Frank Warren, the boxing promoter, denied last night there had been any bust-up with his long-time business partner, Don King, over his decision to pursue a deal with the American cable-television network, HBO, to show fights featuring the World Boxing Organisation featherweight champion, Naseem Hamed.
Although the agreement has yet to be confirmed, Hamed could earn as much as £8 million for his next six contests from HBO alone, according to reports.
Hamed must first defend his title against Jose Badillo of Puerto Rico in Sheffield tomorrow. HBO has promotional ties with King's chief rivals, Main Events, run by the Duva family, and Bob Arum's Top Rank Organisation. King's shows are featured on HBO's chief rival network, Showtime.
"Don and I have not had any arguments, but Naz's career has not moved as fast as it should have done," Warren said. "Showtime have not been able to show Naz because of their commitment to screen Don's shows, so Naz has not been getting the exposure he deserves.
"Don King has been the greatest promoter of all time. But he is 67 and I am 45 and I refuse to be in anybody's shadow. It's very important that I move forward. Perhaps I shall work with Don again, but I have a lot of fighters, including Europeans and Americans, to take care of, and I have to look to the future.
"Showtime will not be very happy but I am in the Naseem Hamed business and I go where the money is. HBO are very excited about the prospect of showing his fights and they have some of the best boxers in the division under contract."
Ulsterman Mark Winters is ready to repel the storm of Liverpool's Carl Wright when they clash for the vacant British lightwelterweight title at Sheffield Arena tomorrow night.
For the fight unbeaten Winters has placed himself under an intensive preparation programme.
"I've been training three times a day and taken six weeks off work for this fight, which is vital to my career," said the 25-year-old. "I expect Wright to come storming out at me, to try and intimidate me, but I'm ready for anything," he added.
Wright has mixed at a higher level, losing in the European title fight to Denmark's Soren Sondergaard - but he hasn't boxed for 12 months.
Winters, a Commonwealth Games silver medallist in 1994 when he lost to Peter Richardson, is confident that the time is right for him to strike gold as a professional.
"I've developed over the past two years and I'm hitting a lot harder now," he said. "Obviously I'm more of a boxer than a fighter, but I'll surprise Wright with my strength."
