Don King facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Don King
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King speaking at FreedomFest in July 2016
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| Born | August 20, 1931 |
| Occupation | Boxing promoter |
| Years active | 1952–present |
| Known for | "The Thrilla in Manila", "The Rumble in the Jungle" |
| Children | 3 |
Donald King (born August 20, 1931) is a famous American boxing promoter. He is known for organizing some of the biggest and most exciting boxing matches in history.
King has promoted many legendary boxers. These include Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Mike Tyson, and Evander Holyfield. He helped make fights like "The Rumble in the Jungle" and the "Thrilla in Manila" famous around the world.
Contents
Don King's Early Life
King was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the fifth of six children. His father worked at a steel plant and died in an accident in 1941. His mother, Hattie, then supported the family by selling peanuts and pies.
How Don King Learned About Business
As a young person, King helped his mother sell goods. He also became involved in local business ventures. These experiences taught him a lot about how to make deals and manage money. He graduated from John Adams High in 1951. He briefly attended Kent State University.
Don King's Time in Prison
In his early life, King faced some legal challenges. In 1967, he was found guilty of a serious crime. He served nearly four years in prison. While in prison, King spent a lot of time reading. He studied many books and learned a great deal. This time helped him think differently about life. He often says, "Don't get mad, get smart." He encourages young people to educate themselves.
Don King's Career in Boxing
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King first got into boxing by helping organize a charity event. He convinced Muhammad Ali to participate. This event was for a hospital in Cleveland. Soon after, he teamed up with another promoter, Don Elbaum.
Promoting Famous Boxing Matches
In 1974, King organized a huge heavyweight championship fight. It was between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. This fight was in Zaire and became known as "The Rumble in the Jungle". King managed to get a record $10 million for the boxers. This was a very large amount of money at the time.
King also promoted Ali's third fight against Joe Frazier. This match took place in Manila, Philippines. It was called the "Thrilla in Manila". These two fights helped King become one of the most important boxing promoters.
Expanding His Boxing Empire
Throughout the 1970s and beyond, King continued to grow his business. He worked with many top boxers. These included Larry Holmes, Roberto Durán, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Julio César Chávez. Many of these fighters became famous in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Don King's Other Ventures
Outside of boxing, King also promoted other events. In 1984, he was the concert promoter for The Jacksons' "Victory Tour". In 1998, King bought a newspaper in Cleveland. It was called the Call and Post. He still works as its publisher.
In 2008, King was honored by being elected to the Gaming Hall of Fame. As of 2024, King continues to be involved in the boxing world. He still promotes world champions.
Don King's Personal Life
Don King's wife, Henrietta, passed away in 2010. She was 87 years old. They had three children: Debbie, Eric, and Carl. They also had five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
King is interested in politics. He supported Barack Obama in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections. He has also been a longtime supporter of Donald Trump.
In 1987, King became a 'Mason-at-Sight'. This made him a Prince Hall Freemason. The next year, he received an honorary degree from Central State University.
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Every Christmas, King holds an annual turkey giveaway. He gives away two thousand free turkeys. This helps families in need in South Florida.
In September 2024, King was in the hospital for an illness. Many people were concerned about his health.
Don King in Media
King has appeared in several TV shows and movies. He was in the Miami Vice episode "Down for the Count" in 1987. He also had small roles in films like The Last Fight (1982) and Head Office (1985). He also appeared in The Devil's Advocate (1997).
He was also in documentaries such as Beyond the Ropes (2008) and Klitschko (2011). King also made a brief appearance in the music video for Liberian Girl by Michael Jackson.
Characters Based on Don King
Because of his unique look and personality, Don King has inspired many characters.
- In 1995, HBO made a TV movie called Tyson. King was played by actor Paul Winfield.
- In 1997, Ving Rhames played King in another HBO movie, Don King: Only in America. Rhames won an award for his performance.
- In an episode of The Simpsons called "The Homer They Fall", there is a boxing promoter named Lucius Sweet. His look and style are based on Don King.
- The character George Washington Duke in the movie Rocky V (1990) was partly inspired by Don King. He even used King's famous saying, "Only in America!"
- King also helped create video games like Don King Presents: Prizefighter for Xbox 360 and Don King Boxing for Wii.
Awards and Honors
- 1997: Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
- 2008: Inducted into the Gaming Hall of Fame
- 2015: A street in Newark, New Jersey was renamed Don King Way
- 2016: A street in Cleveland, Shaker Boulevard, was renamed Don King Way
See also
In Spanish: Don King para niños
