Don King Joins Nike To Promote Potential
World Tennis Classic Showdown 'The Grapple
in the Apple'

NEW YORK CITY - Nike has invited the promoter of the people, Don King, to join them in creating a significant campaign to bring all the people to bear witness to the two greatest tennis players in the world - No. 1-ranked Rafael Nadal and No. 2-ranked Roger Federer - and for them to reach even greater fame and acclaim at New York's annual U.S. Open Tennis Championships.

They have dubbed the players' potential Open showdown "The Grapple in the Apple" and believe they can help expose Nadal and Federer to all of the people, from the masses to the classes. ...READ MORE SEE PHOTOS

Don King Tours Earthquake-Ravaged Region in China

CHENGDU, China (Aug. 14)—American promoter Don King was given extraordinary access today by Chinese officials who allowed him to tour hard-hit areas of May’s major earthquake near the Sichuan Province’s capital city of Chengdu.

King visited the same site that U. S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice toured on June 29 in the city of Dujiangyan.  He stood in the rubble of the three-story Tengda Physical Club, which was decimated by the quake as evidenced by its toppled roof.

Activity in the streets showed the rebuilding effort is well on its way after the strong temblor registered 8.0 on the Richter scale, taking a heavy toll in the region.

“I have been very impressed by the great care and support that the Chinese government has given to its people in and around Chengdu,” King said.  “It’s obvious to see they have been able to accomplish so much in terms of health, welfare and displacement facilities for those in need.  The Chinese people have great resolve and resiliency.” ...READ MORE SEE PHOTOS

 

Don King Announces Plans for Boxing Event in Beijing

In Chengdu, China, during 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Proceeds Pledged
to Rebuild City after Devastating Earthquake.

BEIJING, China (Aug. 13)--Legendary promoter Don King held a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday where he congratulated China and the Chinese people on their tremendous launch of the first Olympic Games staged in the most populous country on earth while launching a boxing promotion of his own scheduled for Nov. 7 in the largest city in the Sichuan Province, Chengdu.

"We had been in discussions with Chinese officials to bring a fight card to Chengdu prior to the devastating earthquake they experienced on May 12," King said. "Now more than ever we need to go. We want to remember those who perished and try to help in any way we can those who survived." 

...READ MORE SEE PHOTOS

USA OLYMPIC BOXING PROGRAM IN NEED OF SUPPORT AND IDENTITY

By Bob Goodman

Maybe we were brought up in a different place, but on our streets the daily activities were stickball, punchball, stoop ball, Johnny on the pony, king of the hill, skully and fighting.  Yes, fighting was a regular activity and it was with our fists, not with guns, knives, or chains. 

Those of us who wanted an alternative to the streets, could find our way to a local gym, or a PAL program.  It saved many from the eventual cruelty that life on the streets can bring.

Badminton, rowing, beach volley ball, or even water polo were not elective options?  They didn’t have a goal in the Harlem River. ...READ MORE

 

MOSLEY-MAYORGA PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

Richard Schaefer, CEO Golden Boy Promotions:

"This is a great showdown and affordable to many. Almost 75% of tickets are priced between $50-75 making this a very affordable fight for this magnitude.

"Shane is the gold standard in boxing because he is a fearless and exciting fighter. We are very excited to have him fighting at home in Los Angeles again.

"Mayorga is a true showman of this sport and he is going down in history as one of the best Nicaraguan fighters of all time.

Dan Beckerman, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of AEG:
"I want to welcome everyone back to The Home Depot Center.

...READ MORE LEAD RELEASE

Don King Meets with Mayor of Chengdu, Holds Panda Bear

CHENGDU, China (Aug. 17, 2008)—American promoter Don King continued his tour of China by meeting with the Mayor of Chengdu on Friday and traveling to a special preserve for giant panda bears on Saturday.

Chengdu is the largest city in China’s Sichuan Province with nearly 11 million inhabitants, making it one of the top five population cities inside the most populous country on earth.  

King was greeted by Mayor Ge Honglin who gave King a copy of a local newspaper that chronicled King’s visit the day before to nearby city Dujiangyan, which was one of the cities that suffered most from a May 12 earthquake that claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced an additional 1.5 million people, the epicenter of which was 57 miles from Chengdu.

...READ MORE SEE PHOTOS

PALACIOS STOPS SOTO TO CAPTURE WBC 105
POUND CROWN

Nicaragua's hard-punching Juan "El Exterminador" Palacios, stopped Puerto Rico's Omar "El Pastor" Soto at 1:16 of the tenth round to win the WBC Interim Strawweight Championship last night in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

The event was co-promoted by Don King Productions and Universal Promotions in the Juan Pachin Vicens Auditorium.

Palacios , from Managua, Nicaragua, is just 27-years old and boosted his record to 24-2 (19 KOs). The talented new champion is the former WBC Latino Champion and is promoted by Don King Productions.

...READ MORE SEE PHOTOS

Daniel Santos Makes Big Statement in Montreal

Puerto Rican Puncher Wins His Third World Championship on Friday By Dethroning WBA Super Welterweight Champion Joachim Alcine

BAYAMON, Puerto Rico—Daniel Santos became a world champion for the third time by defeating previously undefeated World Boxing Association super welterweight champion Joachim Alcine in Montreal on Friday night at the beautiful outdoor Uniprix Stadium.

The energetic crowd of nearly 10,000 in Alcine’s adopted hometown of Quebec could not prevent Santos, who was making his 12th world championship appearance, from exerting his considerable experience on Alcine, who was making his second title defense after winning the crown just one year ago.

The end came suddenly when Santos landed a devastating left hand in the sixth round that left the champion sprawled on the canvas where he was counted out by the referee at 2:10 into the round.

...READ MORE SEE PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT

Happy Birthday Nelson Mandela

May 24, 2004 JOHANNESBURG (AFP) — Flamboyant American boxing promotor Don King met South African former president Nelson Mandela, whom he called a "great man" who was a great pugilist in his youth.

"We are gathered here to pay tribute to a great, great man," King said standing next to Mandela, who returned to South Africa earlier Monday after attending the wedding of Prince Felipe and Letizia Ortiz of Spain.

"As you know Madiba (Mandela's clan name) was a great boxer," King said as he briefly met the Nobel peace laureate at his foundation's offices in Johannesburg.

King is in South Africa on a week-long visit at the invitation of local boxing promotors and attended a five-bout match at a casino east of Johannesburg over the weekend.

...READ MORE SEE PHOTOS

2K Sports Announces Don King Presents: Prizefighter Now Available

boxing writer. Rafael began writing for ESPN.com in March 2005 after working for 5 years

New York, NY – June 10, 2008 – 2K Sports, the sports publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), announced today that the highly anticipated title, Don King Presents: Prizefighter, is now available on North American retail store shelves for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Developed by 2K's Venom Games studio, Don King Presents: Prizefighter is the first and only current generation title to combine all the action of professional boxing with compelling live-action cut scenes featuring legendary fighters.

"I am thrilled to be an integral part of this monumental entertainment experience," said legendary boxing promoter Don King. "I have applied ...READ MORE

SCREENSHOTS IGN FIRST REVIEW FACT SHEET

Quote from Dan Rafeal ESPN.com

Dan Rafael is ESPN.com's boxing writer. Rafael began writing for ESPN.com in March 2005 after working for 5 years as the boxing writer for USA Today.

Gotta give Don King props for putting Monday's Jose Alfaro-Yosuke Kobori bout from Tokyo on his Web site, www.donkingtv.com, for free. It was a good fight with Kobori scoring the mild upset via third-round TKO to win the WBA's nonsensical "regular" lightweight title. Putting that shameful designation aside, any time American fight fans can have good-quality access to overseas fights for free, that is a good thing. The Web site is worth checking out, as DK has made available for free a handful of other bouts from his vast library, including Felix Trinidad's exciting welterweight title defense against Yory Boy Campas from 1994.

Visit DONKINGTV.com

Don King Visits the Vatican

Promoter Presents Pope with 'World Champion of Peace and Love' Boxing Belts

March 21, 2007 VATICAN CITY—Don King received a papal blessing and presented Pope Benedict XVI with specially made world championship boxing belts denoting the pontiff as the "world champion of peace and love" at the Vatican today.

King sat in the first row on the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica with an unobstructed view of the pope’s weekly public audience as a crowd estimated at 25,000 looked on from St. Peter’s Square.

"I was very humbled by this divine experience and revelation," King said. Read More...

READ THE OFFICIAL LETTERS FROM THE VATICAN AND BERGAMO

READ THE OFFICIAL LETTER FROM BERGAMO

ALEX "THE TECHNICIAN" BUNEMA

Alex Bunema was born in Kinshasa, Zaire, nine months after the city hosted the legendary "Rumble in the Jungle," Muhammad Ali's stunning upset knockout of George Foreman in October, 1974.

Before and long after the fight, an unprecedented boxing buzz engulfed Zaire and Alex was immediately drawn to the Sweet Science.

"The thing that really got me into boxing was the Ali-Foreman fight in '74," said Alex, who tallied a 39-1 amateur record before turning professional in August 1996. Growing up, everybody was talking about that fight.

"That was one of the greatest fights of all time and it happened in Zaire. For months and years, that was the only thing people were talking about. It inspired a lot of kids to pick up the gloves and pursue a career in boxing." ...READ MORE SEE PHOTOS