Don does it again

Arum: King's proposed $1 million bet 'totally inappropriate'

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Posted: Wednesday September 15, 1999 09:46 PM

King me: Bob Arum believes King is risking more than $1 million by putting Trinidad in the ring with De La Hoya. Holly Stein/Allsport

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Don King hurled a $1 million challenge to rival promoter Bob Arum on Wednesday and got a scolding in return.

"If Bob Arum will accept, I will bet $1 million that Tito will win this fight," bellowed King, the promoter of International Boxing Federation welterweight champion Felix "Tito" Trinidad, who on Saturday night will fight WBC champion Oscar De La Hoya, promoted by Arum.

"Don King has challenged me, and I have to say something from the bottom of my heart," Arum retorted. "It's totally inappropriate for promoters or managers to bet on a boxing match. In 35 years in boxing, I've never bet on a fight."

Then Arum taunted, "Don, don't you understand that putting Felix Trinidad in the ring with Oscar De La Hoya is risking more than $1 million?"

For those who do bet on fights, De La Hoya was a 6-5 favorite to win the most anticipated welterweight championship match since World Boxing Council champion Sugar Ray Leonard stopped World Boxing Association champion Thomas Hearns in the 14th round Sept. 16, 1981, at Caesars Palace.

"I know like all my fights it will be a very tough one, but I fight to the end," said the 26-year-old De La Hoya (31-0, 25 knockouts). "May the best man win."

De La Hoya, however, made it clear that he doesn't think Trinidad is the better man. He doesn't even think the 26-year-old Puerto Rican (35-0, 30 knockouts) is as good as Ike Quartey, who De La Hoya beat on a split decision Feb. 13.

Trinidad predicts he will win by a knockout, but won't predict a round. His father-trainer, Felix Sr., says it will be the sixth round.

Both fighters have exchanged barbs, but De La Hoya said there is no animosity on his part.

Trinidad, who doesn't speak English, admits to being angered when De Hoya said some time ago that, "I'm not worth $10 million. That's an insult. How can he say I'm not worth $10 million? I'm worth that and more."

The popularity of De La Hoya, a Mexican-American who grew up in East Los Angeles, is the reason Trinidad is getting $10 million, by far his biggest purse. De La Hoya, who has had $9 million paydays, is guaranteed $15 million.

The 12,000-seat arena is sold out. All tickets were bought by casinos and there was no public sale.

 

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Oscar De La Hoya tells CNN/SI about the mental exhaustion that exists in preparing for a fight of this caliber. (211 K) De La Hoya says he is focused no matter what other people say. (202 K) De La Hoya tells what training he did different in preparation for Felix Trinidad. (79 K) Don King is ready to place a big bet on the fight. (64 K) Bob Arum is ready to fire any of his employees who make a bet. (230 K) Visit Multimedia Central for the latest audio and video
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