Rodney King of the Ring

Rodney King is fighting for sobriety and fun

Rodney King wants to climb into the boxing ring with Laurence Powell, one of the police officers involved in his beating, but not for the purpose of revenge.

“I could see the bigger picture in this,” King said. “I could see me and him going around, educating people on that night, and then just sit around and chop it up. Me and him could turn it into a very educational moment.”

In the meantime, he acknowledges there is not much educational value in celebrity boxing.

"It's all fun," he said. "This is all entertainment, and what makes it more fun is that we're not professionals. So, it's really funny."

King, who recently appeared on the reality TV show "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew," said he understands a lot of people see celebrity boxing as some type of circus act, but he said it's been good therapy for him in his struggles with alcohol.

"Being sober for 17 months, I wanted to see what this old body had left in it," he said. "I'm now a bit of a regular at the gym, and it kind of feels good in there with them young cats. It's definitely helped me stay sober. It takes up a lot of my quality time."

King continues to use boxing to help him remain disciplined and sober. He said Powell pulled out of an exhibition that was planned five years ago, but said he hopes something can be worked out this time.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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