BEIJING, China (Aug. 13)–Legendary promoter Don King held a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday where he congratulated China and the Chinese people on their tremendous launch of the first Olympic Games staged in the most populous country on earth while launching a boxing promotion of his own scheduled for Nov. 7 in the largest city in the Sichuan Province, Chengdu.
“We had been in discussions with Chinese officials to bring a fight card to Chengdu prior to the devastating earthquake they experienced on May 12,” King said. “Now more than ever we need to go. We want to remember those who perished and try to help in any way we can those who survived.”
After the press conference, King was hosted by the Chinese Boxing Association who took him for a Peking duck lunch followed by a trip to Workers’ Gymnasium for Olympic boxing.
King saw three light flyweight preliminary bouts–one that featured a Chinese fighter who was understandably favored by the Beijing audience that enthusiastically cheered on their countryman with homegrown fervor. The audience also showed what the Olympic spirit is all about when they loudly cheered his opponent, who lost, after he made a point of giving the crowd the traditional four-corner ring bow after the match.
King traveled to Chengdu late Wednesday night and will host a press conference in this Western China city on Friday. King has not finalized any specific matches but did say the World Boxing Council is likely to sanction a heavyweight match he is planning.