The libel action brought by Frank Warren, the well-known boxing promoter, against Random House the publisher has settled. Mr Warren has accepted an offer of £115,000 in damages in addition to his costs.
Mr Warren complained of three allegations made in the boxer Ricky Hatton’s autobiography The Hitman, My Story. Mr Hatton was formerly managed and promoted by Mr Warren and the allegations concerned events which occurred during this period.
In regard to one of the allegations, concerning a fight between Vince Phillips and Hatton, an offer of amends had been made and accepted, which Random House later unsuccessfully applied to withdraw with a view to pleading justification. In regard to the other two allegations, that Mr Warren had pressured Hatton into fighting Carlos Vilches despite knowing that he was not fit enough for the fight and that he had exaggerated the money earned by Hatton whilst managed by him, the pleaded defence was justification.
See Warren wins offer of amends appeal for background concerning the litigation and particularly Random House’s attempt to withdraw its offer of amends re the Phillips allegation.
5RB’s Adrienne Page QC and William Bennett (instructed by Carter-Ruck) appeared for the Claimant, while Desmond Browne QC and Matthew Nicklin (instructed by Simons Muirhead & Burton) appeared for the Defendant.
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