The Thrilla in Manila. The Rumble in the Jungle. And coming this Friday...We Are Together. While lacking the poetic oomph of Don King's greatest productions, the name is the only uninspired aspect of this Friday's fight night, to take place in Chengdu's Sichuan Gymnasium. The venue is certainly no Caesar's Palace. There will be no mafia heavies, no Ben Affleck, and most importantly, no net profit. All proceeds will go to aiding Sichuan's earthquake victims.

So that explains the name of the event, English for Sichuan's rallying cry Women zai yiqi. But does it explain why Don King is promoting boxing in China? Although 76 now, Don King is still as high-profile and feisty as his coif, and will easily be the most colorful character in Chengdu come November 7^th.  To understand what he's doing there, it might help to know that he got his pugilistic start by convincing Muhammad Ali to box in a charity match for a Cleveland hospital. To get, one must first give, as fellow legendary promoters Zhuangzi and Plato would tell you.

King has certainly gotten his. Today worth an estimated $350 million, his life is a testament to the American Dream, from bookie and convicted murderer to multi-millionaire, to reviled figurehead of all that's wrong with boxing, to philanthropist helping the world through sport. 

True, he's been forced to share at times, having paid off numerous fraud suits by former clients, including cautionary tale Mike Tyson. But none of that should matter to the Chinese audience at the Sichuan Gymnasium. He toured the earthquake-zone last August, one of the few famous Americans to do so other than dignitaries doing their stately duty. He loves "Chana" and he loves "Chanese people". And he's cooked up a win-win extravaganza that will benefit earthquake victims while giving Chinese spectators a live slice of what's best and worst about American culture, the blood and brutality, the guts and glory.

It might have been easier to bring a troop of ham-and-eggers all the way out to Chengdu, but Friday's card boasts some fairly impressive talent, and two title fights. World-class ruffian Andrew Golota will face tragically nicknamed Ray "Rainman" Austin for the WBC heavyweight belt. Both are bruisers, and two-meter monster Austin is strong enough to contend with Golota's technical superiority. Another man-mountain to fight is Jameel "Big Time" McCline, six foot six and 277 pounds of punching power who will face "Merciless" Mike Mollo in a heavyweight elimination bout.

And size matters most to casual boxing fans. Big men throwing big punches and crashing to the ground like big trees draw the layman's attention. This is why heavyweight titles always have and always will sell the most tickets, despite the endless clinch waltz that almost always ensues after round three. It's doubtful many present at Sichuan Gymnasium will appreciate the fistic prowess of living legend Marco Barrera, four-time world champion in three weight classes. He'll be a little guy beating up on similarly pint-sized Sammy Ventura. Depend on the punters to marvel at Austin's fa da physique and Golota's lack of melatonin. Depend on big-boned, pork-fattened spectators to watch Barrera unleash mind-boggling combinations and scoff "I could take him." For most, big and scary will be the most exciting combination this Friday.

Wait. Scratch that. Race trumps even gigantism as a draw for the accidental boxing fan. Not a PC thing to claim, admittedly, but boxing is surely the most un-PC sport. That's why we confidently predict that the matches to draw the most vocal support will be the three featuring Asian contestants.

Too few will sympathize with Juan "El Exterminador" Palacios' hardscrabble youth on the mean streets of Managua, or his apparent past battling cockroach infestations. Instead, the cheering will go in Japanese challenger Teruo Misawa's direction. Don't expect any red sun banners, mind you, but he'll have the moral support. So will Sun-Haeng Lee, which he'll need, considering he's fighting future hall-of-famer Devon Alexander, undefeated light-welterweight contender.

But the best will be saved for first, if you're one of the1.3 billion Zhonguo Jiayou types. Wang "China Girl" Yanan, WBC women's middleweight champ, will square off against Houston's Akondaye Fountain. From Dalian but fighting out of Shanghai, Wang has three knockouts in her undefeated eight-fight career. This Friday, she'll garner many a "Hao!", "Piaoliang!", and should she send Fountain to the canvas, an Olympic-size rep in China.

Here's Don King's official "We Are Together" page.