Don King is a legend in the world of boxing and also is a convicted killer. In 1966 King ran a gambling and loan sharking operation in Cleveland. He was known as a violent man and not to be crossed when it came to money. Unfortunately for Sam Garrett, he owed King $600 and he was pistol-whipped and kicked to death over the gambling debt. King was found guilty of non-negligent manslaughter and spent four years in jail for the crime.
Now almost 50 years later the city of Cleveland is going to name the portion of the street where King operated his criminal enterprise after the boxing promoter. King was pardoned for his crime in 1983 by Ohio Gov. Jim Rhodes, with letters of support from Jesse Jackson, Coretta Scott King, George Voinovich, Art Modell, Gabe Paul and other notables.
Because of his promotion skills, King is one Cleveland’s most famous sons. But some wonder why the city would choose the area where King killed a man for such an honor. The Cleveland City Council announced earlier this week that it plans to consider legislation to rename a stretch of Cedar Avenue after King. The measure was introduced by councilwomen Mamie Mitchell and Phyllis Cleveland. However, according to local media in Cleveland, no one has an explanation as to why that particular area was chosen.
King managed and promoted the biggest names in boxing, including Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Julio César Chavez, Ricardo Mayorga, Andrew Golota, Bernard Hopkins, Félix Trinidad, Roy Jones Jr., Marco Antonio Barrera and many others. He also was sued by many of boxers for fraud. To use King’s famous catchphrase, “Only in America” could such an honor be given to a man like Don King.
