Treasure Island Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas will host a world title fight on Halloween, Saturday, October 31 that will be televised on Showtime Network. However, the bigger news here is the promoter.
The self – proclaimed “World’s Greatest Promoter,” in fact.
I wouldn’t call it a comeback, but let’s welcome 78 year – old Don King back to the big show. He’s keeping his champion busy. He certainly doesn’t need the money. Still he has forgotten more than all the other promoters on the strip combined know about promoting.
The champion is International Boxing Federation Bantamweight (118 lbs.) Joe “King Kong” Agbeko. The Ghanaian is making his third title defense against undefeated No. 1 Contender Yonny Perez of Columbia.
Agbeko is coming off of a dominating unanimous decision over former four – time world champion Vic Darchinyan.
The other televised bout is a World Boxing Council Lightweight Eliminator between No. 1 Antonio DeMarco and No. 2 Jose Alfaro. Champion Edwin Valero has legal problems and can’t get a work VISA to travel so he’s basically on ice for up to six months.
But I’m thinking DK is the big story here. This is also the first boxing event ever held at Treasure Island and maybe the home of future fights and will bring some needed momentum back to the strip.
Businessman Phil Ruffin bought the mega resort from the MGM Mirage Corp. recently.
