clarinews@clarinet.com (01/18/90)
LONDON (UPI) -- Terry Marsh, the undefeated former world light welterweight champion, was arrested Wednesday by police investigating the shooting of his ex-manager, boxing promoter Frank Warren. Marsh, 31, was arrested at Gatwick Airport, outside London, after flying in from the United States, where he watched Nigel Benn's victory over Sanderline Williams last Sunday. ``We have detained a man aged 31 in connection with the Frank Warren shooting. He comes from Essex and has been taken to a police station in east London,'' police said. A spokesman for Scotland Yard later identified the man as Marsh, but was unable to say what connection there was between Marsh and the shooting. Warren was shot at point-blank range as he arrived at a London boxing promotion in his chaffeur-driven limousine last November. Police said the gunman probably waited in the area for about half an hour. A passenger in Warren's car struggled with the gunman, who escapced. Warren was on a life-support machine for several days before recovering. At the time, Detective Superintendent Jeff Rees said, ``It is impossible to say at this moment that there is a definite link with the boxing scene, but we are pursuing a number of avenues including talking to members of the boxing fraternity.'' Warren declined comment on Marsh's arrest. Marsh won the International Boxing Federation light welterweight title from American Joe Manly in March 1987. He made a successful defense later that year. Warren was Marsh's manager during his rise to the championship, but their business relationship ended Sept. 14, 1987, when Marsh told a newspaper he was suffering from epilepsy. Marsh admitted he had kept his seizures secret from his manager, his friends and his family. ``I was more interested in keeping my fight career going and the prize money rolling in,'' Marsh said. Warren said he was upset by Marsh's secrecy and his decision to tell the newspapers without informing him. When he retired, Marsh's career record stood at 26 wins and one draw. A year and a half after his retirement Marsh sought a second medical opinion and tried to launch a comeback. He was unsuccessful and instead registered with the British Boxing Board as a manager and as a co-promoter with Frank Maloney.