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Jason White @Whiteeeeey
How did you make the move into promoting?
The move into promoting all came about on the back of me training fighters. One of the kids I was training was really talented, and I had high hopes for him. He was leant on by a promoter who basically told him that while ever he was with me his career would go nowhere. I looked at it objectively and could see the point being made - so I told the fighter that he should leave me and further his career as was being suggested to him. I wanted to do the best thing for him. However I made the declaration to myself that I wouldn't lose another fighter in the same way so I worked hard, obtained my managers and promoters licence in 2003 and haven't looked back since.
Tell me about your time working with David Haye (Dave was Head of Boxing for Hayemaker Promotions from 2008 to 2011)
I'd known David and Adam Booth (Haye's trainer) for a number of years and they'd mentioned several times how they would like me to work alongside them but I'd always wanted to follow my own path. I'd been promoting my own shows and wanted to continue in that vein. I took a call from Adam one day in early 2008 saying that he and David were coming up to Sheffield and wanted a meeting with me. We met and they ran through their plans and ideas about setting Hayemaker up. They told me they had been impressed with what I was doing on a shoestring budget and wanted to see what I could do with the larger budget that David brought with him. I have to admit - I was excited about what they were telling me, so I went with it and agreed to become Head of Boxing for the brand. That job involved putting on the shows not only for David, but George Groves, David Price and others including World title bouts. It was a great time and the brand had a TV deal with Setanta. However when Setanta collapsed and David retired (after losing to Wladimir Klitchsko) I returned to concentrating on my own business, Coldwell Boxing once more.
putting on the shows not only for David, but George Groves, David Price and others including World title bouts. It was a great time and the brand had a TV deal with Setanta. However when Setanta collapsed and David retired (after losing to Wladimir Klitchsko) I returned to concentrating on my own business, Coldwell Boxing once more.
Which other promoters do you admire?
I work really well with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing and like what they are currently doing for the British fight game. I also respect how Frank Warren has stopped at the top for such a long period of time providing massive fights and great shows. I have also worked (and still do) with Tommy Gilmour and I have learned a lot of important things about the game from him. My personal view is that the more good promoters there are in the game, the better it is for boxing - there's enough out there for all of us to have a slice of the pie. It's like getting my shows on TV - I'd love a piece of the TV scene but don't need all of it. I think that if promoters are doing well then boxing on the whole is doing well.
Who's the best fighter you've trained?
That's a difficult question! I've spent time working spent time working with some great fighters, especially during the time I was at Hayemaker such as David Price, George Groves and even a few weeks with Deontay Wilder, but if I was going for my own fighter then it would probably have to be Ryan Rhodes. When Ryan came to work with me his career appeared to be nearing the end but we relaunched him, got him back on track and subsequently took Ryan to the European title and then fought for the World title. That was fantastic and well deserved. I say 'probably' because I also had Kell Brook win the British Title with me and he is one kid that has enormous potential. He could go on to be something really special in the future.