Don King sues ESPN for $2.5bn

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Boxing promoter Don King has filed a $2.5 billion lawsuit against sports channel ESPN over a biography of him he said was defamatory.

The suit was filed in a Florida state court against Walt Disney Co. parent company of the cable sports network, ABC Cable Networks, ESPN, Inc., and Advocate Communications, Inc., the cable outlet that aired the "SportsCentury" profile of King in south Florida.

The claim says the May 14, 2004, showing of ESPN's biography segment on King defamed the boxing promoter and strung together false statements that "intentionally and recklessly portrayed Don King in a false light. No figure was listed in the court papers, but King issued a press release saying he was seeking $2.5 billion in damages.