King to pay tribute to Mandela

Berlin - Special tribute will be paid to former South African president Nelson Mandela before Saturday's world WBA light heavyweight title fight in Germany, American promoter Don King said on Tuesday.

"He was a fabulous man, who showed what could be done against apartheid and I had the chance to spend some time with him," said King in Berlin, the same day Mandela's memorial service was held in Johannesburg.

Ten gongs will be sounded for Mandela just before the bout between Germany's Jurgen Braehmer and Marcus Oliveira of the USA in Neubrandenburg, near Berlin, for the vacant WBA title.

Mandela, who passed away last week, aged 95, was a keen sports fan and was a runner and boxer in his youth.