What if Don King never existed?

Another promoter would have promoted the fights he promoted and probably have been just as successful. In that situation I don't think Don King is rare. He stepped into a situation where other promoters could have also promoted. Promoted as well? Maybe not, but it would have been done.

 

As the above poster said, another promoter comes out of the woodwork and makes the big bouts of the future.

 

Pernell & richard you beat me to it.

I think another hustler type would have emerged...maybe a more sophisticated Harold Smith or Rock Newman type...but really Don was leagues above these guys...don was leagues above a lowlife hustler.....King was incredibly intelligent,educated,personable,great with accounts/numbers..he could mix with kings and the media...but he was a street thug and hoodlum too...thats a very rare combination....dogs devour each other unless theres a whip...don controlled some pretty uncontrollable characters in the 1980s..he did it by some dubious means arguably....but he bought lavish purses to the sport.

In Britain we had a young guy Ambrose Mendy..who at one time threatened to be the British Don King...he was the quintessential yuppie...but left the scene after his alliance with nigel benn ended

 

Like Don King used to spout, Only In America, Lol. But you guys had one too.

 

The world would be a better place.

Nah there would be another sociopath to fill the void.

 

I think all that happens even without King.

 

Don truly lived the (wrestler) Dusty Rhodes line: “I have dined with kinds and queens, and I’ve slept in alleys and dined on pork and beans.”

 

Tyson wouldn't have someone to kick when he'd had a bad day?

 

Lol exactly!

 

Yes that incident deserves a thread of its own.....please do tell more...

My understanding is,Tyson aggrieved by his finances and a sudden tax bill took to violence against King"s person.After years the penny had dropped (and not a moment too soon) and he kicked Don in the face as he tried to enter a limousine...i read it was around 1998? It shows how Dons rep as a tough guy had dropped from the 1980s when Holmes and Witherspoon were reported to fear him.

That and I guess he was in his late 60s and all his alleged mob connections Gotti and Gravano were in prison

 

There might have been less fragmentation of the titles.

Not saying that this definitely happens, but it is plausible.

 

Yep, I believe Don probably got the worse of Tyson at certain times lol. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

 

There was a lot of shifting dead bodies to

 

Not for 1 second cheerleading for king but a few of his cards were fantastic. Im not so sure someone else makes them cards.