‘There ain’t enough money in the world’
King answers claims by Knight that
Rahman-Barrett was fixed

By Mark Dodge
Fightbeat Senior Staff Writer

If the main event on Saturday night’s “Global Glory” card from the United Center in Chicago didn’t provide many sparks, the post-fight press conference certainly did. 

Smarting from a 12-round unanimous decision loss to former world champ Hasim Rahman, Monte Barrett and his trainer, Harold Knight, insisted Barrett had done more than enough to earn the decision. 

“I know Monte could’ve done more,” Knight told reporters.  “But I felt we did more than Rahman over the course of the fight.  That’s how I feel.” 

Opinions aside, it was Knight’s comment to a reporter that King may have had some influence over the official scoring that sent the spiky-haired promoter into a rage. 

Speaking before the assembled media after the fight, King lambasted Knight for his comments.  Here’s a partial transcript:  

Don King:  “Tonight I want to commend both of the fighters.  I think that they both did a great job.  And I want to say this to the public and to the world – I think that Monte did a great job.  He fought his heart out. 

“I also want to say that Hasim Rahman came to me tonight.  He said Monte fought a good fight and he should be in the mix for all the fights in the tournament.  So I want Monte Barrett to know that. 

“And just like you take the sweet, you got to take the bitter.   Tonight, I understand that Shadow (Barrett’s trainer, Harold Knight) said Monte had won the fight, but that it was Don King (pauses here).  Usually I would let that pass.  Usually.  But I ain’t letting that pass anymore. 

“Don King did not judge this fight, Shadow.  So if me and you are going to work together in any future endeavors … if you ever speak of me like that again, don’t you ever come near me. 

“We’re both in boxing.  That means whatever little bit I can or cannot do for you, I won’t do.  Understand? 

“This is what I’ve let go on all these years.  Whenever people criticize me for stepping up to the plate and giving these guys an opportunity in the land of opportunity …”   

Harold Knight:  “Don.  Don.  May I say something to defend myself?  It wasn’t said to disrespect you.  It was said because this man (Barrett) had no one representing him.  Once again, if we did not win that fight by a wide margin …” 

Don King:  “Don’t ever lead him wrong.” 

Harold Knight: “But I didn’t disrespect you.” 

Don King:  “But you did.  You said it.  You said it.”  

Harold Knight:  “I respect you to the utmost, Don.  When I said that, it was not to disrespect you or put you down.  Because I feel you are the greatest …” (gets cut off by King) 

Don King:  “You must understand.  Let me tell you something.  You didn’t really put me down, because I’ll stand against all the critics.  What you have done is you’ve impugned the reputation of every judge who was sitting out there. 

“You’ve got to understand it goes much further than me.  When you say a fight is fixed or is corrupt, somebody’s got to be the corruptor and the corruptee.  So that don’t mean it’s just me, because they call me everything but a Child of God.  But when you say something like that, you’re saying that three people sitting around there have been corrupted.  They’ve got families.  They’ve got reputations.  You just can’t be so loose with your tongue that you can say that something is wrong when you don’t have any proof to substantiate it.  

“His style (pointing to Barrett) was different from his style.  The public and the judges saw it as a victory for him (pointing to Rahman), and a defeat for Monte.  But in defeat, he gained valor because he stayed there irregardless of what Rock was trying to do.  He took the punishment of his blows and remained standing. 

“So we’ve got to stop this criticizing with reckless abandon, because it goes much further than the guy that you think necessitated this.  You think everyone will believe anything you say about Don King.  I must have some awesome, perverted power. 

“But it’s time we set the record clean as we go down the line.  Monte’s a good fighter.  He’s an American.  He’s with me.  When the man said he didn’t have any representation, he’s going to find out that ain’t quite true.  Because representation comes when a man falls down.  You pick him up, dust him off and put him back in the game.  Should I throw him to the curb and leave him to burn in the sun, then he would not have any representation.   

“I fight for the guys outside the ring.  But they’ve got to fight inside the ring.  This is what I’ve said to Monte from the very beginning.  I said it to him this morning.  I said, ‘Monte, you’ve got to win in the ring.  I can do outside the ring, but you have to win in there.’  Same for Rock.  

“It ain’t about me telling anybody what to do.   Most certainly, at this stage of the game, there ain’t enough money in the world for me to put myself into a position of some kind of ill repute over a prize fight. 

“They’ve been trying to say this about me all along.  The mere fact that they’ve accused me has resulted in several investigations.  I’ve had my offices raided.  They took my records … just based on mere accusations.  

“So I’m no longer going to stand by and let anybody impugn my reputation.  I’m going to call it to the public’s attention.  Because rumors can become fact in people’s minds.  No more of that. 

“Bill Wirtz and myself are committed to bringing boxing back to Chicago.  And we want it untainted and unblemished.” 

Then, looking down at McCall, King put his hand on Oliver’s shoulder.   

Don King:  “He (McCall) don’t have to ask if he’s got representation.  He’s living testimony, right here.  Right here.  This man would not have seen the light of day if it wasn’t for me.  Against all odds.  No matter what they said about him.  No matter what they did.  He’s sitting here now, back in the mix.  

“I could’ve jumped on the bandwagon with everyone else.  I don’t do that.  In America, we give you a second chance because it’s the greatest country in the world.  America gave me a second chance, so I got to be able to reach out and touch someone to make up for my past sins.  Jimmy Young … you can go on down the line.  They all got another opportunity.  And Monte, you will too.  Keep the faith.  Keep hope alive.  C’mon up here.  Monte Barrett.” 

Monte Barrett: “I’d like to say it was a hard, physical fight.  I have a lot of respect for Rahman.  I’m a good sportsman.  He got the nod. 

“One thing I want to say to Don.  We’re in the greatest nation in the world.  And one thing we can count on is our freedom of speech.  We can’t take that from nobody.  So whether it’s right or wrong, we do have the right to voice our opinions.  Coming to the defense of my trainer, he’s not trying to harm, hurt or disrespect anybody.  And we are a reflection of each other.  He’s just trying to console me.  I have the utmost respect for you.  I know he has the utmost respect for you. 

“I knew Rahman was in shape.  I knew this was going to be a competitive fight.  I didn’t capitalize like I should’ve when I had him hurt.  He was good at covering up.  But I’m just looking forward to coming back.  I’m a little sore right now.  Everyone knows I’m a warrior.  I’m looking at getting back into the ring in another six or seven months.  Hopefully, Don will get another good fight for me, and I’ll be right back again.  I’d like to thank everyone for coming out.  I appreciate it.” 

Don King:  “Thank you, Monte.  Monte, you’re absolutely right.  And I’m not going to belabor this.  I think everyone got the point.  We do have freedom of speech.  But I think somewhere it’s written that you can’t yell ‘fire’ in a crowded theater.  You’re going to have a problem if you do that.  When you’re talking about peoples’ reputations, you can’t say it’s about consoling you.  I’d be the first one to console you, because you put up a great fight.  But you don’t have to impugn or defame anyone else in the process.  So that being said, let’s move on …” 

But Barrett couldn’t move on.  Obviously depressed, Monte met with a circle of reporters after the press conference and continued to insist he deserved the decision. 

“I wasn’t really letting my hands go like I should have, and I didn’t capitalize when I got him hurt,” Barrett admitted.  “I was just trying to get into a rhythm.  But, regardless, I felt I won the fight.  Even though he’s a great puncher, he wasn’t really effective with any of his shots.  I took him out of his game.  He wasn’t fighting the way he wanted to.  He fought the way I wanted him too. And I thought I basically dominated the fight.” 

Click here for a look at the official score sheet.

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