Superhero Or Supervillain?
It’s been decades since Don King ruled the boxing world with his gravity-defying hair and larger-than-life swagger. But behind the glitz, the fame, and the legendary fights, he helped build a story far darker than his glittering résumé suggests—one filled with power plays, betrayal, and the brutal cost of becoming boxing’s most infamous kingmaker.
1. He Had A Rough Start
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1931, King didn’t have the easiest start in life. The fifth of six kids, his family likely struggled to make ends meet in a pre-Civil Rights Movement America. But when he was still just a boy, about 10 years old, what started as a shocking tragedy ultimately gave his family a fresh start.
Bernard Gotfryd, Wikimedia Commons
2. They Started Over
In 1941, King’s father passed in a freak workplace accident at the Otis Steel plant. While the loss of his father became a point of grief for the entire family, the money they received from the company—equal to around $200k in our times—turned into their way out. King’s mother moved the family to a nicer neighborhood, and set up shop selling peanuts and pies.
You might think that kind of change would put King on the right track, but it ended up doing just the opposite.
3. He Started Young
King stayed busy by helping his mother sell her food items at a local concession stand—except, the concession stand actually served as a cover for the real business, running “numbers”. Before long, King and his siblings found themselves caught up in the betting scams. And eventually, in the worst ways possible, King took to the game like a fish to water…
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4. He Ditched School
Despite his focus on “business,” King still managed to graduate from Cleveland's John Adams High in 1951. He went on to attend Kent State University, perhaps looking for a taste of the straight and narrow. If he did get a taste, he didn’t care for it, because he ultimately dropped out. But perhaps he just had his mind on other things—some innocent, and some everything but.
Kentstate1910, Wikimedia Commons
5. He Settled Down (Kind Of)
The same year he graduated from high school, King married a young lady named Luvenia Mitchell. There’s not much information available about her, which might be due to the fact that they eventually divorced. Either that, or her history has been drowned out by everything else King did during that time.
6. He Doubled Down
Also starting that same year, King launched his own numbers business. He worked as a full time bookie, taking unlawful bets out of a record store’s basement. He became well known for what he did, with names like “The Kid” and “Kingpin” starting to follow him around.
As you might expect, illicit behavior often leads to other illicit behavior, and it wasn’t long before King found himself doing the worst of the worst.
The Ring Magazine, Getty Images
7. He Took Him Out
On December 2, 1954, King pulled up to his gambling house to discover three men attempting to rob the place. Seemingly without a second though, King pulled out a revolver and let loose. In the end, he took the life of one of the men, Hillary Brown, and authorities took him in for questioning. All things considered, the outcome proved to be…surprisingly lenient.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
8. He Was Justified
According to the courts, King had every right to react the way he did, despite any other unlawful dealings involved. Authorities ultimately ruled the situation “justified”, releasing King from any potential consequences—from them, that is. While he managed to escape any punishment at the hands of the court, he didn’t find himself quite so lucky when it came to street justice.
9. They Made A Statement
A few years later, in 1957, King faced a whole different type of backlash. On May 20th of that year, the porch of his home literally exploded. Allegedly, he was targeted with an explosive device due to some unlawful dealings with some shady groups. And while that likely gave him quite the fright, things got even more dicey when a crime boss set his sights on King…
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10. He Almost Got Taken Out
Later that same year, well-known American Gangster Shondor Birns supposedly put a hit out on King. Why, you may ask? For not making good on the $200 monthly payment that promised his security. King managed to survive the resulting shots in his head and neck, but, in the background, the courts were already on their way back for their piece of the pie.
The Ring Magazine, Getty Images
11. They Raided Him
The year 1957 turned out to be a banner year for the young scammer, as the IRS raided his house that December looking for evidence to support his alleged tax evasion. While that case dragged on in court, and eventually ended up tied in with other cases that came back to haunt him later, he ultimately got up to something much worse than owing the government several thousand dollars.
12. He Crashed Out
In August 1966, King went berserk on an employee. According to his version of events, the employee, Sam Garret, “ran off with (some) money”. But according to authorities’ reports, and several people who witnessed the entire accident, King actually went crazy on Garret for owing him just $600. He beat and stomped him to his tragic end, despite his victim’s alleged final words: “Don, I’ll pay you the money".
This time, he didn't get away quite like he had before.
Gotfryd, Bernard, photographer, Wikimedia Commons
13. They Locked Him Up
King tried to plead “self-defense,” but this time, the courts saw right through his charades. They convicted him of serious charges, and threw him behind bars for a sentence that could amount to 20 years. And while it seemed his life of devious behavior finally caught up with him, it was behind bars that King learned some things that changed the course of his life forever—though not in the way you might expect (or hope).
14. He Hit The Books
While serving his time in lockup, King reportedly hit the books, reading everything from Shakespeare to Nietzsche. In his own words, he said it “gave me an enlightenment on life…don’t get mad, get smart”. Granted, by other reports, he’d go on to quote, both accurately and inaccurately, many well known writers for the rest of his life. But that wasn’t the only interesting thing he managed on lockdown.
Friedrich Nietzsche, Wikimedia Commons
15. He Made Money Moves
Somehow, King managed to arrange the purchase of a farm during his time away. While that seems pretty innocent, and perhaps was, what’s interesting about it is who lived there—a recent widow by the name of Henrietta Renwick. Eventually, she became King’s next bride and the mother of his kids. But not before one more moment in history sparked his interest and changed his world…
Donaldson Collection, Getty Images
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16. He Tuned In
In 1971, King managed to tune into a history-making boxing match between two then undefeated champions: Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. This fight became “The Fight of the Century,” drawing massive attention and making what amounts to over $400 million revenue. While it’s not completely cemented in history as King’s inspiration for his life after lock up, it seems an obvious influence.
But you’re probably wondering how he ended up getting out from behind bars in the first place. Well, what exactly happened depends on what version of events you find most believable.
United Press International, Wikimedia Commons
17. They Let Him Go
In 1972, after just three years and 11 months locked up, the courts reduced King’s charges to manslaughter and ultimately released him from their custody. Supposedly, this reduction came on the back of the consistent and lawful work of his attorney in overturning the charges. But if that seems unlikely to you, the other explanation behind it might give you some resolve…
18. He Used His Money
In a Sports Illustrated article that came out decades later in 1991, reporters alleged that King actually paid the judge off. That seems much more likely, considering the multiple eye witnesses to the incident, his access to powerful people, and his knack for getting his hands on ridiculous amounts of capital.
Regardless of how, though, King found himself a free man in 1972, and made a huge play on how he wanted to live the rest of his life, and just who he would use to get it done.
19. He Made His Debut
King’s foray into the world of boxing began almost immediately once he got released and sought out Muhammad Ali. By that time, Ali’s career appeared precarious. He’d missed prime boxing years due to his Vietnam draft refusal, and likely needed someone to help him get back to the ring. King offered to be that person, and started by convincing Ali to fight in a charity show for a hospital in a poor area.
That sounds all well and good, but King’s intentions proved anything but charitable.
20. He Ripped Them Off
In his first real work as a boxing promoter, King managed to pull off the charity fight featuring Ali. But at the end of it all, he allegedly only donated $1,500 of the $85k in profit to the hospital. But if you think that was bad, it was only the beginning.
The Ring Magazine, Getty Images
21. He Put Himself On The Line
Just two years later, King took a huge swing that ultimately parlayed him into boxing history. In 1974, he somehow talked Muhammad Ali and Geroge Foreman—two of the most powerful men in boxing at the time—into fighting each other in Zaire for a $10 million purse he didn’t even have yet.
It was bold, risky, and in the end, just crazy enough to work.
United Press International, Wikimedia Commons
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22. He Did His Big One
When the lights went up in Zaire, King found himself in the midst of more than a fight, he’d actually created an unforgettable cultural moment. In the end, as Ali took home the belt, but depending on how you look at it, perhaps King proved the real winner of it all. Overnight, he became the face of boxing.
And with that, he seemed set to go on to one of the most stellar runs in the history of boxing promotion—from the outside looking in, that is.
United Press International, Wikimedia Commons
23. He Made History
The rest of the 1970s seemed served up to King on a platter. He went on to arrange and promote several iconic matches, including the 1974 fight between Ali and Chuck Wepner that supposedly inspired Sylvester Stallone to write Rocky, and the 1975 Ali and Fraizier rematch now known as the “Thrilla in Manila”. Perhaps even more impressive than his fights was his roster of management clients, which included Larry Holmes, Salvador Sánchez, and Wilfredo Gómez.
The 1970s also saw the beginning of his iconic hairstyle, and his even more iconic explanation for it.
Associated Press, Wikimedia Commons
24. He Heard From God
According to the Don himself, his seemingly naturally curly hair started growing straight up in the air by divine intervention some time in 1974. In his own words, his wife woke him from his sleep one night because his “head was rumbling and moving” and his “hair was just popping up”.
Do with that what you will, but in all honesty, considering his behavior behind the scenes of all his success, that sounds like just another fun bit of deception, and mere par for the course…
25. He Got Caught Up
As the 70s approached a close, King continued to ride on his high horse, though one particular incident seemed a foreshadow of things to come. In 1976, he pitched an idea to ABC. He suggested they televise a national boxing match, which seemed like a good idea coming off the US Olympic wins that same year. ABC signed on to work with him, but ended up cutting ties when some very suspicious details about their new “business partner” began to surface.
The Ring Magazine, Getty Images
26. They Canned It
ABC ultimately discovered they’d signed up to work with a swindler. One of the participants in the tournament alleged that the fights were fixed so King’s own clients could win. Several others reported the same, with additional allegations of both the rankings and fight records also being rigged. Before they could go down with the King, ABC canned the entire idea.
But as the next decade rolled in, allegations of King’s misconduct started coming in from what seemed like every fighter he’d ever worked with.
27. His Star Turned On Him
While King managed to continue working throughout the decade, and even continued to dominate the world of boxing promotion in many aspects, questions about his character began to color the perception of him in many circles. It all started with the person who might be considered his first boxing star—”The Greatest” himself.
Gotfryd, Bernard, photographer, Wikimedia Commons
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28. He Got Played
In June of 1982, Muhammad Ali sued King for about $2 million dollars. Ali claimed King owed him money for unpaid work, and seemingly intended to take him to court for all of it. Unfortunately for Ali, his own condition didn’t look too good, physically or financially. And with his resolve compromised, his once friend and manager took advantage in the worst way.
Bernard Gotfryd, Wikimedia Commons
29. He Paid Him Off
In an act that seems a true indicator of his ethics (or lack thereof), King sent $50,000 cash to the hospital where Ali laid, receiving treatment. Along with the cash, he sent a contract mandating that the acceptance of the money required Ali drop the lawsuit altogether. Ali signed, taking the tiny percentage of money he claimed King owed him.
While the picture of a sporting great signing his due away while laid in his sick bed really makes this one hit home, it proved not to be the last time King would swindle a star athlete.
pete troshak, Wikimedia Commons
30. He Did It Again
Throughout the decade, King continued to meet allegations of monetary misconduct with paltry payouts. In 1982, his fighter Larry Holmes sued him for $300k, and he settled it with $100k. In 1986, another of his fighters, Tim Witherspoon, sued him for $25 million and settled for $1 million.
Almost a full decade later, another boxing great that landed in his camp—Mike Tyson— sued for $100 million and settled for $14 million. But before that monumental Tyson moment, King somehow managed to bag some very questionable life wins.
Douglas C. Pizac, Wikimedia Commons
31. They Forgave Him
In 1983, the unbelievable happened: King received a full pardon for brutally taking the life of his employee back in 1966, wiping the incident completely off his record. Some of the supporters behind his pardon? Jesse Jackson, Coretta Scott King, and a couple sport bigwigs from Cleveland. After pulling off that feat, King probably felt like dancing. Which might explain one seemingly unique endeavor he undertook shortly therafter….
Leffler, Warren K., Wikimedia Commons
32. He Made Music
The very next year, Don King took up the official role as concert promoter for the famed “Victory Tour,” the final concert tour of Michael Jackson and his brothers. And while the king of pop didn’t seem to like him all that much—he fired and rehired him during the course of the tour—it seemed no amount of rumor or truth about King’s behavior could hold him down.
Technically, that is. Like it had earlier in his life, a bit of “street justice” occasionally caught up with him.
Larry Davis, Los Angeles Times, Wikimedia Commons
33. They Went After Him
Back in 1981, some of King’s chickens came home to roost while he visited the Bahamas. A group of men accosted him and beat him down. By his own reports, another promoter and some Black Muslims were responsible. But while the details are very hazy, it certainly seems that King’s own shady dealings likely played a role.
That incident aside, though, King pulled through the decade with only ever increasing amounts of money and notoriety. But as the 1990s rolled in, there seemed no end in sight for his questionable business practices.
Ron Galella, Ltd., Getty Images
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34. He Turned The Heat Up
In 1990, King allegedly faced another payment issue when one of his clients, Meldrich Taylor, approached him for his promised pay—$1.3 million. When King offered him $300k instead, the fighter understandably balked. King’s response? To threaten to literally end him if he didn’t just take what he offered. A bit of an escalation, if you ask me.
But perhaps that can help explain where King’s mind was when things came to a head with one of his last big clients, Mike Tyson.
35. He Knew Him Well
King first started working with Tyson back in the mid-1980s. And while Tyson was already making quite the name for himself, King helped him into some of the biggest fights in his career—propelling him from a life of poverty into one of great wealth. However, things between the two started to fall apart when Tyson became dissatisfied with his finances, feeling that King might not be dealing fairly with him.
Now before we get into those grimy details, you might be wondering how exactly King managed to defraud so many people. Well, the answer might just surprise you.
36. He Played The Game
Among many other ways of supposedly maneuvering around more ethical money practices, one of King’s biggest tools was his contractual agreements. Allegedly, he created a type of “Monopoly Clause”. To get in the ring with one of his clients, other fighters had to also agree to be his client if they won. And thanks to King’s far reaching influence and ties, fighters who didn’t sign often found it hard to work at all. So despite his extremely tarnished reputation, if you wanted to get in the ring, you had to sign on with the ringmaster.
Yeah, pretty supervillain-esque if I do say so myself. Now back to Tyson.
The Ring Magazine, Getty Images
37. He Tried
The trouble really started in 1992. Tyson sued King over his contract, trying to do what he could to get out of it. But amidst his own issues (including his own indictment and time behind bars), it seems that particular suit didn’t get far. Moreover, when courts released Tyson, he returned to working with King. But a few years later, in 1998, Tyson came to the end of his rope and finally turned on King—and not just with his $100 million dollar lawsuit either.
38. He Lashed Out
When Tyson conclusively found himself out about $20 million dollars in 1998, he pulled up to the LA hotel King was staying in at the time. The reports about what he said aren’t many, but according to eye witnesses present, Tyson nearly beat King to a pulp. In the end, Tyson walked away with his $14 million settlement, and the US government made a more lawful attempt at investigating King’s behavior, though no less dramatic.
39. They Barged In
In 1999, the feds finally stepped in. They invaded King’s Florida offices, looking for evidence to bring charges against his shady boxing deals, particularly in connection to Bob Lee, the chief of the International Boxing Federation at the time. Unfortunately for them, King was somehow already several steps ahead of the whole thing.
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40. He Got Away
Somehow, King still escaped even that situation scot free. Authorities couldn’t directly implicate him in his dealings with Lee, though the prosecutors “called him an unindicted co-conspirator who was the principal beneficiary of Lee’s machinations”. In other words, they considered him just as guilty but couldn’t actually do anything about it.
And with that, King walked free again. Interestingly enough, a few years later, he brought his own lawsuit against a huge corporation…
41. He Fought Back
In 2005, King and his team of attorneys levied some serious charges against the house of mouse—yup, the Walt Disney Pictures. King sought a payment of $2.5 billion in response to what he called defamation in the ESPN Sports Century episode about him. The documentary made several egregious claims, including the dealings with Meldrick Taylor we’ve already mentioned and allegations that he claimed he would break one of his own fighter’s legs, among several other things.
For once, though, King didn’t quite get what he wanted.
42. He Lost
In the end, the court ruled in favor of Walt Disney. For one, King turned down multiple requests from the show’s production team to speak in the show himself, making his own claims. For two, King nor his attorneys could provide any substantial evidence to falsify any of the claims made in the show. And with that, King took one of what seems like very few L’s in his career.
What he’s been up to since leaving the world of sport promotion, though, might just shock you.
43. He Got Political
While he’s seemed to mostly step back from his very public work in promotion, King never seems too far from the limelight. In 2008 and 2012, he showed very vocal support for Barack Obama. And in what may seem like quite the switch, he appears to be a longtime supporter of Donald Trump. All in all, those pursuits seem noble enough. And despite his life of controversy, there is one facet of his life where he seemingly managed to keep things kosher.
44. He Kept It Tight
King remained married to his second wife, Henrietta, for decades. The two had three children, including one adopted child, and several grandchildren. So while very unscrupulous in several matters, he seemed to greatly value his family, which made his wife’s passing in 2010 quite the blow. Not enough of a blow, however, to make him not try to show up to her funeral with some questionable items.
Davidoff Studios Photography, Getty Images
45. He Was Packing
On King’s way to his wife’s funeral, authorities pulled him aside to further investigate the contents of his carry-on luggage. Upon investigation, they discovered a notable amount of ammo packed in with his belongings. While it seems the situation didn’t escalate too much past the discovery, it might make you wonder if, despite his ascent into his elderly years, he’s still very much the same man he was in his youth.
Whether or not he’s as “hands-on” as people report he was back in the day, one 2012 incident seems to prove him just as controversial as ever.
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46. He Said Too Much
In February 2012, King shocked an auditorium full of boxing fans when he made an inflammatory comment about Mexican American boxer Chris Arreola. He said his team brought Arreola to the forefront, going on to insist on “no more wetbacks running up and down picking the fruits and things”. As you can imagine, that didn’t sit too well with the fighter. But, all things considered, perhaps it’s just too late for anyone to reign King in.
picture alliance, Getty Images
47. They Love To See It
All controversy aside (or maybe due to all the controversy!), King remains a bit of a cultural icon. Not only has he made appearances in multiple movies and TV shows, including Miami Vice and The Last Fight, but characters inspired by him pop up over and over in pop culture renditions. And if that isn’t enough, several organizations have gone above and beyond to elevate him to the highest platforms.
48. They Gave Him His Flowers
King has received several prestigious awards over the course of his life, including an induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Gaming Hall of Fame in 2008. He’s even had two streets named after him, one in New Jersey and one in his home town, Cleveland. Some might argue that these awards glorify his murky route to the top, but, regardless, his work remains magnanimously influential in the world of boxing, and in more ways than one.
His run, however, may be nearing an end, if his old frenemy Mike Tyson is to be believed.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
49. He Might Be In Trouble
In September 2024, podcasters asked Tyson to comment on his current relationship with King. Tyson replied with a concerning report, saying “Don is not doing well right now. He’s probably close to 100 years old. He’s not doing well”. And while those could be disparaging words of an old opponent, other reports seem to clearly point to King’s degenerating health.
Eduardo Merille, Wikimedia Commons
50. He Needed Help
By that time near his mid 90s, doctors reportedly admitted King and kept him for about 10 days. Further reports seem to indicate he needed a blood transfusion to treat an unnamed sickness. That certainly seems dire, but upon his release from the hospital, King himself made a statement that, at this point, just seems so very him.
51. He Bounced Back
According to King’s own statement released to the press, he was not in nearly as much danger as Tyson made it seem. While he acknowledged his hospital visit, he confirmed he’d been released and was recovering nicely, in stark opposition to Tyson’s comments. You might say “You can’t keep a good man down” (or not).
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