His lawsuit objected to claims that he was "a snake oil salesman, a shameless huckster and worse," that he underpaid Muhammad Ali by $1.2 million and that he "killed not once, but twice." King was convicted in a 1967 beating death and acquitted in a 1954 killing.
Most of the material in the program about King had been previously printed or broadcast. In its complaint, ESPN described the segment as "a series of speakers who talk about events in King's life. The speakers consist mainly of former King associates, fighters he has promoted, and journalists who have written about King."
ESPN said the segment "touched on matters of public concern." The network has declined to retract nine statements that King contended were defamatory.
In other boxing news:
* Former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe (41-1, 33 KOs) is tentatively scheduled to fight in Salt Lake City on March 25, in what would be his second bout since coming back from an 8-year retirement from the ring. The organization that licenses professional boxing in Utah said that Bowe's fight against Willie Chapman (18-20-3) won't become official until important paperwork is completed.
College Football
* South Carolina defensive lineman Moe Thompson surrendered to police, nearly a week after a warrant was issued for his arrest. He turned himself in at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, university spokesman Russ McKinney said. The player was scheduled for a bond hearing today. Thompson and teammate Kevin Mainord broke into at least one dorm room and took several items, including a television and DVD player, police said. Thompson is charged with two counts of burglary and three counts of petty larceny, McKinney said.
* Wisconsin freshman quarterback Marcus Randle El was suspended from the team after an arrest for domestic battery. UW-Madison Police Capt. Brian Bridges said the arrest involved a dispute between Randle El and his girlfriend.
Philly File
* Wings forward Andrew Burkholder was named the NLL rookie of the month for February. Burkholder had seven goals and five assists in four games. Rochester forward John Grant was the player of the month.
Sport Stops
* FIFA president Sepp Blatter wants referees to be paid more so they would be less susceptible to bribes, and soccer could avoid the kind of game-fixing scandal that has shaken Germany a little more than a year before it hosts the World Cup. Referee Robert Hoyzer has admitted to fixing or attempting to fix seven league games. Hoyzer, who was arrested last month, is facing a lifetime ban and a large fine from the German soccer federation.
* Proud Accolade will miss Saturday's Louisiana Derby because he has a fever. Proud Accolade has won four of six starts in his career and is being prepared for the Kentucky Derby on May 7.
* Germany's Andrea Henkel won the 15-kilometer individual event at the biathlon world championships in Hochfilzen, Austria.
* Belgium's Tom Boonen won a leg of the Paris-Nice cycling race for the second straight day and is the overall leader. Lance Armstrong, who is using the race as a warmup for the Tour de France, was 90th and is 72nd overall. *
