Is Don King the greatest promoter in the history of boxing?

Question

I think so.
The real question is if he is the greatest promoter in the history of sport.
Don King's transgressions against fighters are legendary and infamous, and he has long been suspected of having ties to organized crime - at a 1992 senate hearing, he took the 5th when questioned about dealings with John Gotti.
He has been sued by, amongst others - Terry Norris, Mike Tyson, Tim Witherspoon and Lloyds of London.

However - without Don King there would have been no Rumble In The Jungle, no Ali/Fraziers, no creation of the myth of Mike Tyson, no Tyson/Holyfield - and he is certainly the father of women's boxing as it is today.

Here's a guy that took the ethics and street accumen that he learnt as a hustler on the streets of Cleveland, applied it to big business and became a millionaire many times over.

Ultimately, his, and others like his days are numbered, as Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Productions changes boxing business forever.

Only in America

pancho - I agree. King and Arums' days are numbered. Golden Boy Productions is taking care of that.
Arum and King will find another hustle.

I'm surprised that the usual suspects have not gone near this question - da1Prophet, toughguy etc...c'mon guys. This question is for the true boxing fans.

Answer 1

As far as putting together the big fights that people want to see, yes, but i think by him being sued by so many of his fighters and being under investigation for corruption leaves a bad taste in people's mouths about him. i don't think he has the fighter's best interest at hand, he's all about the dollar. I think a company like Golden Boy Promotions will ultimately be better for the sport because it's being run by fighters like De la Hoya and Hopkins and that they will look out for the fighters because they've walked in their shoes. I've heard that they are already trying to get a pension for fighters so when they retire, they'll have something to live on. That's good for the sport.

Answer 2

the two, in case you worked for him, he's devil himself, yet King has positioned some super enjoying cards collectively over the years and commonplace himself because of the fact the dominant promoter of his era. Arum, the Duva's and others are reliable, yet Don is the suitable. Boxing benefited immeasurably from King, and Don did no longer due too badly the two. Golden Boy is the way forward for boxing, Don remains very plenty it rather is recent. Love him or hate him, Don King is far and away the main miraculous and somewhat probably the main useful impact in boxing history, actual the main achieved promoter. what share former numbers runners do you recognize who very own their very own satellite tv for pc?

Answer 3

Boxing,as a sport has always been a subject of contraversy,throwing a fight,unscrupolous managers,judges that can be bought,even fighters that get their way because they bring in the crowds have been around for decades,King just took it a step farther by not only buying the judges,setting up mismaches and fooling the public,but he also dug in to the fighters purse and stole their winnings,King and not Gotti is the real Teflon thug

Answer 4

And without Hitler, there would be no WW 2.

This what I mean about being objective. I am not in his corner just because of civil rights (meaning just because we are both black). He is always talking about his being a black brother and he has ripped off more black fighters than Simon Legree (a white plantation overseer). If I met him, I wouldn't even shake his hand.

So that Brad, Santana d and tough guy can see the real me, objectivity and logic mean a lot to me (in the streets it is called coming correct). King is a living example of why it is easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than a rich man/businessman/millionaire to enter the kingdom of heaven.

I am a fan of Spike Lee "Do the Right Thing"

Answer 5

Don King has been the greatest promoter since the Rumble in the Jungle but he is coming to the end of a long career.

Answer 6

without a doubt, i'm sure boxing fans will be able to name other promoters but don king is such a big character and has had a great reputation for bringing about great matchups that even if you've never watched a boxing match in your life you will know or have heard of don king.

he's even parodied in the simpsons!

Answer 7

Smart man