By Scoop Malinowski

The one and only Don King speaks on the Klitschkos, his respect for James Toney and who he thinks could whup Vitali:

Boxinginsider.com: Would you like to promote the Klitschkos?

Don King: “Oh yes, the Klitschkos - I’d like to promote anything. And the Klitschkos - they got to learn how to fight. Period. But I’ll tell you one thing - they’re great human specimens. And I’d be happy to be able to work with them, if they chose to work with me. They had an opportunity when they got free of Peter Kohl - they didn’t come to me. You know, I’m with who’s with me. And I really don’t care what fighter it is, or who would come. I would be happy to promote them, do something with them. But while I don’t have them, I got to promote the guys I got against them.”

Boxinginsider.com: Who could beat Vitali?

Don King: “Who could beat Vitali? Rahman could beat Vitali. His style is suited to beat Vitali. You know, it’s suited to beat Vitali. Why would he take an operation at this time when it’s right before he do the mandatory? We were supposed to fight April 30, that’s the fight that was supposed to be happening right now.”

Boxinginsider.com: You weren’t impressed by Vitali against Lewis or KOing Kirk Johnson, Corrie Sanders or Danny Williams?

Don King: “No, no, no! (Versus) Lewis - he got knocked out, man! He made a name because he stood up. Everybody likes to see a man stand up. Lewis was in THE WORST SHAPE OF HIS LIFE. And under the worst conditions he beat the shit out of Klitschko. Under the worst condition. How you gonna make him a winner when he’s a loser? It’s strange how you try to make a winner out of losers.”

Boxinginsider.com: He was winning the fight againt Lewis. (And I should have added - And the fans applauded Klitschko after the fight and booed Lewis out of the arena.)

Don King: “[Yelling now] Yeah but he lost the fight in a fight! Eye cut, broken jaws, blinking in the eye - all that’s part of the hurt business. It didn’t say, Except this, except that. All that’s a part of the whole thing. I seen Rocky Marciano with his nose split low to the bone. The referee said, I got to stop it Rocky, I got to stop it! Rocky said, Give me one more round. He gave him one more round and he knocked out Ezzard Charles. That’s the fight business, man! You can’t make no excuses for the Klitschkos. He got his ass whupped.” [Note: We will never know what would have happened in round seven - if the ringside doctor or referee had given Vitali one last round to KO Lewis.]

Boxinginsider.com: What’s your prediction on Toney vs. Ruiz?

Don King: “The public’s gonna win on this fight because this is gonna be a turning point. It’s gonna be a defining moment in the heavyweight division. This one I guarantee every fan is gonna go out of there, Whew! Saying, Goddam! What a f***in war that was! I guarantee it.”

Boxinginsider.com: Toney is such a great character. Are you a Toney fan?

Don King: “I’m, yeah I’m a Toney fan. Because Toney is nuts [laughter]. I’m a Toney fan. I mean, because the guy’s a goddam fighter man. He’s as serious as a heart attack. See, it ain’t like a guy that put on, Woo woo woo woo, this motherf***er, he would’ve fought (Ruiz) this morning. This morning for free! Would have saved me a lot of money, economically [laughter].”

Boxinginsider.com: Do you have options if Toney wins?

Don King: “If Toney wins, I’ll be working with Goossen.”