Legendary boxing promoter Don King, 93, has had a legendary career working with some of the biggest names in the history of the sport, including heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. But King's health has been deteriorating recently, according to Tyson himself.
Tyson stops by Cam'ron and Mase Whatever She joined the podcast on September 20 and gave an update on King's health.
“You know, Don's not in good shape right now,” the boxer said. “He's probably close to 100 years old. He's not in good shape.”
He recounted a conversation he had with King that confirmed the burying of the hatchet from their tumultuous decades-old disagreement. “We talked, and by the end of the play we loved each other,” he recalled.
Accordingly TMZKing emerged from a 10-day hospital stay, received a blood transfusion and is now recovering at home. Over the years, he has worked with boxing legends such as Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Evander Holyfield, Joe Frazier, Julio Cesar Chavez, Roberto Duran and Bernard Hopkins.
In 1998, Tyson sued King for $100 million, claiming the promoter had defrauded him of millions, and eventually settled out of court for $14 million in 2004. Tyson's lawsuit followed other lawsuits filed over the years by famous boxers such as Ali and Larry Holmes. Iron Mike severed ties with King, but rekindled their friendship years later.
Tyson looks back on the incident as a good lesson in business.
“I believe Don King trained me,” Tyson said. “This will never happen again.”
“It's an experience, so it won't happen again,” he continued, adding that he now knows what to look for if he ever faces something similar. “You start life with an experience now, so it won't happen again. Maybe something else, but this “It won't happen again.”
King said last month that he was excited about Tyson's highly anticipated return to boxing for his upcoming bout against Jake Paul on November 15.