FROM ALI-FOREMAN TO CAMEO ON AL HAYMON TV
Anthony Joshua
San Francisco, CA– Promoter Don King cut his promotional teeth on the “Rumble in The Jungle” in 1974. With Muhammad Ali thought to be far past his prime, going against a man that destroyed Ali’s arch rival Joe Frazier, world heavyweight champion George Foreman. Now when you see King on TV, quite often it’s in the corner of a guy given little or no chance.
TEENAGE GEORGE FOREMAN “MONSTER” IN SPARRING
Having watched Foreman in the teenage years, his learning how to box at Newman’s Gym here at 312 Leavenworth St., to the Golden Gloves, winning the 1968 Olympics, and two professional careers that were separated by more than a decade, my vantage point was one that few people alive today saw as this product of Houston, TX’s roughest Ward, grew from that of a pugilistic seedling to a two-time world heavyweight champion.
BACK TO DON KING
Leading a crowd that included Hungarian President Yanos Adler at the 2013 World Boxing Organization Congress in singing the Donald a “Happy Birthday,” I had some laughs with a man who over the years has
Don “Unplugged” King
proven incredibly brilliant and resilient too. Obviously tired and looking a lot like the “Keep (Bob) Hope Alive“ character skit on the In Living Color TV show. But I had seem him wane before, lose his mojo and come back.
ENOUGH TALENT TO GO AROUND?
The question is, with all the promoters, newcomers Al Haymon with 150 or so pugs under contract, Rap czar Jay Zee,
with the boxing establishment represented by Bob Arum, Oscar De La Hoya, Kathy Duva, Banner Promotions, Gary Shaw and a few others, is there enough talent, even with the tapping of the former Soviet Bloc talent, coupled with the “hot & cold” Asian scene, are there enough boxers for all these guys and one woman to survive?
ADD EUROPE TO THE EQUATION
Before you answer, take into account the British and European promoters like Sauerland, Frank Warren and Barry Hearn, and ask yourself that question again? What am I trying to say? Even though boxing is prospering and enjoying a renaissance there isn’t enough talent to keep all these entities afloat. Be it by death or a “sink or swim” form of elimantion, five years from now the boxing landscape will still evolve, but with less promoters.
DON KING’S “SLIM & NONE” LINE FIT ERIC MOLINA
Don used to employ a slick reply when asked about a fighter’s chances. “Well, his chances are Slim and none, and Slim just left town.” That was the posit Eric Molina was in Saturday night against WBC heavyweight titleholder and American hope Deontay Wilder. Scoring three knockdowns, two in round four, one in the fifth before a TKO 9 ending, either Molina (22-3, 17 KOs) was tougher than we thought or Wilder’s punching is not as potent as 33 KOs in 34 fights seems to indicate.
WILDER “NOT YET READY” FOR PRIME TIME?
According to the HBO Godfather Larry Merchant, “Al Haymon is the man with the plan and Wilder plays an important role in that plan. He has a title, something to market him better. But he’s not ready for Wladimir (Klitschko). The idea is to get him a few more fights and see if he can rise to the occasion. You watched Wilder Saturday night against Molina, can he?
JOSHUA LOOKS THE BETTER PROSPECT
2012 Olympic Gold medalist Anthony Joshua of the UK is 12-0 with 12 whacks! Having nearly decapitated Kevin “Once A Kingpin” Johnson in less than two rounds most recently, Joshua looks to have the best chance of becoming the “next” big thing in the heavyweight division who with the right progress will be ready for anybody, including Mr. Klitschko within 16-18 months.
Pedro Fernandez
Note: Mr. Fernandez is an award-winning writer, TV commentator, radio talk show host, former San Francisco Policeman and four-time Golden Gloves champion. Comments regarding this submission can be left below under the advertising.
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QUESTIONS ON PROMOTERS & FIGHTERS 2015