Don King Turns 80, Still Making Bombastic Statements

by Scott Christ on Aug 20, 2011 11:50 AM EDT in Boxing News Analysis

Don King turned 80 years old today, and the Daily Mail has a long tour through King's career, and the man himself speaks on controversial topics such as his relationships with past star fighters (Ali, Tyson, etc.), his favorite fights he's ever promoted, and more.

But it was a statement about today's heavyweight division that caught my eye. It's nothing unusually ridiculous from King, but he's still going strong when a mic is in front of him:

He has not given up on a stagnant heavyweight division ‘even though the Klitschkos, who are good big men, are more champions of Germany than of the world and your David Haye was a horrible disappointment against Wladimir'.

King adds: ‘Haye would never have fought that feebly if he had been with me. He had the charisma and style to revive heavyweight boxing but, in a stadium full of Germans, he became one of many fighters I've known who were afraid to hit the white man.'

I fail to understand many things that Don King has said, but how David Haye would be a different fighter in the ring under his promotion is truly beyond me. I also don't really know what "the white man" has to do with anything, but hey, that's Don King for you.

Truth is, King is a marginalized promoter at this point who can't come close to keeping pace with Top Rank or Golden Boy, and he lingers pretty well behind even DiBella and Shaw now. King is a character who occasionally promotes fights now, and as such, big deal, I guess. He's always going to be one of the most controversial characters in boxing so long as he's a character in boxing, and one of the most colorful and charismatic. He is who he is. Perhaps he'll get Kali Meehan that world title shot someday.

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haye

Haye would never sign with him, because he doesn’t want half his money stolen.

One year older, one step closer to a boxing world without King.

by edub001 on Aug 20, 2011 11:56 AM EDT reply actions

King doesn’t have enough money to entertain Haye in the first place.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Aug 20, 2011 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Guys like Don King and Fidel Castro live forever

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Aug 21, 2011 7:08 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I took that statement from King as a joke and smiled as i read it.
If he was serious he really should pack his bags and buy a one way ticket to the old folks/retirement home.

by Matt Mosley on Aug 20, 2011 12:20 PM EDT reply actions

BTW

The guy who wrote that article, Jeff Powell, seems typical, to me at least, of main stream press guys writing about boxing. Not a big deal i suppose but in the Daily Mail’s “Tale of the Tape” for Wlad v Haye he had Haye listed as 6’5". he’s also made other inaccurate statements in the past that escape me at the moment.
I just hate shoddy reporting like that. No one has ever listed Haye as 6’ 5".
Powell reminds me of a print version ITV’/Primetime’s atrocious John Rawling who gives the impression of being more interested in getting paid than actually taking the time to do a bit of research and getting the facts right.
Not that i’m criticising the article in the link, just that Powell seems to have a limited depth of knowledge of the sport in general. I say this after reading him many times in the Daily Mail newspaper.

by Matt Mosley on Aug 20, 2011 12:30 PM EDT reply actions

John Rawling who gives the impression of being more interested in getting paid than actually taking the time to do a bit of research and getting the facts right.

I likely have not heard Rawling do as much boxing as you have (or close), but I always got the same impression. I mean, I give Gus Johnson shit, but it’s more that I don’t like his style. I can say that I think Gus has, over time, REALLY tried to learn more about both boxing and MMA. He’s still behind where a play-by-play man for either sport should be, but he does seem like he tries. Rawling doesn’t seem like he tries.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Aug 20, 2011 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I see why you guys complain about Gus, but at least he is enthusiastic in his own, unique way :)

by Matt Mosley on Aug 20, 2011 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't mind Rawling,

But he does sound the ‘same’ when commentating, almost as if he reads a script rather than describe the detail if the fight as it happens.
I actually used to enjoy Ian Darke and Glenn Mcrory. I aleays feel they are passionate about boxing. Been a while Matt. :)

by Phill on Aug 20, 2011 4:31 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions