Don King threatened Larry Holmes!

[GoldenHulk]

In Holmes book Against the Odds, Larry has a lot to say about King, nothing on the positive side either.
Arriving in Zaire in 74 King ordered Holmes to carry his bags, King threatened rival promotor Harold Smith by telling Smith that " I'm gonna walk your ass down, King once got into a shoving match with Bob Arum and a pistol fell out of his pocket, King also killed to guys, shooting one, and stomping a guy to death on a Cleveland street corner. Just a few of the things mentioned in the book.
Holmes mentioned that King offered him ten thousand to fight on an Ali undercard, while Arum offered Holmes 70,000. King would hear none of it and ordered Holmes to fight for the 10 grand purse. When Holmes told King he was gonna talk to Arum again, King got a look of pain on his face, and his eyes went cold and he told Holmes "you do and I'll have your legs broke." I'm somewhat suprised having met Larry and knowing his temperment that he didnt put an ass whippin on King right there. Holmes did mention that he bought a 22 pistol and had people watching his back back in Easton. Anyone know other shady King stories, I know how bad he fucked over Tim Witherspoon and Mike Tyson.

[Mendoza]

King made Holmes fight Roy Williams, an undefeated slugger with bad @ss rep with a broken thumb. Holmes was street smart enough to know King was the power broker, and he had to play along. Once Holmes earned his bones, he openly ripped Don King and said he has his hair up to hide his horns.

[leverage]

Go to google and type in "the life and crimes of don king" and also type in "Ali-Holmes, a trail of blood". These two accounts will give you a good Idea of what a scumbag that this man really is and how he screwed over the same fighters that helped him.

[AnthonyJ74]

The beating that Don King got in the Bahamas was justified in my eyes due to the fact that the guy is and was an evil scumbag. Too bad his assailants didn't do more damage to him!

[The Wanderer]

King had a way of unnerving and threatening a LOT of fighters... Larry is one of the ones who has been the most open and outspoken about it, but a lot of fighters (80s heavyweights in particular) can tell you about it.

If you can find it in the bookstore, browse through the book Facing Tyson, which is all about the lives of various Tyson opponents and looking at their fights with him. A lot of them tell stories about Don, or, sometimes, refuse to tell their stories about him, which might be even scarier because it implies they didn't want it making it into print...

[leverage]

The beating that Don King got in the Bahamas was justified in my eyes due to the fact that the guy is and was an evil scumbag. Too bad his assailants didn't do more damage to him!
Amen to that. If a truck ran over him tommorrow I'd throw a party and celebrate!

[GoldenHulk]

I know that quite a few top fighters have refused to fight on a Don King card. Now I may be mistaken but Leonard, Hearns, Hagler, and Duran, I think most of their fights were promoted by Bob Arum. Delahoya and Roy Jones I think until their Trinidad fights never fought for Don King either. George Foreman in his second career never fought for King either if I'm not mistaken.

I did read an interview with Gerry Cooney, and he said that one of his biggest regrets was not being a Don King fighter, that most of the other contenders during the 80's were under King and he was on the outside.
Also, Andrew Golota when he got signed by King was given an immediate shot at Chris Byrd for the IBF title, followed by fights with Ruiz and Brewster for title belts.

[flamengo]

......send him back to hell.

[Mendoza]

......send him back to hell.

While King is a bad person, there is not doubt he is skilled and charming. When his life is over, King's skills will be put to the test. Can he weasel his way out of a fair judgment against him?

[flamengo]

There's a fine line between charm for the sake of convincing, and charm for the sake of genuinity. Don King has made squillions through being a con. He is reportedly a great man at first glimpsed. He works/manipulates minds to accept him as a TRUE supporter of their future.

If King has his way..

By the end of Kings own JUDGEMENT DAY, a future promotion will be announced for Las Vegas... Being King vs The Devil... in this bout, the promoter, the challeneger, and onlookers will be the same. Rotten scum who, due to their own 'goodwill', will endure another King promotion, only to witness Kings demise, and eternal firing from the door of normality. I doubt his foot was ever firmly planted in it.

[Mendoza]

There's a fine line between charm for the sake of convincing, and charm for the sake of genuinity. Don King has made squillions through being a con. He is reportedly a great man at first glimpsed. He works/manipulates minds to accept him as a TRUE supporter of their future.

If King has his way..

By the end of Kings own JUDGEMENT DAY, a future promotion will be announced for Las Vegas... Being King vs The Devil... in this bout, the promoter, the challeneger, and onlookers will be the same. Rotten scum who, due to their own 'goodwill', will endure another King promotion, only to witness Kings demise, and eternal firing from the door of normality. I doubt his foot was ever firmly planted in it.

Knowing King, he might be able to pick the terms and conditions, and bribe the judges in advance.

[PowerPuncher]

I thought Mendoza would have brought up the King-Klitchsko meeting. 1 of the brothers said 'Don played the piano, but then I noticed he stopped playing but the music didn't stop' - or something to that meaning

[flamengo]

Knowing King, he might be able to pick the terms and conditions, and bribe the judges in advance.

Had to laugh.. seriously.. The word 'might' is understated. King appears to have it all his way.

His epitath may read..

"HERE LIES DON KING"
"LOVING SON OF A BITCH"
"D.O.B changed for legal reasons"
"D.O.D check his pulse"
"RIP or WBC"

[GPater11093]

duran was a Don King fighter he was a bob arm later in his career GoldenHulk

[Mendoza]

I thought Mendoza would have brought up the King-Klitchsko meeting. 1 of the brothers said 'Don played the piano, but then I noticed he stopped playing but the music didn't stop' - or something to that meaning

I news on the initial meeting. King went to the Klitschko's home in 1996 to offer what he saw as a his next white hope professional boxing contracts.

The funny part is, the Klitschko's saw thought Kings ruse, and their mother kept pouring him Vodka so he would get tired and go to sleep.

[GoldenHulk]

I think Judgement Day for King should be one 3 minute round with Mike Tyson, the man who he skimmed 100 million from. A caged in ring, no referee. Mike in his black trunks, black shoes with no socks, no robe on his way to meet Don King. King having Roman Centurions like at Caesar's Palace, but with real armor and weapons so he doesnt escape, walking him to the ring. King dressed in a bathrobe, with a pair of dirty skivvies instead of boxing trunks, and fluffy bunny slippers instead of boxing shoes. Then Michael Buffer to announce the combatants, and finally the ring of the bell for Tyson's 3 minutes to relieve his frustration on Don King.

[rusty nails]

my favourite king story:
i heard him and arum had an argument over a fighter (couldve been ruiz???) and king told him "look i know if you pick up that phone ill be dead in twenty minutes, but if i pick up that phone youll be dead in five" apparently king got the fighter..

[RDJ]

When Mike told him to let go his hand he was quick to comply. I think Mike scared him somewhat.

[Titan1]

He didn't really mess with Foreman too much, especially in his comeback years.

[Russell]

When Mike told him to let go his hand he was quick to comply. I think Mike scared him somewhat.

Huh? :huh

[Pachilles]

When Mike told him to let go his hand he was quick to comply. I think Mike scared him somewhat.

In the heat of the moment you dont really know what a guy like Mike can do. What he is capable of is killing King in about 15 seconds, so you dont fuck around with that.

Also Tyson must be a beloved legend amongst street people/gangsters, black muslims and friends from prison. I don't think King can fuck with that backup.

[nip102]

what did ali say to king after the foreman fight that made him look worried

[sportofkings]

In the heat of the moment you dont really know what a guy like Mike can do. What he is capable of is killing King in about 15 seconds, so you dont fuck around with that.

Also Tyson must be a beloved legend amongst street people/gangsters, black muslims and friends from prison. I don't think King can fuck with that backup.
Tyson beat the crap out of king outside a car park in the 90s so Tyson got his revenge anyways:lol:

[Pachilles]

what did ali say to king after the foreman fight that made him look worried

Dont know anything about this. But i imagine Ali was untouchable also. Infact i'd say without a doubt he was. He was poster boy and icon of a whole race, King is insignificant to a man that famous

[lefthook31]

King owned Holmes. He brought Holmes to the party and brainwashed him into thinking that he would have been nothing without his guidance. Holmes was pretty tough on everything else but King, which was suprising, but King eventually made him a lot of money late into his career but screwed him every which way and sideways in the early part.
Im telling you Don King was the most persuasive guy and ran his business like a cult.
I was talking to Derrell Coley about King and I asked him what was the craziest thing he ever did to him. He said before the ODLH fight King called him to his office and told him not to bring anyone with him. He said King showed him a bag with 300K in it. He said sign this contract and take the money. He looked at the contract and it was blank!

[Unforgiven]

When Holmes told King he was gonna talk to Arum again, King got a look of pain on his face, and his eyes went cold and he told Holmes "you do and I'll have your legs broke." I'm somewhat suprised having met Larry and knowing his temperment that he didnt put an ass whippin on King right there.

I've read the book too.
I think Holmes knew that King held the power in the relationship at that time. If Holmes had given King a whipping for threatening him we probably would never have heard of Larry Holmes.
I'm impressed by how Holmes eventually grew and broke free of King's manipulations and coercion.
Holmes was streetwise and business savvy all the way.

[Unforgiven]

In the heat of the moment you dont really know what a guy like Mike can do. What he is capable of is killing King in about 15 seconds, so you dont fuck around with that.

Also Tyson must be a beloved legend amongst street people/gangsters, black muslims and friends from prison. I don't think King can fuck with that backup.

King fucked Tyson out of millions.

[rayrobinson]

King will die alone , thats how rich the man is.

[ThinBlack]

I think Don knew who to mess with.The Ray Leonards, Marvin Haglers of the world knew how to deal with him.Guys like Greg Page and Tony Tucker were too soft.

[johnmaff36]

A horrible cunt no doubt but his powers of persuasion must be pretty good considering everyone calls him scum yet he still got the fighters.


Just as an aside, i once got a case of Miller beer and charged it to Don Kings tab in a V.I.P. bar. Am i 1 of the few who got something off King for nothing in return:D

[Sangria]

what did ali say to king after the foreman fight that made him look worried

I've always wondered about this as well. At the 7:17 mark...

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[Guyfawkes]

I've always wondered about this as well. At the 7:17 mark...

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Don looked like he seen a ghost!

[johnmaff36]

I've always wondered about this as well. At the 7:17 mark...

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

I wouldnt be surprised if he told him to fuck off, seriously. Ali,im sure, would have known about King travelling with Frazier in Jamaica and leaving with Foreman and now here he was again, trying to do the same thing

[Cobra33]

Mickey Duff tells a story : When John Mugabi was on the rise Duff had to leave Mugabis camp to take care of something.King calls Duff and tells Duff thst Mugabi is begging King to sign him but King wont out of respect for Duffs contract with Mugabi.At which point Duff tells King he didnt know King could speak Swali(dont know if I spelled that right-it was Mugabi tribal language)-King responds he doesnt speak it and Dudd informs him that thats what Mugabi speaks-Duff says after a long pause King hangs up.

[frankenfrank]

Great thread , great posts and another great bump by ThinBlack :thumbsup

[Azzer85]

Theres a chapter on him in the Tyson book. ive always wanted to type it up, just never get around to it would take me hours. Numerous interesting stories about him, the guy is one dirty mutherfunker.

[MMJoe]

King made Holmes fight Roy Williams, an undefeated slugger with bad @ss rep with a broken thumb. Holmes was street smart enough to know King was the power broker, and he had to play along. Once Holmes earned his bones, he openly ripped Don King and said he has his hair up to hide his horns.

FYI: Roy Williams wasn't undefeated when he fought Holmes, Roy was 23-4.

[Joe Dempsey]

In the heat of the moment you dont really know what a guy like Mike can do. What he is capable of is killing King in about 15 seconds, so you dont fuck around with that.

Also Tyson must be a beloved legend amongst street people/gangsters, black muslims and friends from prison. I don't think King can fuck with that backup.


Street people:lol::lol::lol::rofl:rofl:rofl

Remember what mummy told you diddums, don't play outside when it's dark or the bad street people might get you.

[Azzer85]

Tyson beat the crap out of king outside a car park in the 90s so Tyson got his revenge anyways:lol:

"I saw him outside a hotel, i asked him about the money and he denied it, so i stomped him, i stomped him and stomped him, i loved this man, but i stomped him"

Tyson in the James Toback film