Only in America: The Life and Crimes of Don King [Hardcover]

Jack Newfield (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1995

Working his way out of a life of street crime and numbers running--and jail time for manslaughter--King rose to become a powerhouse in the fight game and amassed a vast personal fortune, while ruining the lives and careers of some of boxing's greatest champions. This brilliant combination of investigative reporting, writing, and biography adds up to a shocking portrayal of a true American original. Photos.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 1966, when King was the biggest numbers banker in Cleveland, he beat to death a man who owed him money. After serving fewer than four years of a second-degree murder conviction, he was paroled and immediately got into the boxing promoting business, helped by, among others, rock and roll songwriter/ performer Lloyd Price and Muhammad Ali. Soon, King was arranging the "Rumble in the Jungle," the Ali-Foreman fight in Zaire in 1974, which was followed by the "Thriller in Manilla," the Ali-Frazier fight in 1975. Newfield, in meticulous detail, shows how King promoted white racism and black racism with equal enthusiasm; his ties to the Cleveland mob; how he "stole" Larry Holmes; his betrayal of both Price and Ali; his relationship with Mike Tyson; and his very creative bookkeeping, which led to a 1994 indictment for wire fraud. Newfield, a syndicated columnist with the New York Post, has written a scathing portrait of America's #1 boxing promoter. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Newfield, a syndicated columnist for the New York Post and a veteran of 30 years on the sports scene, documents boxing promoter Don King's successful and reprehensible career from his early days as a street hustler. In 1966, King was convicted of manslaughter when he kicked Sam Garrett to death in a gambling beef. Later he parlayed his friendship with singer Lloyd Price into an introduction to Muhammad Ali. The man who had listened to the first Frazier-Ali fight in prison promoted the second one. It was only the beginning. Soon a fighter couldn't get a chance at a title held by a King fighter unless he abandoned his current management and signed with King. Newfield documents it all, with especially damaging evidence provided regarding King's financial relationship with Mike Tyson. Somehow, though, King always slips the noose by knowing who will accept bribes, who will buckle under a threat, and who wants a big-money opportunity. The sheer volume of evidence here is overwhelming; we always thought King was a creep, now we know it for certain. Sports fans in general and boxing fans specifically should tip their hats to Newfield. Wes Lukowsky

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow & Co; 1st edition (October 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688101232
• ISBN-13: 978-0688101237
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #388,436 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Only in America, August 27, 2003

By 

Todd Archacki (Colchester, Vermont) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Only in America: The Life and Crimes of Don King (Hardcover)

Don King took on the FBI, IRS, Mob, and judges. He thinks of him self in high quality saying "I am the american dream, America is my country, My people built this country and i know my way around." People say Don King does black on black crime when he steals all their money from loosing in boxing matches. Don King is smart clever and deceiving. He has commited two murders one being a homicide in his favor and the other being man slaughter in the first dergree. Ever since then Don King hasnt been able to stay out of trouble comitting speeding violations numerous times, stealing, and scheme of chance. He just cant stay out of the news and thats the way he likes it.
I give the book 5 stars do to the authors great detail and the excitment in Don Kings life time. "I do truley beleive he is the American Dream"

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read especially in view of the recent Holyfield/Lewis, March 19, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Auckland, New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Only in America: The Life and Crimes of Don King (Hardcover)

Don King is a bad, bad man. He controls boxing because he plays the race card better than OJ Simpson's defence team. Newfield exposes King for what he is. That such a man as King should be inducted into the Boxing Hall Of Fame makes a joke of the sport. And did anyone notice who the comments man on the recent Lewis/Holyfield telecast was, and was suggesting the fight could be very close? Non other than Carl King - Don's step-son.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars can you believe this man?, August 1, 1998

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Only in America: The Life and Crimes of Don King (Hardcover)

I couldn't put this book down. It covers the pathetic life of Don King very well. I sure feel sorry for the boxers whom he made "rich." I will surely view any and all boxing matches promoted by DKP in a very different light.