The sport show drama “Mike” is about the life of Mike Tyson, one of the most famous boxers ever. The show focuses on Mike’s rise as a world-class boxer under the direction of Cus D’Amato, and his rise to becoming an unparalleled celebrity and promoter Don King.
Following Cus, the death of Cus, Don becomes a constant presence in Mike’s world and begins to take care of his financial affairs without telling the boxer about the numbers. Don will also do to boost the fame of his client by organizing events that are hyped. Naturally, viewers would be interested in knowing what his real-life rival is doing right now. So, let us provide the answers!
Who is Don King?
Don was introduced to the world of boxing via his association with the famous Muhammad Ali. On October 24, 1974, Don organized the fight against Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire (now named Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo). The fight, dubbed “The Rumble in the Jungle,” was among the most watched boxing events of the time. In 1975, he organized Ali’s fights against Chuck Wepner and Joe Frazier in addition. He signed contracts with famous boxers such as Larry Holmes, Wilfred Benitez, Roberto Duran, and many more.
Also, read Mike Episode 3 and 4 Recap and Ending Explained
Arranging matches for Muhammad Ali and other boxers from the same generation was just the beginning for Don. Then he signed contracts with Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Bernard Hopkins, etc. Don promoted the famous “The Sound and the Fury” fight that took place between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, which saw Mike take a piece from Holyfield’s ear. The match, which took place on June 27, 1997, proved to be the final bout Don advertised for Mike. In 1998, Mike brought a suit against Don, alleging that the former swindled 100 million dollars from his account when promoting his fight.
Although Don was a prominent figure in Mike’s life, they parted ways. “He had been supposed to be my white brother; however, he was really an unsavory person. He was supposed to be my mentor; however, all he wanted was money. He was a shrewd man. I thought I could manage someone like King, but he outwitted me.” Mike wrote about Don in his autobiography, ‘Undisputed Truth. In 2004 Tyson settled his suit for $100 million against Don in exchange for 14 million dollars paid by the promoter.
Where is Don King Now?
At age 91, Don King still works as a promoter. In the month of June 2022, Don King promoted a WBA title fight with his client Trevor Bryan and Daniel Dubois. Following Dubois’s win, Dubois filed a lawsuit against Don for failing to pay the winner’s prize. The case was settled after the International Hall Of Fame-inducted promoter agreed that they would pay Dubois the winnings. Don is currently living with his family in Deerfield Beach, Florida. The company he runs, Don King Productions, is also located within the city. In December of 2010, the couple lost their wife, Henrietta, who died at age 87.
Also, read The Resort Finale Recap and Ending Explained
After working as a promoter for years, Don is seemingly not contemplating retirement. “I will slow down when I go to heaven,” Don told the Miami Herald about his long-running career as a promoter. “God has kept me alive, so I’ll continue to do my best to improve the world’s quality. Any contribution I can make to peace and liberation is what keeps me going. I’m a promotor of many people.” said Don. Even though Don has yet to announce the date of his match following Trevor Bryan and Daniel Dubois’s” Fight for Freedom and Peace’, we might not have seen the end for Don in the role of a promotor.
