Put up Your Dukes

Huge hair, ludicrous nicknames, and scripted trash talk have become the strange trademarks of boxing in America. For haters, these are the signs of decline. Meanwhile, for fans raised on pro wrestling and tabloids, today’s game is a perfect mix of prizefighting and freak show. It’s a rift that can be traced straight to Don King. Yet these days, the Hall of Famer is all about healing divisions. Or, as he puts it: “My magic lies in my people ties.” So now, King has put together a three-point plan for peaceful coexistence. Step 1: Present Don King's St. Valentine's Day Massacre at the BankAtlantic Center. Step 2: Plan a killer fight card featuring the WBO-IBF lightweight champ, Jacksonville’s Nate "Galaxxy Warrior" Campbell, trading knuckles with top challenger Ali Funeka, plus Ricardo "El Matador" Mayorga versus Alfredo Angulo. Step 3: Provide a special two-for-one deal on all tickets from $25 to $200 — except some Golden Circle seats.
Sat., Feb. 14, 5:30 p.m., 2009