SIDELINES : No Racial Intent, Promoter Says

Fight promoter Don King denies he tried to stir up racial tensions by visiting the hometown of heavyweight champion James (Buster) Douglas.

King appealed to City Council President Jerry Hammond on Monday night to pass along a statement by King that he did not go to Columbus to create trouble.

“They (King and his entourage) were concerned they were being portrayed as divisive in the community,” Hammond said after the meeting.

King arrived in Columbus last week, saying he planned to attend the 50th birthday celebration of Douglas’ father, James. The visit fueled local speculation about King’s motives.

Last Saturday, Douglas called a news conference to deny that there was a rift between him and his manager, John Johnson. King reportedly had said on a local radio talk show that there was a rift between Douglas, who is black, and Johnson, who is white.