Frank Warren begins legal action against boxer Chris Eubank Jr for defamation – after he claimed Queensbury promoter had been ‘lying and cheating his way through boxing’ in astonishing outburst
Frank Warren has commenced legal proceedings against middleweight boxer Chris Eubank Junior after the fighter said he had been ‘lying and cheating his way through boxing’ in a remarkable rant.
The Queensbury promoter has managed some of the biggest names in the sport in a career spanning five decades, including Tyson Fury, Naseem Hamed, Frank Bruno and Amir Khan.
Eubank Jr, 35, was the holder of the WBA middleweight title twice between 2015 and 2021 and the IBO super-middleweight title twice between 2017 and 2019.
The boxer’s father Chris Eubank was also a client of Warren’s and was a world champion in two divisions.
But Warren was on the receiving end of an astonishing outburst from Eubank Jr in a press conference ahead of the Saudi Arabia bout between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol in October, which the Brit was fighting on the undercard of.
Now the Hall of Fame promoter has begun legal action against the boxer for defamation in a case listed as ‘Media and Communication: Defamation – libel and slander’ according to the HM Courts and Tribunals e-filing service, The Athletic reports.
Frank Warren filed legal action against Chris Eubank Jr for defamation on December 23
The boxer (left) labelled Warren a ‘scumbag’ in a shocking press conference in September
He also claimed the promoter had been ‘lying and cheating his way through boxing’
Warren filed the legal proceedings on December 23.
The 72-year-old had accepted an apology issued by Eubank Jr after after he hit out at ‘scumbag’ promoters during an extraordinary press conference in September ahead of his clash with Poland’s Kamil Szeremeta – his first since September 2023.
The Hove-born fighter was questioned about his recent decision to sign for Ben Shalom’s BOXXER promotions, promoting Eubank Jr to round on other promoters.
‘Why BOXXER? Because every other promoter out here is a scumbag,’ he said.
‘We’ve got Frank Warren behind me, he has been lying and cheating his way through boxing for the last couple of decades.
‘He [Warren] sued me for a couple of hundred thousand a few years ago so obviously I’d never go with him. Scumbag.
‘Kalle Sauerland, kept me in a terrible contract for several years. Scumbag.
‘Eddie Hearn and Frank Smith tried everything they could to make this Connor Benn fight [in October 2022 after Benn tested positive for a performance enhancing substance]. So yes, scumbags. The only one who isn’t is Turki Alalshikh [Saudi Arabia’s boxing powerbroker].
Eubank Jr issued an apology after blasting several promoters at the press conference
The boxer took aim at promoters in London provoking a furious response from Warren
Warren interjected during Eubank Jr’s comments and later threatened to take legal action
‘This is a man who isn’t trying to take money for fighters, and use lawyers and accountants in slave contracts.’
A visibly furious Warren had interjected during Eubank Jnr’s comments, with the Queensbury Promoters chief stating, ‘Why have we got to listen to this scumbag?
‘Fight Hamzah Sheeraz then, scumbag. Why don’t you fight certain fighters?’
Warren, who had previously sued Eubank Jnr for a breach of contract, later threatened to take legal action over the boxer’s comments.
‘The bottom line of it is very simple. He was sued by me for a legal breach of a contract and I was successful in suing him and he paid substantial damages,’ Warren said in an interview on talkSPORT.
‘Now you know what he can’t accept is what’s legal and what’s not. And as regarding what he’s just said just so you know I’m gonna keep it short and sweet. He’s gonna get sued again for the comments that he’s made publicly.
‘He will be sued and he will have a problem over that and anybody else who says it, they can get in that queue.’
Eubank Jnr had also shared a video of his comments on social media, writing ‘Just telling it how it is’.
Eubank later issued a statement retracting his comments with Warren accepting his apology
Eubank’s rant came after he was asked why he had recently signed with BOXXER promotions
He is due to return to the ring in Saudi Arabia next month when he faces Kamil Szeremeta
A joint statement was later released by Eubank Jnr and Warren with the boxer apologising for his comments in the press conference.
‘Following today’s press conference for the historic Riyadh Season on October 12th, I would like to retract my inaccurate statements and offer my apologies to Frank Warren, Eddie Hearn and Kalle Sauerland,’ Eubank Jnr said.
‘I now wish to focus purely on boxing and preparing for a huge fight in Riyadh next month.’
Warren added: ‘I accept Chris’ apology and retraction. I too have said things before and apologise to him also if any criticism of him has upset him in the past.
‘I look forward to seeing him compete on this huge Riyadh Season card. We look ahead to some potentially massive bouts in the future.’
