Frank Maloney
Encyclopedia
Frank Maloney is a boxing
manager and promoter and United Kingdom Independence Party
(UKIP) politician. He is most famous for managing Lennox Lewis
to the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship of the World.
, to Irish
parents. He began boxing at school. In his youth he wanted to become a Catholic
priest
, however he did not enjoy his time at a seminary
. After failing in attempts to become a jockey
and a professional footballer
, he became a chef
. He continued boxing and began training other boxers and organising amateur contests before the age of twenty. He became a professional trainer in the late 1970s, forming a working relationship with Frank Warren
.
After splitting with Warren in the 1980s, Maloney moved into management and began promoting professional fights. In 1989 he became Lennox Lewis
's manager, a relationship that lasted until 2001.
Though he is famous for leading Lennox Lewis to the top, he has also guided four other fighters to World Titles and has a string of British, European and Commonwealth Champions to his name. In 2009, he led the 'Boxing Binman' Rendall Munroe to five successive defenses of his European Super Bantamweight and this year will fight a final eliminator for the right to fight for the world title.
On 14 September 2009 he suffered a heart attack whilst watching his fighter John McDermott lose a contentious decision to Tyson Fury, the damage to his heart was discovered when admitted to hospital with shock after discovering his boxer Darren Sutherland hanged. It was reported that Maloney was not welcome at the funeral service of young Sutherland though reports circulated that his wife, Tracey, and mother, Maureen, attended.
, Maloney's priorities include combatting crime and reducing immigration
. He also wishes to abolish the Greater London Authority
and increase the powers of Mayor of London
, and has proposed the legalisation of brothels in order to take prostitution
off the streets. He stood in the London mayoral election, 2004
, coming fourth with just under 7% of the vote. In the 2010 General Election Maloney is standing for UKIP in the East London constituency of Barking
where other candidates include Labour MP Margaret Hodge
and head of the British National Party
, Nick Griffin
.
and gay
people. During the 2004 London mayoral election, he commented that he would not campaign in Camden
because there were "too many gays". He later justified his remarks, telling the BBC
"I don't want to campaign around gays...I don't think they do a lot for society...what I have a problem with is them openly flaunting their sexuality." James Davenport, chairman of Gay Conservatives called for Maloney's resignation as UKIP candidate, saying "Frank Maloney is a dangerous extremist and should resign or be sacked as UKIP's candidate for London mayor. UKIP must back or sack their homophobic candidate."
Maloney was accused of "Griffin
-like racism" during the 2004 London Mayoral Elections, and was described as a "dangerous racist". His campaign manager Gary Cartwright, a National Democrats candidate and organiser prior to joining UKIP, was a regular contributor to holocaust denier David Irving
's historical revisionist
Focal Point website
. During his 2004 election campaign Maloney addressed a meeting of the "Springbok Club" which has been described by Johann Hari
in The Independent
as a "racist organisation". Ken Livingstone
, in response to Maloney's campaign, stated that "UKIP are the British National Party in suits." In 2010 parliamentary candidate Maloney addressed a meeting of the Swinton Circle
.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
manager and promoter and United Kingdom Independence Party
United Kingdom Independence Party
The United Kingdom Independence Party is a eurosceptic and right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Whilst its primary goal is the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, the party has expanded beyond its single-issue image to develop a more comprehensive party platform.UKIP...
(UKIP) politician. He is most famous for managing Lennox Lewis
Lennox Lewis
Lennox Claudius Lewis, CM, CBE is a retired boxer and the most recent British undisputed world heavyweight champion. He holds dual British and Canadian citizenship...
to the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship of the World.
Early life
He was born in PeckhamPeckham
Peckham is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, to Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
parents. He began boxing at school. In his youth he wanted to become a Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, however he did not enjoy his time at a seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
. After failing in attempts to become a jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
and a professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, he became a chef
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
. He continued boxing and began training other boxers and organising amateur contests before the age of twenty. He became a professional trainer in the late 1970s, forming a working relationship with Frank Warren
Frank Warren (promoter)
Frank Darren Warren is an English boxing manager and promoter.-Early life and early career:The son of a bookmaker, Warren trained as a solicitor's clerk with J Tickle & Co on Southampton Row in London....
.
After splitting with Warren in the 1980s, Maloney moved into management and began promoting professional fights. In 1989 he became Lennox Lewis
Lennox Lewis
Lennox Claudius Lewis, CM, CBE is a retired boxer and the most recent British undisputed world heavyweight champion. He holds dual British and Canadian citizenship...
's manager, a relationship that lasted until 2001.
Boxing promotion
Frank Maloney celebrated 25 years in boxing promotions by holding a Gala Dinner Boxing Show on St George's Day 2009. He was also voted European Promoter of the Year for 2009.Though he is famous for leading Lennox Lewis to the top, he has also guided four other fighters to World Titles and has a string of British, European and Commonwealth Champions to his name. In 2009, he led the 'Boxing Binman' Rendall Munroe to five successive defenses of his European Super Bantamweight and this year will fight a final eliminator for the right to fight for the world title.
On 14 September 2009 he suffered a heart attack whilst watching his fighter John McDermott lose a contentious decision to Tyson Fury, the damage to his heart was discovered when admitted to hospital with shock after discovering his boxer Darren Sutherland hanged. It was reported that Maloney was not welcome at the funeral service of young Sutherland though reports circulated that his wife, Tracey, and mother, Maureen, attended.
Political activities
As well as opposition to the United Kingdom's membership of the European UnionEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, Maloney's priorities include combatting crime and reducing immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
. He also wishes to abolish the Greater London Authority
Greater London Authority
The Greater London Authority is the top-tier administrative body for Greater London, England. It consists of a directly elected executive Mayor of London, currently Boris Johnson, and an elected 25-member London Assembly with scrutiny powers...
and increase the powers of Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
, and has proposed the legalisation of brothels in order to take prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
off the streets. He stood in the London mayoral election, 2004
London mayoral election, 2004
The 2004 election to the post of Mayor of London took place on 10 June 2004. It was being held on the same day as other local elections and the UK part of the 2004 European Parliament elections, so Londoners had a total of five votes on three ballot papers. Polling opened at 07:00 local time, and...
, coming fourth with just under 7% of the vote. In the 2010 General Election Maloney is standing for UKIP in the East London constituency of Barking
Barking (UK Parliament constituency)
Barking is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. It has elected Labour MPs since its creation in 1945, usually with strong majorities.- Boundaries :The...
where other candidates include Labour MP Margaret Hodge
Margaret Hodge
Margaret Hodge MBE MP, also known as Lady Hodge by virtue of her husband's knighthood, is a British Labour politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Barking since 1994. She was the first Minister for Children in 2003 and was Minister of State for Culture and Tourism at the Department...
and head of the British National Party
British National Party
The British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982...
, Nick Griffin
Nick Griffin
Nicholas John "Nick" Griffin is a British politician, chairman of the British National Party and Member of the European Parliament for North West England....
.
Allegations of homophobia and racism
Maloney has received criticism for his comments about lesbianLesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
and gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
people. During the 2004 London mayoral election, he commented that he would not campaign in Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
because there were "too many gays". He later justified his remarks, telling the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
"I don't want to campaign around gays...I don't think they do a lot for society...what I have a problem with is them openly flaunting their sexuality." James Davenport, chairman of Gay Conservatives called for Maloney's resignation as UKIP candidate, saying "Frank Maloney is a dangerous extremist and should resign or be sacked as UKIP's candidate for London mayor. UKIP must back or sack their homophobic candidate."
Maloney was accused of "Griffin
Nick Griffin
Nicholas John "Nick" Griffin is a British politician, chairman of the British National Party and Member of the European Parliament for North West England....
-like racism" during the 2004 London Mayoral Elections, and was described as a "dangerous racist". His campaign manager Gary Cartwright, a National Democrats candidate and organiser prior to joining UKIP, was a regular contributor to holocaust denier David Irving
David Irving
David John Cawdell Irving is an English writer,best known for his denial of the Holocaust, who specialises in the military and political history of World War II, with a focus on Nazi Germany...
's historical revisionist
Historical revisionism (negationism)
Historical revisionism is either the legitimate scholastic re-examination of existing knowledge about a historical event, or the illegitimate distortion of the historical record such that certain events appear in a more or less favourable light. For the former, i.e. the academic pursuit, see...
Focal Point website
. During his 2004 election campaign Maloney addressed a meeting of the "Springbok Club" which has been described by Johann Hari
Johann Hari
Johann Hari is an award winning British journalist who has been a columnist at The Independent, the The Huffington Post, and contributed to several other publications. In 2011, Hari was accused of plagiarism; he subsequently was suspended from The Independent and surrendered his 2008 Orwell Prize...
in The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
as a "racist organisation". Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone
Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
, in response to Maloney's campaign, stated that "UKIP are the British National Party in suits." In 2010 parliamentary candidate Maloney addressed a meeting of the Swinton Circle
Swinton circle
The London Swinton Circle is a British pressure group with links to the Conservative Party. It states that it stands for "traditional Conservative and Unionist principles"-History and membership:...
.