Don King inducted into the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame
Don King was honored by the American Gaming Association with induction in the Gaming Hall of Fame at their 20th annual charity dinner and ceremony on Tuesday at the Red Rock Hotel & Spa in Las Vegas.
King has promoted dozens of historic boxing events in Las Vegas and Atlantic City that helped these tourism cities become two of the top destination resorts in the world.
King was joined by chef-proprietor Emeril Lagasse, fellow boxing promoter Bob Arum and riverboat gaming pioneer Bernard Goldstein, founder of Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc.
King promoted or co-promoted 12 of the top 20 highest-grossing live gates in the history of the state of Nevada, including four of the top five. He still holds the record for highest attendance ever at a boxing match in Nevada, Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney at the outdoor stadium at Caesars Palace with 29,214 spectators on June 11, 1982.
He promoted over 20 blockbuster events in Atlantic City, N.J., but it was the five fights he promoted with Mike Tyson that solidified Atlantic City as ethe East Coast capital of prizefighting in America.
King promoted or co-promoted seven of the 10 largest pay-per-view events in history, as gauged by total buys, inlcuding three of the top five, and they were all stage at MGM Grand in Las Vegas: vs. Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield II; vs. Holyfield I; and vs. Peter McNeeley.