Mitchell Kane
08-14-2008, 03:55 PM
King was also seen at the Olympics yesterday.
Interesting development, as it comes after Arum's been giving lip service to a fight later this year in Macau...for a while.
China's a huge market, so it would certainly be wise to try to tap into it and grow boxing's reach in it.
Given the decisions their fighters have been getting, it certainly looks like there's going to be some medals coming for the hosts this year. That could help the sport immensely there.
Boxing promoter Don King plans China quake aid match
Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:28am BST Email | Print | Share| Single Page| Recommend (-) [-] Text [+]
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Don King to help earthquake victims
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More Video...BEIJING, Aug 14 (Reuters Life!) - American boxing promoter Don King used the world spotlight on the Olympics this week to unveil in Beijing plans for a charity tournament in the earthquake-hit province of Sichuan later this year.
King, 76, said he planned to donate part of the proceeds from the event to help victims of the May earthquake that killed about 70,000 people in the southwestern province.
"I'm here because I love China, I mean I love the Chinese people," King told Reuters Television in the Chinese capital, clutching a large cigar.
"We want to strike hard and rebuild. You have got a million-and-a-half people that are homeless. They have got several thousands that lost their lives. Sowe have to resolve that they have not died in vain."
The event, due to be held at the Chengdu National Stadium in November, is not the first King has organised in China.
In 2001, he promoted what was to have been the third meeting between then World Boxing Association heavyweight champion John Ruiz from Puerto Rico and former four-time heavyweight champion, American Evander Holyfield.
But the fight was postponed nine days before the event after Ruiz sustained a neck injury that forced him to withdraw.
(Reporting by Belinda Goldsmith, Editing by Miral Fahmy)
Interesting development, as it comes after Arum's been giving lip service to a fight later this year in Macau...for a while.
China's a huge market, so it would certainly be wise to try to tap into it and grow boxing's reach in it.
Given the decisions their fighters have been getting, it certainly looks like there's going to be some medals coming for the hosts this year. That could help the sport immensely there.
Boxing promoter Don King plans China quake aid match
Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:28am BST Email | Print | Share| Single Page| Recommend (-) [-] Text [+]
1 of 1Full SizeRelated Video
Don King to help earthquake victims
Play Video
More Video...BEIJING, Aug 14 (Reuters Life!) - American boxing promoter Don King used the world spotlight on the Olympics this week to unveil in Beijing plans for a charity tournament in the earthquake-hit province of Sichuan later this year.
King, 76, said he planned to donate part of the proceeds from the event to help victims of the May earthquake that killed about 70,000 people in the southwestern province.
"I'm here because I love China, I mean I love the Chinese people," King told Reuters Television in the Chinese capital, clutching a large cigar.
"We want to strike hard and rebuild. You have got a million-and-a-half people that are homeless. They have got several thousands that lost their lives. Sowe have to resolve that they have not died in vain."
The event, due to be held at the Chengdu National Stadium in November, is not the first King has organised in China.
In 2001, he promoted what was to have been the third meeting between then World Boxing Association heavyweight champion John Ruiz from Puerto Rico and former four-time heavyweight champion, American Evander Holyfield.
But the fight was postponed nine days before the event after Ruiz sustained a neck injury that forced him to withdraw.
(Reporting by Belinda Goldsmith, Editing by Miral Fahmy)