I find it funny how heavily Don King’s image, perceived positively or poorly, but mostly poorly, is implanted in the mind of your average American.
Recently when the world of boxing and the then upcoming Ricky Hatton vs. Floyd Mayweather fight was brought up around the water cooler during break time at my job, two boxing figures were brought up immediately by my opinionated colleagues.
Neither of them had ANYTHING to do with Hatton vs. Mayweather.
One was Mike Tyson, and the other Don King.
“I ain’t watching that fight,” spewed our mild mannered sports enthusiast while pouring water from the Sparkletts dispenser and into his Dixie cup, “…in the end, that Don King will steal it from the rightful winner.”
Of course, I chuckled to myself quietly; nobody at my work place knows of my love of boxing or of my role as an Internet boxing writer.
I am sure many of you have heard such misinformed ramblings about King in the past. Unfortunately that is the state of boxing from the perspective of many casual sports fans, a corrupt entity controlled by promoter Don King.
As an employee of King told me recently, “People don’t get it. King is not just a promoter of boxing. He is a world wide figure and entity.” Very true, that smile and electric hair are something recognized around the world
Excusing the average Joe for their ignorance is easy, but when educated fight fans start hurling rocks at Don King, just because he is Don King, it is hard to excuse.
Look, Mr. King is not boxing’s boogie man, as much as many would like you to think he is.
For everyone who wanted to condemn Mr. King for his roll in the undoing of Michael Katsidis vs. Juan Diaz, I ask you this simple question, why is Don King to blame? Because Willie Savannah said so?
I am not questioning Mr. Savannah’s character either, so please, do not go there. I am stating that boxing negotiations and contracts are complex situations. If Mr. King nixed the Diaz vs. Katsidis engagement and you’re upset, that is fine, but do not go and slander King’s character.
After first presenting my so-called “defense” of Ole’ Electric Hair yesterday, many viewers were quite upset with my opinion and I received many a nasty e-mail about my alleged shilling for King. Just a note, I just call them how I see them. Next week I might bury Don for some mishap on his part and I am sure he won’t be too happy.
Bottom line…angry viewers and now readers, I do not know the entire story behind the drama between Don King and Willie Savannah (manager to Juan Diaz). But what I do know is that, for now, Willie Savannah has done all the majority of the public campaigning.
So if you are mad at King for pulling the plug on Katsidis vs. Diaz, once again, that is fine. But, it is not fair to label Don a scum bag, slime, corrupt, or thief based on a situation or past situations where NOBODY knows the entire story.
If the show were on the other foot and Diaz was with Golden Boy Promotions and King won a purse bid to promote Diaz and Golden Boy pulled the plug because they had the contractual right to do so, would anyone be calling the Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya scum, thief, or a glorified hoodlum (all names used to describe King by my viewers in e-mails to me)? Maybe some would insult De La Hoya, but not at the rate King got stoned in the forum of public opinion.
As I previously eluded, boxing contracts are a tricky business. In this particular dispute a source very close to the situation informed me that there might have been a bout agreement, promotional contract, and legal wording in the Juan Diaz vs. Julio Diaz bout contract that effected the legal status of Juan’s promotional status with King. Those are three distinct legal documents.
Until somebody releases a copy of all documents pertaining to Diaz’s situation with King, nobody knows the truth.
If anybody should be “blamed” in a situation where there should be no “blame” assigned, it is Team Diaz. Signing a legal document is just that, signing a legal document. If Team Diaz signed three legal documents regarding Juan’s business relationship with DKP, they should have studied the wording well.
At the same time, I can understand Savannah’s misery. Imagine Diaz receiving close to a million dollars for fighting a one-dimensional slugger with little pop in Katsidis Now that would have been a wonderful X-mas gift from Golden Boy Promotions to “The Baby Bull”.
And if you doubt my analysis, why would Golden Boy be so happy to put their beloved Katsidis on the line against a fighter, Diaz, who they have no promotional control over in the long run? Sounds like the financial courting of Diaz by GBP and the realization that Katsidis is a one trick pony.
One more point.
Why would King let a purse bid for the WBO championship bout between Diaz and Katsidis go untested? King did not bid a penny on that fight. Makes me think that King knows he has all the legal leverage when it comes to Diaz’s future, but again, that is pure speculation.
So for now, we all speculate, but it is unfair to judge a man’s character without knowing the facts.
