By Ken Hissner: When then Atlantic City, New Jersey casino and hotel owner Donald J. Trump held boxing in his facilities he was a big boxing supporter.
In the elections in 2016 and 2020 promoter, Don King and former heavyweight champion “Iron” Mike Tyson were big supporters of Trump.
In 2015 Trump was inducted into the NJHOF on November 12th. Also in 2013, he was inducted into the NJ Martial Arts HOF as a visionary.
Prior to his induction among those who endorsed him were Mike Tyson saying “Donald Trump should be inducted into the NJHOF.
Others endorsing him were Mike Ditka, John Daly, Tom Brady, Dennis Rodman, Herschel Walker, Terrell Owens, Latrell Sprewell, and Bobby Knight.
“He had a debate on the West Coast two days before our affair and then he had a few rally’s. He did send a representative from the Republican Party and did make a donation,” said Henry Hascup (President of the NJ HOF).
Prior to winning the 2016 presidency, Trump said if elected he would consider picking former world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali as secretary of state.
“Donald Trump couldn’t make it due to his day job,” said ACB HOF President Ray McCline. It brought quite a bit of laughter at the Claridge a Radisson Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 2018.
In 2013 Trump was inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame. It was reported Trump wrestled at North Dakota.
This writer remembers on January 22nd at the Atlantic City Convention Center in 1988 in seeing Trump sitting at ringside with former world boxing heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali. Ali was introduced into the ring and touched former heavyweight champion Larry “Easton Assassin” Holmes gloves. He then went to the other corner where champion “Iron” Mike Tyson was and whispered in his ears. Was it something like “kick his ass?”
Tyson went on to destroy Holmes at 2:55 of the fourth round. No sooner start landing punches on Holmes the latter was running. Before you knew it Holmes was down with his feet up in the air.
Trump was an avid fight fan who planned to nominate Muhammad Ali for honorary position just before his death.