In Defence Of Don King??

[QueensburyRules]

Don King completely ruined Tyson, simple as that.

- - In league with Givens and her witchy mother who gave Baseball HOFer Dave Winfield Herpes...

[billeau2]

King was diabolically smart, capable and is as evil as the days are long on Jupiter. He put together great cards but ruined fighters without blinking. I hate Arum as much... I do not think Arum squeezed King out so much as fighters eventually realized what would happen if they worked with King. Arum has always been willing to cck block the fans with shiaty fights, which is perhaps the one thing King would not do. Go figure!

As a master criminal King's resume is almost as impressive, if not more so, than as a promoter. He basically managed to be the last man standing in a Cleveland crime war where city blocks were routinely bombed to get "a guy." A place Where long standing organized crime figures wanting everything (maybe that is where King got the greed) including King's piece of the action, where outmanuveured by Don the stomp on header! King managed to not get a scratch on him while Schultz got bullets to the viscera and others got blown to smithereens... And the day after? one could still play the numbers with Don King!

Fascinating and very bad person.

[billeau2]

HE put together some of the greatest cards of all-time.

That's the ONLY good thing I will say about him.

He was a piece of crap in virtually every way.

I would like to amend your list:

The good things about King are:

1. Put on great cards
2. Could stomp a head like no other
3. Is not Arum...
4. Will eventually pass away, but don't hold your breath.
5. Inspired with haircut the Sesame Street character Roosevelt Franklin.

[Willie Pep 229]

No! I can't, no one can.

Any fight he made would have happened anyway.

He was not a mover and shaker of the game. He was a parasite.

[JAB5239]

No! I can't, no one can.

Any fight he made would have happened anyway.

He was not a mover and shaker of the game. He was a parasite.

You're probably right that the fights would have been made anyway. But I doubt we would have gotten the "thrilla in Manila " or "rumble in the jungle" without King.

[Willie Pep 229]

You're probably right that the fights would have been made anyway. But I doubt we would have gotten the "thrilla in Manila " or "rumble in the jungle" without King.

I think another Ali go with Frazier was in the cards.

What MAYBE he gets credit for is Foreman-Ali. Ali wasn't respected much at that moment and he had to go outside of the country to find the money.

So maybe I'll concede that fight. But Ali-Frazier III was going to happen regardless of where the title laid.

[Willie Pep 229]

You're probably right that the fights would have been made anyway. But I doubt we would have gotten the "thrilla in Manila " or "rumble in the jungle" without King.

A quick story.

I believe it was Bob Goodman (or possibly Al Braverman) was asked in an interview: Of all of Don King's promotions, what was the easiest life gate to sell?

The reply: "Oh! That's easy. The Thrilla in Manila. Marcos ordered every one to buy a ticket."

[JAB5239]

A quick story.

I believe it was Bob Goodman (or possibly Al Braverman) was asked in an interview: Of all of Don King's promotions, what was the easiest life gate to sell?

The reply: "Oh! That's easy. The Thrilla in Manila. Marcos ordered every one to buy a ticket."

I don't doubt that for a second. My point is though it was the event, not the fight that King sold. And he did it (in these two instances) where fights like this had never been held. I could be wrong?, but I don't remember and promoter before him that was so brash as to go to these places and sell these fights. On top of it, he made out like a bandit just as he always has. I don't like Don King the man, but his business savvy was top notch.

[Willie Pep 229]

I don't doubt that for a second. My point is though it was the event, not the fight that King sold. And he did it (in these two instances) where fights like this had never been held. I could be wrong?, but I don't remember and promoter before him that was so brash as to go to these places and sell these fights. On top of it, he made out like a bandit just as he always has. I don't like Don King the man, but his business savvy was top notch.

Yeah! That was just for fun I was not trying to make a point.

Do you think he made big money out of Africa?

The King (not Don King) covered the nut for the fighters. But the delay must of cost Don King. The poor close circuit production must of resulted in diminished revenue as well. *

I wonder if that was a big money maker for him.

It certainly announced he was top of the game and he made millions after it. But I wonder about that fight's actual economic success.

* Plus there was an international close circuit pop concert that Don King was bought into, (with Sam Cooke) in coordination with the fight, which fell flat come the delay.

[JAB5239]

Yeah! That was just for fun I was not trying to make a point.

Do you think he made big money out of Africa?

The King (not Don King) covered the nut for the fighters. But the delay must of cost Don King. The poor close circuit production must of resulted in diminished revenue as well. *

I wonder if that was a big money maker for him.

It certainly announced he was top of the game and he made millions after it. But I wonder about that fight's actual economic success.

* Plus there was an international close circuit pop concert that Don King was bought into, (with Sam Cooke) in coordination with the fight, which fell flat come the delay.

How much is don't know. But I'm sure he made plenty and gave us an unforgettable event. For as slimy as he is he has given us a lot of huge cards. I used to have the biography on him "DonKing:His life and crimes". Great book and I'm sure the answer to your question is in there. Wish I still had it to look.