Frank Maloney

Frank Maloney(Born 1952 or 1953^[1]) was a boxing manager and promoter and United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) politician. He was most famous for managing Lennox Lewis to the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship of the World.

Early life

He was born in Peckham, 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.

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.^[2]

Frank announced his retirement from the sport of boxing in October 2013.

Political activities

As well as opposition to the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union, 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.

Allegations of homophobia and racism

Maloney has received criticism for his comments about lesbian 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."^{[3][4][5] [6]}

Maloney was accused of "Griffin-like racism"^[7] during the 2004 London Mayoral Elections, and was described as a "dangerous racist".^[8] His campaign manager Gary Cartwright,^[9] a National Democrats candidate and organiser ^[10][11] prior to joining UKIP, was a regular contributor to holocaust denier David Irving's historical revisionist Focal Point website ^[12] .^[13][14] Ken Livingstone, in response to Maloney's campaign, stated that "UKIP are the British National Party in suits."^[15] In 2010 parliamentary candidate Maloney addressed a meeting of the Swinton Circle ^[16].

Personal life

He has been married for over 15 years to his second wife Tracey, they have two girls and a dog called Louie. He also has a daughter from his first marriage. He supports Millwall Football Club.^[17]

References