I was recently afforded the opportunity to speak to one of the most legendary promoters in the sport, a man who has been inducted into the boxing hall of fame, none other than Don King. In this special “On The Ropes” interview I discuss with Don the possibility of the Guillermo Jones vs. Denis Lebedev bout winning fight of the year, and how that fight compares to some of the other candidates. I also get Don’s thoughts on Vitali Klitschko vacating his WBC belt and allowing #1 contender Bermane Stiverne to fight for the title. Additionally, I get King’s promoter perspective on if he believes Mayweather vs. Pacquiao can happen in 2014. Here is what Don King had to say.
Jenna: Don when it comes to fight of the year, there are a bunch of good contenders, and one of your fighters was involved in one of them and is getting some recognition. How do you feel about people considering Jones-Lebedev for fight of the year?
Don King: Well you know, I really respect and appreciate that. That is a wonderful thing and I think it’s right on the money. I think Guillermo Jones did a tremendous job in that fight and it was just a great fight from both ends. Fighters make fights and styles make fights, so both were cooperative, with Lebedev fighting like he did and then Jones exceeding in knocking him out.
No one had to make that decision, the fighter himself made the decision by taking a knee, it wasn’t the referee, it wasn’t the judges. None of those had anything to do with it, and that really makes it unparalleled, because the fighter himself fought with all he had. I’m very happy about that, very elated and again, it gives boxing what boxing richly deserves.
Jenna: Broner-Maidana recently took place and is getting some buzz as well. How do you think that fight compares to your fighters match?
King: They told me that he(Adrien Broner) got knocked down two or three times and he was dethroned. Maidana did his job, according to the results I’m hearing. I don’t think it’s alike to the Lebedev-Jones fight, that’s something that Lebedev would have won had it went to the score cards.
It was really a terrific give and take fight all the way through, and just from sheer guts and being able to stand and trade, undeniably the type of intestinal fortitude that is shown in the sport of boxing. That’s what made boxing what it is, it’s man to man, you can’t call time out and send in the substitute. If you run out of petrol, there’s no gas station in sight.
You have to deal with your problems forthrightly, you know what I mean? It’s right in front of you, there’s no procrastination, you got to be able to deal with the destiny of a fight. That’s what makes boxing the great sport that it is.
Jenna: Vitali Klitschko recently vacated his WBC belt, and now Bermane Stiverne, a fighter from your stable is the #1 contender to fight for the belt. How do you feel about how everything has played out?
King: Bermane has been waiting and waiting while Vitali was waiting on making his mind to do this and to retire and make that magnanimous decision. I’m very happy for Vitali, and I’m happy for Bermane. We have suffered with waiting for over a year, for what is justly and richly deserved.
I think with the imponent wisdom of the WBC, I think that justice will prevail in making Bermane the champion to go out there and deal with it because he has been such an arduous performer, dedicated and committed with loyalty, dedication and commitment to the WBC. I think this is something that the world will recognize in the wisdom in the WBC, the number one boxing organization in the world.
Jenna: Don, you’re best known for all the heavyweight champions that you’ve had through your career, working with Mike Tyson, and Muhammad Ali. What would it mean to you to once again have a heavyweight champion in your stable?
King: What it would mean to me would just be exhilarating and that’s what we’re gonna have with Bermane Stiverne. He’s gonna be the heavyweight champion and we’re gonna revitalize and resurrect the glory, the fame, the acclaim of yesteryear and bring it to the sport today in the heavyweight division. As the heavyweights go, so does boxing. People didn’t believe that, no one but Jose Sulaiman and myself.
You could see the discombobulation of boxing as it stands today when you don’t have a heavyweight champion that can capture the imagination of the people and be with the pulse of the people and relate and identify with the people. Those champions are vitally necessary and needed.
I think Bermane has that opportunity to step into those shoes and do just that, along with our team and team Bermane, we will be able to emulate that and demonstrate that. It will be something great to bring heavyweight back into force. You’re gonna find little guys that are great, little men are giants too and we’re gonna be able to have an opportunity to demonstrate that.
Jenna: Stiverne has to fight Chris Arreola in a rematch to win the title. What do you think of the challenge he has in front of him?
King: The giant that stands there waiting and running the path of greatness is Bermane Stiverne. All he has to do is just rise to the occasion because the way he beat Arreola, it was like a little spanking. You can never adjust to something like that, especially as tough as Arreola is supposed to be.
I think that until he’s demonstrated the greatness that’s in store for you as the viewer, to be the recipient of a guy who comes from the bottom rung of the ladder, dealing with all the different idiosyncrasies of life, to rise to the occasion to be the champion with the right to say, “Yes I can” when everyone else says “No you can’t.”
Jenna: Don you have put together some of the biggest fights in boxing history and you tried your hand at putting together Mayweather-Pacquiao in the past. Do you think in 2014 we can finally see those two meeting in the ring?
King: Yes it could happen! Boxers are people and people are boxers and sometimes you get caught up in the position of money, and you got to be able to deal with what’s the real power. Dealing with them, you have to deal with real human beings, because the fighters are sophisticated and intelligent and they want what their just due is, so we got to negotiate and compromise.
You got to give them a chance to be respected, that’s something you have to be able to deal with, that’s why I think I can make any match and make things happen that wouldn’t happen without us, cause I consider you as a human being. I’m very happy that them two guys are looking to be looked upon with such acclaim and such fame.
I’m looking forward to seeing those two guys meet if that’s what they want, although the tarnish has been there because of Pacquiao’s depression and distraughtness of not being able to fight Mayweather has caused him to lose a couple of times. I think they would still want to see that fight because that’s one they would get ready for and both of these guys work dedicatedly and committedly. I think Floyd Mayweather is the best fighter in the world today.
Good interview!…
Five years for Li’l floyd to man up. But it seems this guy is really coward. He would offer to pacman an amount 40 million US dollar at a time when he was sure pacquiao and top rank would not agree considering pacman’s popularity during that year just to make it appear he wants to fight when in reality he won’t. Now that the pacman had lost by knockout..I think floyd will offer 20 million US dollar with the PPV wil all go to him. These offer is again designed to make it appear that he really want to fight when in fact he won’t.
Don, the best boxer of today should not have one-thousand-and-one excuses not to fight worthy opponents. Don the best boxer of today does not use sucker punches to win fights. The best boxer of today does not cheat on weights. The best boxer of today does not cherry pick opponents.
He offered to wire 20 million in what 48 hours and he said no? He could’ve at least waited the 48 hrs before he said no.
Now according to the NSAC he took home 6 million after the Bradley fight then got 8 million to get put sleep by JMM. So that 14 million to take two L’s instead of 40 million to take one. No one is playing games.
its a business after all, and everyone has to get what they deserve, pacquiao deserves more than 20 or 40 m in a fight where floyd will get 3 or 4 times more than that if pacquiao accepts..
why dont they just make a split instead of offering pacquiao, the 2nd ppv star, a miserable check while floyd just takes home 200m++ ppv+++
if you cant agree with what i said, then pacquiao fighting for free should be the thing people like you think it should be done.
Floyd Gayweather blew a GIANT “Smoke Cloud” with all that testing stuff, and then with all the ridiculous demands… and in the end… made the boxing public QUESTION Manny Pacquiao’s Legitimacy; made people think Manny “might” be a cheater.
And that Manny “might” be scared….
That was ENOUGH for Gayweather to remain (in the boxing public’s mind) as the LEGIT Pound for pound,
without EVER having to fight Pacquiao !!!
Then when Manny LOST… it only Solidified Gayweather’s reason(s) as to why he doesn’t have to fight him.
Gayweather is a B*tch, and he has his followers FOOLED.
He is STEALING YOUR MONEY and LAUGHING IN YOUR FACE.
He ADMITTED after the Canelo Alvarez fight that he “Builds his opponents ‘UP’, and then he ‘SMASHES THEM DOWN, like this’ ” , and he went on to say
“It’s all about the MONEY”.
In so many words, he TELLS you, that he knows Everyone wants to see him lose..
So he makes it look as if the fighter you favor, has a chance, (and he promotes that) and in the end, he “smashes them down” and takes your money.
And you idiots still have an inkling of “respect” for this THIEF… !
BOYCOTT THIS A*SHOLE. Anyone who thinks he is BIGGER than the BELT that
defines him as a CHAMPION..
a belt that is what gave him his CREDIBILITY, is NOT a TRUE CHAMPION
and does NOT deserve to get your money.
FORCE him to RESPECT the sport of BOXING. BOYCOTT this COWARD.!
Floyd Gayweather blew a GIANT “Smoke Cloud” with all that testing stuff, and then with all the ridiculous demands… and in the end… made the boxing public QUESTION Manny Pacquiao’s Legitimacy; made people think Manny “might” be a cheater.
And that Manny “might” be scared….
That was ENOUGH for Gayweather to remain (in the boxing public’s mind) as the LEGIT Pound for pound,
without EVER having to fight Pacquiao !!!
Then when Manny LOST… it only Solidified Gayweather’s reason(s) as to why he doesn’t have to fight him.
Gayweather is a B*tch, and he has his followers FOOLED.
He is STEALING YOUR MONEY and LAUGHING IN YOUR FACE.
He ADMITTED after the Canelo Alvarez fight that he “Builds his opponents ‘UP’, and then he ‘SMASHES THEM DOWN, like this’ ” , and he went on to say
“It’s all about the MONEY”.
In so many words, he TELLS you, that he knows Everyone wants to see him lose..
So he makes it look as if the fighter you favor, has a chance, (and he promotes that) and in the end, he “smashes them down” and takes your money.
And you idiots still have an inkling of “respect” for this THIEF… !
BOYCOTT THIS A*SHOLE. Anyone who thinks he is BIGGER than the BELT that
defines him as a CHAMPION..
a belt that is what gave him his CREDIBILITY, is NOT a TRUE CHAMPION
and does NOT deserve to get your money.
FORCE him to RESPECT the sport of BOXING. BOYCOTT this COWARD.!
The time has come for Li’l floyd to suffer bad karma. Floyd will lose one of his two fights this 2014.
Li’l Floyd JailWeather Jr. keeps inventing excuses to avoid fighting Pacquiao:
– 1st: Drug Testing when the contract was to be finalized. Pac relented & agreed;
– 2nd: Lower purse: fixed amount with no portion of PPV. Eventually Manny agreed;
– 3rd: With items 1 & 2 out of the way, now Jail Jr. won’t deal with Top Rank/Bob Arum
– What’s next, a paper cut injury?
I love boxing so much that I would never advocate boycott of boxing except as a last resort and only in the most extreme of cases. With the recent pronouncements from the Mayweather camp, I think they are going to avoid a Pacquiao fight again. The feeling of frustration and despondency is setting in on me that the exercise of the last resort is becoming inevitable. So, with heavy heart, I beseech the boxing world not to watch any boxing fight until the Pacquiao v Mayweather fight comes to fruition. The media has to do its part to reflect the sentiments of the boxing fans. Giving any kind of credence to a Mayweather excuse to be politically correct merely adds to his ammunition to continuously duck Pacquiao. BOYCOTT!!!
With Fraud Jr around, I;d rather watch MMA., where real men fought until their bones snap! Ronda Rousey will kick Fraud Mayweather’s @ss. That’s for sure.
if they ever fought in a judo match yeah.
I will never watch FMW in PPv again. Khan,.. Who is Khan to challenge Floyd? Floyd should fight Manny and No more excuses Floyd!…Don King was a mafia and no words deserve to hear from him.
the fight will happend if mayweather decide to fight with pacman. the rest of issues are not really a problem. maybe promotional and tv issues are lillte bit of a problem, but i think it can be settled if mayweather decides. so, therefore the ball is with mayweather hand. if he decides to shoot it in the ring then the game will go on, but if he just keep it to himself then , there will be no basketball at all.
We all know that flyod are really coward and he never fight Pacman thats the mere fact…..
count me nestor sanches
Pacquiao must give in to Mayweather’s demand for the last time, let go of Arum, then see if Mayweather obliges to fight him, if not then forget about it, it will never ever happen .
so, the real issue is how to solve that big problem, ” CHICKEN FLOYD “. I thought amiricans are brave people. AMERICA IS THE HOME OF THE BRAVES AND THE FREE. if mayweather is really brave then he deserves to be called an american but if he continues to be coward , how do we call him?… A coward American? I hope that those people behind him dont belong to same breed of coward Americans.
Actually, the “Home Of The Brave” is another word for Native Americans. You should do some research. Think…Atlanta Braves…..get it? It is simply a way of racist whites acknowledging that they terrorized the natives of the land, killed them off, and took over in the name of White Jesus. Such a clown ass… LOL
Floyd is so terrible, I mean in the history of the sport of boxing this guy is the only fighter who ducked a would be great fight for the fans. I mean, the fans put him where he is at now, I don’t know if Floyd knows the meaning of reciprocate. Come on Floyd show the fans some dignity as you promised a couple time of fighting Pacquiao. We the fans believed Pacquiao is a very clean fighter so stop your non sense okay?
It’s either you fight him or you will forever be remembered as an AMERICAN COWARD forever….
Lil’floyd do business with people he likes..
Lil’floyd doesnt give a shit to boxing oranization..
Lil’floyd fights only fighters he deemed can beat, and avoid high risk fighers..t
thanks for the information godbody. i’ve no racist issue here, whether native americans, white americans, or any other colored americans, what i’ve known is that americans are brave people. as an american boxer he should not afraid to fight pacman. boxing fans all over the world want that fight to happend, however, mayweather made all kind of excuses just not to fight pacman and the fans know that the only reason why mayweather will not fight pacman is because he is a COWARD!
A couple of times? CJ Ross made Pacquiao lost. Marquez, that’s a legit lost.
Floyd Gayweather blew a GIANT “Smoke Cloud” with all that testing stuff, and then with all the ridiculous demands… and in the end… made the boxing public QUESTION Manny Pacquiao’s Legitimacy; made people think Manny “might” be a cheater.
And that Manny “might” be scared….
That was ENOUGH for Gayweather to remain (in the boxing public’s mind) as the LEGIT Pound for pound,
without EVER having to fight Pacquiao !!!
Then when Manny LOST… it only Solidified Gayweather’s reason(s) as to why he doesn’t have to fight him.
Gayweather is a B*tch, and he has his followers FOOLED.
He is STEALING YOUR MONEY and LAUGHING IN YOUR FACE.
He ADMITTED after the Canelo Alvarez fight that he “Builds his opponents ‘UP’, and then he ‘SMASHES THEM DOWN, like this’ ” , and he went on to say
“It’s all about the MONEY”.
In so many words, he TELLS you, that he knows Everyone wants to see him lose..
So he makes it look as if the fighter you favor, has a chance, (and he promotes that) and in the end, he “smashes them down” and takes your money.
And you idiots still have an inkling of “respect” for this THIEF… !
BOYCOTT THIS A*SHOLE. Anyone who thinks he is BIGGER than the BELT that
defines him as a CHAMPION..
a belt that is what gave him his CREDIBILITY, is NOT a TRUE CHAMPION
and does NOT deserve to get your money.
FORCE him to RESPECT the sport of BOXING. BOYCOTT this COWARD.!
If Fraud jr retires from fighting, boxing fans will easily forget him in oblivion. What good things are there to remember Fraud Jr. about? Yes he is undefeated but there were other great boxing champs who were undefeated. In fact, those who were really great boxing champs like Ali & SR Robinsons have losses but still fans will never forget them as true champs. Remember when Fraud Jr briefly retired some years back? People have forgotten him especially when exciting active boxers were making the sports more interesting. When he learns that people were no longer mentioning his names, he made a comeback but carefully cherry picking opponents whom he cheated in weights and even shamelessly punch suckered one opponent.. What a loser this chicken of a boxer.
As a boxing fan it’s frustrating and C’mon! Let’s cut all the bullshit! Stop giving this so called champ reasons,excuses and fucking alibis to avoid the fight and make yourself believe and the stupid people that agrees with it that may weather is a biggest coward and a liar! Yes he got great talent and it looks masterpiece at times and as a boxing fan I loved it! It’s artistic the way he moves but it doesn’t end there!!! You need to use that fucking skills to beat the best out there not the best fighter that suits your style! It’s needs to end! He said pacquiao needs to beat so and so first or he don’t deserved to fight you but you fought ghost Guerrero!.? Who is he? C’mon! It will come back and haunt him forever! He will never be considered on of the best boxer ever coz it was never tested! All talk and comparing of skills,records ain’t shit to decide who’s better! Just look at your Minnie me browner! Hahaha….maidan a ain’t nothing compare to skills and flash! What happen?!
@Ram Rivero wrote:
“You need to use that fucking skills to beat the best out there not the best fighter that suits your style!”
Its this not the very model of every boxing promotor? Styles make fights and for that one reason we all want this fight to happen. But come on, Sleepyiao vs Rios, Sleepyiao vs Clottey, Sleepyiao vs Bradley Roach even said that Rios was handpick. Its boxing. It happen before Floyd and will continue long after he’s gone.
First demanding drug testing Olympic style- pacquiao judged for refusing but let’s not forget that time pacquiao is the man! He beats everybody and made a record. Floyd comes out retirement and got pressured over the question on fighting PAC so accuses PAC of using steroid. Then demanded the testing bs! Normal reaction is who the hell are you to tell me what to do so as a man why let this man dictate you what to do!? Not about d test but the way u dictates like u are the boxing god. Would u agree too this clown knowing that he did accused u at first of using ped!
@ Ram Rivero.
Floyd was urged by Moseley to have Sleepyiao take the test. Sleepyiao saying, no, giving blood makes to him weak only validated Floyds point. Oscar also called into question his abnormal power and so did Hatton. So it just wasnt Floyd. Plus we have a history of boxing to go by. A guy not losing power or speed as he moves up in weigh while KO’ing natural bigger guys sends off red flags. Its just does. Adrien Broner being the perfect example as people are now advising him to go to 140.
Testing BS? Really? It didnt take Canelo, Cotto, JMM, Robert Guerrero 3 years to agree to testing.
There was never a question who the CASH COW was and is. So whenever they fight Floyd will be calling the shots period.
Floyd Gayweather blew a GIANT “Smoke Cloud” with all that testing stuff, and then with all the ridiculous demands… and in the end… made the boxing public QUESTION Manny Pacquiao’s Legitimacy; made people think Manny “might” be a cheater.
And that Manny “might” be scared….
That was ENOUGH for Gayweather to remain (in the boxing public’s mind) as the LEGIT Pound for pound,
without EVER having to fight Pacquiao !!!
Then when Manny LOST… it only Solidified Gayweather’s reason(s) as to why he doesn’t have to fight him.
Gayweather is a B*tch, and he has his followers FOOLED.
He is STEALING YOUR MONEY and LAUGHING IN YOUR FACE.
He ADMITTED after the Canelo Alvarez fight that he “Builds his opponents ‘UP’, and then he ‘SMASHES THEM DOWN, like this’ ” , and he went on to say
“It’s all about the MONEY”.
In so many words, he TELLS you, that he knows Everyone wants to see him lose..
So he makes it look as if the fighter you favor, has a chance, (and he promotes that) and in the end, he “smashes them down” and takes your money.
And you idiots still have an inkling of “respect” for this THIEF… !
BOYCOTT THIS A*SHOLE. Anyone who thinks he is BIGGER than the BELT that
defines him as a CHAMPION..
a belt that is what gave him his CREDIBILITY, is NOT a TRUE CHAMPION
and does NOT deserve to get your money.
FORCE him to RESPECT the sport of BOXING. BOYCOTT this COWARD.!
Paquiao has to take it up the *ss to fight Duck Dodger financially but i think he’ll take it
Paqiuao is gonna have to fight Duck Dodger hopping on one leg, one hand tied behind his back, giving blood samples in between rounds, wearing an eye patch, and for chump change but would still give Duck Dodger a battle. Man, tell me how that is good for boxing Duck Dodger!!!!!
All incoming handpick opponents paper champion Cowardweather should b BAN, no PPV! F it wasn’t MAYWEATHER vs PACQUIAO. Mayweather’s mouth shud b wraped w/ plastic tape to avoid making any excuses & alibis man..he shud respct d whole world by giving wht fyt they shud want to see so dat he get respected by all d people whtevr d outcome win or lost. dats d only thing.
I HOPE TO GOD FLOYD DOESNT FIGHT KHAN! WHO THE FUCK IS HE? MAYBE KHAN SHOULD BE DEMANDING A REMATCH WITH DANYY GARCIA, THE GUY WHO KNOCKED HIM OUT AND TOOK HIS TITLE! I WOULD RATHER SEE FLOYD FIGHT A BRADLEY, OR EVEN A DANNY GARCIA. HELL, EVEN A REMATCH WITH COTTO! IM SICK OF FLOYD FIGHTING THESE HAND PICKED FIGHTERS THAT HE KNOWS HE CAN BEAT. THERE IS ONLY ONE FIGHT THAT WILL STILL GENERATE MORE MONEY AND MORE HYPE THAN CANELLO / FLOYD…PACMAN / FLOYD, ENOUGH SAID
Floyd Gayweather blew a GIANT “Smoke Cloud” with all that testing stuff, and then with all the ridiculous demands… and in the end… made the boxing public QUESTION Manny Pacquiao’s Legitimacy; made people think Manny “might” be a cheater.
And that Manny “might” be scared….
That was ENOUGH for Gayweather to remain (in the boxing public’s mind) as the LEGIT Pound for pound,
without EVER having to fight Pacquiao !!!
Then when Manny LOST… it only Solidified Gayweather’s reason(s) as to why he doesn’t have to fight him.
Gayweather is a B*tch, and he has his followers FOOLED.
He is STEALING YOUR MONEY and LAUGHING IN YOUR FACE.
He ADMITTED after the Canelo Alvarez fight that he “Builds his opponents ‘UP’, and then he ‘SMASHES THEM DOWN, like this’ ” , and he went on to say
“It’s all about the MONEY”.
In so many words, he TELLS you, that he knows Everyone wants to see him lose..
So he makes it look as if the fighter you favor, has a chance, (and he promotes that) and in the end, he “smashes them down” and takes your money.
And you idiots still have an inkling of “respect” for this THIEF… !
BOYCOTT THIS A*SHOLE. Anyone who thinks he is BIGGER than the BELT that
defines him as a CHAMPION..
a belt that is what gave him his CREDIBILITY, is NOT a TRUE CHAMPION
and does NOT deserve to get your money.
FORCE him to RESPECT the sport of BOXING. BOYCOTT this COWARD.!