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. “I presented him with the championship boxing belts because he is a fighter for Jesus, peace and love all over the world.
“I gave Papa a note asking him to pray for many people including my injured boxer Victor Burgos, America, President Bush, Laura Bush, our troops and all troops fighting for freedom around the world.”
King also asked for a special prayer for the poor, downtrodden, aged and denied. He added: “It goes without saying that I asked the pope to pray for my wife, Henrietta, my children and my grandchildren as well.”
King was invited to Italy by Italian 154-pound champion Luca “Bergamo Bomber” Messi, who attended the general audience with King.
King gave ceremonial title belts to the pope from the World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council, International Boxing Federation, Italian Boxing Federation and the French Boxing Federation.
The final day of King’s whirlwind three-day tour of Italy also included an early-afternoon visit to the Italian Parliament’s Chamber of Deputies where he spoke to Parliament Member Massimo Romagnoli and former Minister for Italians Abroad Mirko Tremaglia.
King ended the day by visiting many of the historic monuments including the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, The Roman Forum and others. As always, King granted all wishes for autographs and pictures wherever he went.
