From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Donald "Don" King (born August 20, 1931), is a succesful American boxing promoter particularly known for his hairstyle.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Career as a boxing promoter 3 Popular culture 4 External links

Prior to entering the world of boxing, King lived in Cleveland, Ohio. After dropping out of Case Western Reserve University, he ran a bookmaking operation, and was charged with the killing of two men. The first was ruled self defense, but the second got him convicted of manslaughter, for which he served just under four years in prison.

Don King first entered the boxing world in his hometown of Cleveland. After convincing Muhammad Ali to box a charity exhibition for a local hospital, with the help of singer, Lloyd Price, King began one of history's most successful careers in boxing promotion. Don had access to investors, whose money he would need to cover expenses, but he was inexperienced in the fight game. Don Elbaum, who already had a stable of fighters in Cleveland and years of experience in boxing, agreed to form a partnership with King.

In 1974, King negotiated to promote a Heavyweight championship fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire, popularly known as "The Rumble in the Jungle." The fight between Ali and Foreman was a much-anticipated event. King's rivals all sought to promote the bout, but King was able to secure the then-record $10 million purse through an arrangement with the Zaire government.

King solidified his position as one of Boxing's preeminent promoters the following year with the third fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, which King deemed the "Thrilla In Manila." Aside from promoting the premier Heavyweight fights of the 1970's, King was also busy expanding his boxing empire. Throughout the decade, he compiled an impressive roster of fighters, many of whom would finish their career with Hall of Fame credentials. Fighters like Larry Holmes, Wilfred Benitez, Roberto Duran, Salvador Sanchez, Wilfredo Gómez, and Alexis Arguello would all fight under Don King Productions promotional banner in the 1970's.

For the next two decades, Don King would continue to be among boxing's most successful promoters. Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Julio César Chávez, Aaron Pryor, Bernard Hopkins, Ricardo Lopez, Felix Trinidad, Terry Norris, Carlos Zarate, Azumah Nelson, Mike McCallum, and Meldrick Taylor are just a few boxers who chose Don King to promote many of their biggest fights. Larry Holmes refused to let King promote him. Frank Azzalina and Daryl Decroix promoted Larry Holmes' last heavyweight fight at the Norfolk Scope in Virginia.

Don King has become a prominent figure in the media. He frequently appears on talk shows like Jimmy Kimmel and Howard Stern to promote fights. Recently, he was portrayed by Dave Chappelle in a skit about a "Gay America," promoting a boxing match between two homosexual boxers.

A 1996 episode of The Simpsons featured a boxing promoter by the name of Lucius Sweet, whom Homer Simpson describes as being "exactly as rich and as famous as Don King and he looks just like him too!"

The character of flashy boxing promoter George Washington Duke, played by Richard Gant in the film Rocky V, is based on King, even using King's famous catchphrase "Only in America!"

In 1997, actor Ving Rhames played King in the critically acclaimed made for TV movie, Don King: Only in America which aired on HBO. Rhames won a Golden Globe award for his portrayal of King. However, at the ceremony, Rhames gave up his award and presented it to Jack Lemmon who was also nominated for his starring role in a remake of the movie Twelve Angry Men.

In the 1998 episode of South Park, Damien, when Jesus and Satan are to have a boxing match to decide the conflict between good and evil, Don King is representing Satan.

King had a brief cameo as himself in the 1997 movie The Devil's Advocate.

He is politically active, having done media appearances promoting George W. Bush during the U.S. 2004 Presidential Election, which included attending the Republican National Convention in New York.

He is also well known for his hairstyle. In a 1993 interview with Jet magazine, King said that he uses Aqua Net hairspray and a comb to style his coif every day.

In the episode "My Brother's Keeper" of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Carlton is portrayed as Don King in one of Will's dreams.

• Don King Promotions
• Don King: Only in America at the Internet Movie Database