Fighting On The Inside with Frank Maloney
December 2009 was a time when many were dreaming of a white Christmas and depending on where you live some dreams became reality as the snow flakes began to fall.
While that has now come and gone, promoter and soon to be UKIP candidate Frank Maloney has a dream that lasts for more than a couple of weeks.
Having tasted the height of his success as a promoter and manager with British heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis, Frank (left with Carl Johanneson and Michael Gomez, c. Jane Warburton) is hungry for another world heavyweight champion from these shores and believes he will live his dream.
On a recent visit to his Chislehurst office the little man with a big personality shared his hopes and heart without reservation.
My journey from the local train station to arriving at Frank’s premises was a little like trying to find another British heavyweight world champion, in that it’s not the easiest thing to come by!
But with the help of his assistant James’ directions, after about half an hour I made my way into the world of Frank Maloney Promotions at about 11.30 am.
After taking the stairs James directed me to go straight in. On entering Maloney’s office in between a phone call Frank said “sit down and fire away."
The surroundings bear the proud reminders of Maloney’s achievements and connections with pictures of Lennox Lewis, a statue of Nelson Mandela (given to him by the man himself) and a cuddly version of Don King!
Frank is busy yet calm and philosophical.
2009 was a year that didn’t quite kill Maloney but threw some vicious shots his way. So if one of Frank's fighter's mottos (Jason Booth) ”What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” is right then he must be a candidate for the world stongest man, considering his Olympic medallist Darren Sutherland’s suicide and the subsequent heart problems that followed.
Maloney doesn’t bear the wounds of his personal wars. I have heard it said that the trials of life can do one of two things to you, make you bitter or make you better.
In Frank’s case it seems to have done the latter. Frank is humorous, polite and candid. A far cry from how he once was as Maloney himself admits he was somewhat different during the days of Lewis’s reign.
"I was very arrogant with the press and when negotiating. I didn’t like to queue up anywhere and made the excuse it’s because I’m Lennox’s manager. But as you get older you get wiser. I’m not as aggressive with my staff. I’m more laid back than I use to because of what I’ve been through.”
A day in his life now begins during the hours when many are tucked up in their beds. At four or five in the morning Frank rises to scan through the various boxing websites and forums. He has some wise words for us web-writers.
"Just write the truth and how you see it.”
Maloney is a fan of boxing websites but has a few wishes for improvement in this new year.
"Turn up for weigh-ins and press conferences and when you do, ask questions. Write fight previews instead of just turning up on fight night.”
I thought the whole point of being a writer on a sport you love would be to get in the cut and thrust of pre-fight build up and find out what the fighter and promoter has to say. (I think my Editor agrees as he has often said there is nothing like being there)
While on the subject of writing what does Frank think of the standard?
“There are some good young writers on the internet but I am not going to mention names because they might get big-headed.”
Maloney says our writing should create a feeling that you are there at the venue itself.
If Frank was a fighter he would walk out to the sound of a Cockney favourite song “Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner” while being his own promoter. He puts himself on a par with Frank Warren as the leading promoter in Britain.
And he would love to face Amir Khan although he admits he may not win! The obvious attraction is the size of such an occasion and the money it would generate.
What one word best describes Frank?
"Disorganised, but according to his assistant James it’s 'loose cannon'.”
And who is the best British fighter today?
"David Haye followed by Carl Froch and Amir Khan.”
I suggested to Frank his fighter Rendall Munroe would have been a good shout for British fighter of the year to which he agreed by suggesting the awards should separate British world champions and current contenders into separate categories.
If Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather suddenly called it a day, Maloney thinks Wladimir Klitschko would be the pound for pound number one.
Frank lists Lennox crushing Razor Ruddock in October 1992 at Earls Court alongside Paul Ingle beating Junior Jones in Madison Square Garden, on the same bill where Lewis destroyed Michael Grant (April 2000) as his highlights.
For a little man Maloney thinks big and has got more than a few rounds left in the tank.
After over an hour our time drew to a close. Considering Frank had only agreed to a half an hour chat Maloney showed himself to be media friendly. (I wish all promoters were like this rather than trying to muzzle anything and everything that writes a personal and unbiased view about one of their fighters.)
2010 could be a big way for him in more ways than one. On the fight front Rendall Munroe may follow Lennox Lewis, Paul Ingle, Scott Harrison and David Haye as British world champions with the guidance of Maloney.
Don’t forget his dream of another British heavyweight world champion may draw a little closer if David Price and Tom Dallas keep improving. Frank feels Dallas could just be a quiet outsider in the current British heavyweight shake up.
Outside of the ring Frank is fighting for what he believes in, namely justice and wants to put British identity back into Britain.
As he embarks on running for a seat in Barking and Dagenham, one of his opponents standing in the opposite corner is BNP leader Nick Griffin.
After the type of recent life training Maloney has endured I would hardly think he’s running scared.
The dreamer lives on!
