17 Apr 07
Originally posted by Tirau DanFrom wiki:
I don't know the others or the extent of true corruption in the pro boxing but I know that if you watch a King promoted fight it will end in a stinking controversy leaving you cheated. It isn't ridiculous to expect a decent fight between fighters that have been prepared well and to expect a decent fair result.
In 1974, King negotiated to promote a heavyweight championship fight between 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 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 1970s, 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 1970s.
For the next two decades, King continued 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 some of the boxers who chose King to promote many of their biggest fights.
Yep you're right; all of the fights of those guys King promoted sucked.
17 Apr 07
Originally posted by no1marauderI don't know if King is the reason boxing sucks, but he is apart of it. I'm sure he is all for the good fighters boxing once a year, as one example. Mainly though, King is just a shady and crooked person and boxing would be better without him, or his ilk. Here is a good site discussing the decline of boxing.
Promoters like King are nothing new in boxing. Joe Louis' handlers screwed him throughout his whole career as one glaring example.
To say King has ruined the sport is ridiculous. There's still plenty of good fights out there to watch.
http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/dk72999.htm
17 Apr 07
Originally posted by NimzovichLarsenThat article was written in 1999.
I don't know if King is the reason boxing sucks, but he is apart of it. I'm sure he is all for the good fighters boxing once a year, as one example. Mainly though, King is just a shady and crooked person and boxing would be better without him, or his ilk. Here is a good site discussing the decline of boxing.
http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/dk72999.htm
18 Apr 07
Originally posted by no1marauderIn my book it was King that turned Ali from boxing. My understanding is that it was Ali who went to Zaire, stirred up intense support then King said there's no money here lets go.. Ali refused to leave his fans.. Ali secured the money from his personal friendship with the president of Zaire.. Ali got a pittance.
From wiki:
In 1974, King negotiated to promote a heavyweight championship fight between 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 thr ...[text shortened]... s.
Yep you're right; all of the fights of those guys King promoted sucked.
King and his boxing and boxing is suffering as a result. Like a combination of punches he plays the fights.. bs bs fix good one, bs bs fix good one just enough to string out return fights and repeat purses.
After Zaire didn't Ali dump King or at least reach an arrangement where Ali himself chose his fights?.. I recall controversy..
18 Apr 07
Originally posted by Tirau DanIf you bother to look it up, you'll see that Ali received over $5 million for the "Rumble in the Jungle", the largest purse in the history of boxing at the time. Some "pittance".
In my book it was King that turned Ali from boxing. My understanding is that it was Ali who went to Zaire, stirred up intense support then King said there's no money here lets go.. Ali refused to leave his fans.. Ali secured the money from his personal friendship with the president of Zaire.. Ali got a pittance.
King and his boxing and boxing is suffering ...[text shortened]... or at least reach an arrangement where Ali himself chose his fights?.. I recall controversy..
18 Apr 07
Originally posted by no1marauderso you are saying the reasons given then for the decline in boxing are no longer relevant today? Or, are you so childish that, the article being 8 yrs old, is more fun to point out in a rhp debate page?
Lousy job, NL. If you're going to use an article to support an assertion about the present state of boxing, you might try one written in the same century.
18 Apr 07
Originally posted by no1marauderYou are right and it was King who sorted the money from the pres too.
If you bother to look it up, you'll see that Ali received over $5 million for the "Rumble in the Jungle", the largest purse in the history of boxing at the time. Some "pittance".
But sad to see bad blood between the two..
NY times: King Suing Ali Sports re a prmotion in NY. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9403E1DF123BF934A15752C0A967948260
18 Apr 07
Originally posted by Tirau DanHey, I'm not saying King isn't a jerk. I'm just saying that boxing promoters have always been jerks. But I still like to watch a good fight. And I've seen quite a few in the last few years though the decline in the quality of the Heavyweight division is unfortunate.
You are right and it was King who sorted the money from the pres too.
But sad to see bad blood between the two..
NY times: King Suing Ali Sports re a prmotion in NY. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9403E1DF123BF934A15752C0A967948260
18 Apr 07
1 edit
Just a whimsical thought.. in trying to imagine p4p fighters imagine every great boxer you ever saw as 26-28 years old with proportionate height & weight differences. Who would we like to match up on a fight card??
I'd love to see a one night three round knock out tournament
Ali v Leonard ____________
Liston v Duran ____________ ____________
Marciano v Robinson ______________ _______________
Louis v Tyson ____________ ____________
Fill in the winners and line up another one... could be fun
How would the 15 rounds version over two years go?
Please say how this would go then suggest a new line up with your favs.