Don King to Announce Plans for Boxing Event in Chengdu

Press Conference in Beijing

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."

After the press conference, King was hosted by the Chinese Boxing Association who took him for a Peking duck lunch followed by a trip to Workers' Gymnasium for Olympic boxing.

King saw three light flyweight preliminary bouts--one that featured a Chinese fighter who was understandably favored by the Beijing audience that enthusiastically cheered on their countryman with homegrown fervor. The audience also showed what the Olympic spirit is all about when they loudly cheered his opponent, who lost, after he made a point of giving the crowd the traditional four-corner ring bow after the match.

King traveled to Chengdu late Wednesday night and will host a press conference in this Western China city on Friday. King has not finalized any specific matches but did say the World Boxing Council is likely to sanction a heavyweight match he is planning.

Return to the homepage Press Release Photo Gallery Planning DK visits Earthquake Region

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

BEIJING, China (Aug. 12, 2008)—Legendary promoter Don King arrived in Beijing, China, today (Tuesday) and will be holding a press conference here on Wednesday (Aug. 13) where he will announce his plans to promote a boxing event in Chengdu, China. The boxing card will be staged in November and is planned to be presented at the Chengdu National Stadium.

After the Beijing press conference, the China Boxing Association has invited King to attend Olympic boxing.

King and the Chinese government pledged to donate part of the proceeds of the boxing event to help rebuild Chengdu, which was devastated by an earthquake in May. King will visit Chengdu and host a press conference there with the city’s Mayor Ge Lin on Thursday (Aug. 15).

King has been to China before. He promoted in Beijing what was to have been the third meeting between then World Boxing Association heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz and former four-time heavyweight champion Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield on Aug. 5, 2001.

The fight—with King and both fighters in Beijing preparing for the match—was postponed just nine days prior to the event after John Ruiz sustained a neck injury that forced him to withdraw.

King’s presence in China drew positive attention to the country, especially in the sports world, which was appreciated by the Chinese as officials were vying to become the host of the 2008 Olympic Games at the time. King was particularly outspoken in his support of China’s Olympic bid.

Don King Productions has promoted over 500 world championship fights with nearly 100 individual boxers having been paid $1 million or more. DKP also holds the distinction of having promoted or co-promoted seven of the 10 largest pay-per-view events in history, as gauged by total buys, including three of the top five: Holyfield vs. Tyson II, 1.99 million buys, June 1997; Tyson vs. Holyfield I, 1.6 million buys, November 1996; and Tyson vs. McNeeley, 1.58 million buys, August 1995.

DKP has promoted or co-promoted 10 of the top 15 highest-grossing live gates in the history of the state of Nevada including four of the top five: Holyfield vs. Lewis II, paid attendance: 17,078, gross: $16,860,300 (NOTE: Also second-highest live-gate gross for any event in the history of the world.), date: Nov. 13, 1999; Holyfield vs. Tyson II, paid attendance: 16,279, gross: $14,277,200, date: June 28, 1997; Holyfield vs. Tyson I, paid attendance: 16,103, gross: $14,150,700, date: Nov. 9, 1996; and Tyson vs. McNeeley, paid attendance: 16,113, gross: $13,965,600, date: Aug. 19, 1995.