Earlier today I received a press release stating that the inaugural ceremony of the new Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame will be held this evening at the Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
The initial inductees of the NVBHOF include 2 time murderer Don King.
Other inductees include Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Larry Holmes and Oscar De La Hoya.
Boxers like Muhamad Ali, Larry Holmes, Tim Witherspoon and Mike Tyson are but a few of the fighters that have filed action against Don King. Tim Witherspoon’s account of his horrid money troubles with King are detailed in the PBS documentary, “Don King – Unauthorized.”
Mike Tyson was shocked that he will have to share the podium with King. Tyson has been very vocal about Don King’s corruption of every fighter he has ever promoted. Under King’s reign Tyson, once voted the world’s most popular athlete, quickly lost his title, popularity and a reported $550 million dollars.
The question here is that should your past affect being inducted into the boxing hall of fame?
As much as I like Mike Tyson, he is no saint. He was a woman beater. Oscar De La Hoya was a druggy who likes wearing fishnets and Don King is a murderer. I know it sounds harsh, but that’s the truth.
In case you didn’t know, Don King killed a man in a fight in Cleveland. In 1966 an employee, Sam Garrett, of Don King “ran off with his money,” according to King.
King hunted Garrett down at a local bar, dragged him outside and proceeded to engage in what police charged was a helacious battle. Garrett wound up dead, his head smashed against the sidewalk. The employee owed $600 and his purported last words were, “I’ll give you the money, Don.”
A judge reduced the charges from second-degree murder to manslaughter. King was a visitor of the Marion Correctional Institute for just four years. He’d later say of the tragic event, “His head hit the ground. Those are the things that happen.”
After dropping out of Kent State University, Don King ran an illegal bookmaking operation and was charged with two different killings, 13 years apart. After he shot Hillary Brown in the back, it was found to be a justifiable homicide since Brown was attempting to rob him. Rob one of King’s gambling operations (an illegal gambling operation, but still), it was ruled “justifiable homicide.” King went free.
Only in America can you get away with two killings, right?
Regardless of what King has done in the past, he has done a lot in the sport of boxing and once was the first promoter to offer million dollar fights. Don King did his time and just like Oscar De La Hoya and Mike Tyson, who have flipped their lives around for good, Don King has too. I say induct Don King in the Boxing Hall of Fame.
For God’s sake we let Rocky, Sylvester Stallone, in the Boxing Hall of Fame and he wasn’t even a real pro-fighter but an actor.
What is your opinion, should Don King be inducted?