Boxing Icon Don Elbaum Passes Away at 97
By Gabriel F. Cordero
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 29 Jul 2025
Don Elbaum, a passionate and influential figure in the boxing world with a career spanning decades as both a boxer and a renowned promoter, passed away on July 27th at the age of 97.
Elbaum had a brief professional boxing career from 1964 to 1969, accumulating a record of three losses and one draw. However, it was his work outside the ring that earned him high recognition and admiration across the sport. His journey in boxing began much earlier, in the 1940s, as an amateur boxer. Notably, he holds a unique place in boxing history as the individual who introduced legendary promoter Don King to the boxing world in the 1970s.
A proud war veteran, Elbaum served in the Korean War and was widely admired for his sharp wit and great sense of humor.
His promotional prowess was evident in his ability to stage 196 shows in less than five years at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino in New Jersey alone. As a well-known New York resident, Elbaum owned and operated Don Elbaum Promotions, a company that ran an impressive nearly 358 events between 1958 and 2016. His promotions featured an extraordinary roster of boxing legends and notable fighters, including Sugar Ray Robinson, Willie Pep, Sonny Liston, Emile Griffith, Floyd Patterson, Bobby Czyz, Aaron Pryor, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Bennie Briscoe, Livingston Bramble, Rocky Lockridge, Lonnie Smith, Freddie Pendleton, Maurice Blocker, Marlon Starling, Roberto Duran, Lupe Aquino, Arturo Frias, Juan Laporte, Vicente Rondon, Nino Benvenuti, James Kinchen, Greg Richardson, James Smith, Leon Spinks, Vito Antuofermo, George Foreman, Alex Stewart, Sharmba Mitchell, Vinnie Pazienza, Simon Brown, Michael Dokes, Luis Santana, Alicia Ashley, and Jorge Vaca, among many others.
Elbaum's immense contributions to boxing were officially recognized with his induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2019, joining a distinguished class that included Teddy Atlas, Lee Samuels, Julian Jackson, Donald Curry, Tony DeMarco, Guy Jutras, and Buddy McGirt.
At the time of his passing, there was a possibility of a book about his remarkable life emerging in 2025, as well as a documentary or film dedicated to his indelible mark on boxing.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Gabriel F. Cordero.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
PIONEERING FILIPINO BOXERS TAKE SPOTLIGHT ON FIL-AM HISTORY MONTH (PART I)
By Dong Secuya, Thu, 16 Oct 2025BOXING HALL OF FAME RELEASES FALL 2025 LETTER OF APPEAL SEEKING FUNDRAISING SUPPORT
Thu, 16 Oct 2025Mendoza bags bronze
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 16 Oct 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 20: MUHAMMAD ALI VS. JOE FRAZIER III ON OCTOBER 1, 1975 AT THE ARANETA COLISEUM
By Maloney L. Samaco, Thu, 16 Oct 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: History of Boxing in Reynosa, Tamaulipas
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Thu, 16 Oct 2025YORK HALL PRESS CONFERENCE: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AS CONWAY AND LIDDARD GET SET FOR HUGE DOMESTIC CLASH
Wed, 15 Oct 2025Unbeaten Super Featherweight Contender Andres Cortes Set for Return on October 18 Against Derlyn Hernandez-Geraldo in Long Beach
Wed, 15 Oct 2025JOEL “LETHAL” LEWIS RETURNS NOV 28TH THUNDERDOME 52 – METRO CITY PERTH
Wed, 15 Oct 2025Shane Mosley Sr. Blasts Oscar De La Hoya of Blocking Son’s Title Shot, Calls for Trilogy Fight on Drew & Pris Uncensored podcast
Wed, 15 Oct 2025MASOUD vs McGRAIL HEADLINES BLOCKBUSTER MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI CARD ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6 – LIVE ON DAZN
Wed, 15 Oct 2025WFM Mendoza seizes lead in 2025 FIDE World Youth Chess Championship
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 15 Oct 2025YOENLI HERNANDEZ KNOCKS OUT RAMON DELACRUZ SENA IN FIRST ROUND OF MAIN EVENT OF FISTS OF FURY 8
Wed, 15 Oct 2025BEN WHITTAKER TITLE SHOT CONFIRMED WITH PRESS CONFERENCE THIS FRIDAY
Wed, 15 Oct 2025GOLDEN BOY ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP TO BOOST AMATEUR TALENT IN CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO
Wed, 15 Oct 2025SHANNON RYAN: I'M READY TO BRING 'KAOS' TO YORK HALL THIS WEEK
Wed, 15 Oct 2025