on diversity and investing in young talent. His partnership with Sky Sports has further elevated his profile in the industry. 

Frank Warren, a veteran promoter and head of Queensberry Promotions, has been a dominant figure in British boxing for decades. Known for his extensive experience and a roster of high-profile fighters, Warren has played a significant role in shaping the sport nationally.

Tensions between Shalom and Warren have escalated over several incidents. One previous dispute arose following the bout between Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke. Clarke sustained a serious jaw injury during the fight, leading Shalom to question the legitimacy of Wardley’s gloves, suggesting they may have been tampered with. Warren vehemently denied these allegations, labelling them as libellous and baseless. He emphasised that the British Boxing Board of Control had thoroughly inspected and approved the gloves, defending the integrity of the sport and threatening legal action against Shalom for tarnishing Wardley’s reputation. 

Another point of contention occurred during a fight week in Saudi Arabia. Footage emerged of Shalom and Warren engaging in a heated argument. Warren accused Shalom of being “disrespectful” and “pathetic,” alleging that Shalom was overly concerned with his positioning during televised events and photographs, rather than focusing on the boxers. Warren criticised Shalom’s behaviour as unprofessional and indicative of misplaced priorities. 

These disputes have attracted attention from other industry figures. Simon Jordan, a sports commentator, accused Warren and fellow promoter Eddie Hearn of bullying Shalom. Jordan suggested that the established promoters were undermining Shalom’s efforts and dismissing his contributions to the sport.