Rahman's feet on the ground as high anxiety surrounds Lewis
By Bob Mee (Filed: 04/17/2001)
HASIM RAHMAN merrily dismissed the possibility that he will freeze once the bell rings to start his fight against Lennox Lewis in Carnival City just outside Johannesburg on Sunday morning.
Rahman could barely contain his giggles when asked the question at the final press conference before his world heavyweight title challenge.
It was pointed out that previous Lewis opponents, like the 6ft 7in American Michael Grant and the emotionally erratic Andrew Golota, had both talked good fights only to come apart when the action began.
Rahman, who is around three inches shorter and a stone lighter than Lewis but seven years younger than the 35-year-old champion, grinned broadly, bowed his head, then said: "Grant and Golota froze. They were afraid of another man. Lennox might be bigger than me in size, but you can't see my heart. Believe me, it's big. There is no fear here, baby."
In a check weigh-in for the cameras, a heavily clothed Lewis weighed 19st, but will be considerably lighter than that at the official ceremony on Friday. Rahman, also clothed, was 17st 8lb.
The general theory is that Lewis, who holds the World Boxing Council, International Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organisation title belts, but more importantly is acknowledged as the genuine world champion, should have no technical problems with the rather slow, mechanical American. Nevertheless, Lewis continues to have to fend off concerns that he has not given sufficient thought to the task of fighting 12 rounds at 6,000 feet.
While Rahman arrived more than three weeks before the fight, Lewis turned up with less than a fortnight to go after staying longer in Las Vegas than had originally been planned in order to take in a three-day commitment to a movie role.
He insists everything is under control and denied underestimating the man from Baltimore. "No sir," he said when the question was put. "Definitely not. I've been in this game a long time. I know what I have to do."
Lewis, however, did seem dismayed by news that Nelson Mandela, the former South African president, would not be attending the fight, which is scheduled to start at around 5.15am local time (4.15am British time).
Lewis has made much of his sense of honour in boxing here and had plainly hoped to perform in front of Mandela. "It was very important for me to make sure that he was at ringside when I fought," he said. "But obviously if he has government commitments, then he has to honour them."
Lewis also expressed disappointment that the majority of local fans will not be able to see the fight. Tickets are priced out of the range of those on an ordinary working wage (a ringside ticket costs around £500, with the cheapest seats set at £75) and it is on pay-per-view television in South Africa.
So far, it has been an uneven diplomatic ride for the world champion. That will not matter by Sunday, but the result will. This is developing into a fight which Rahman should not win, but one which Lewis could lose. |
