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Don King

Don King (born December 9, 1932), is an American boxing promoter.

He gained fame in 1974 by sponsoring the boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire, popularly known as "The Rumble in The Jungle". He consolidated his position as an influential promoter the next year by sponsoring a third match for Ali against Joe Frazier in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, which King named "The Thrilla in Manila".

King has been investigated for possible connections with organized crime. He has responded to these acts by calling them racist. King served time for allegedly murdering a man in 1958, whom he supposedly beat to death.

Apart from Ali, Frazier and Foreman, he has promoted such boxers as Evander Holyfield, Felix Trinidad, Mike Tyson, Larry Holmes, Carlos De Leon, Wilfredo Benitez, Wilfredo Gomez, Roberto Duran, Julio Cesar Chavez, Juan Laporte, Edwin Rosario, Salvador Sanchez, John Ruiz, Hector Camacho, Christy Martin, Aaron Pryor, Alexis Arguello and many others.

In May of 2003, King was sued by Lennox Lewis, who wants 385 million dollars from the promoter, claiming King used threats to pull Tyson away from a rematch with Lewis. This is one of several lawsuits King has gone through.

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