WBC/IBF/IBO heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis along with April 21 challenger Hasim Rahman via live feed from South Africa held a press conference yesterday in Las Vegas to discuss their upcoming fight. Here is what they had to say:
Hasim Rahman:
First of all I would like thank the South Africa Government, Carnival City, Cedric Kushner, Lennox Lewis, and his whole team for giving me this opportunity. I feel like this the biggest opportunity of my life, and I believe I am going to be very prepared for this opportunity and I will be the next heavyweight champion of the world.
Do you feel you gained any advantage by going to South Africa a little earlier than Lennox? Acclimating yourself to the atmosphere and just generally South Africa?
Well for me I believe I do, but for Lennox he's a world champion. Professional. He does a bit too much trash talking that's uneccessary, but I you know I feel like for me this is the best for me, and I'm gonna see if I can't get some more time, so he can act on the full time basis.
Lennox Lewis:
I'm glad that I'm actually going to South Africa for many different reasons. Like Cedric said you know world champions are supposed to be seen boxing all around the world. And you know, I've met President Mandela on many different occassions and we've always spoke about boxing, because that's his admiration, is boxers and boxing, and I told him I was going to come over there and fight and I'm glad I had the opportunity to come over there and let the people of Africa see Lennox Lewis and how good he is.
When you speak about Hasim Rahman, you know you could say that he got unlucky against David Tua and I'm giving him another opportunity to prove himself. A small opportunity, because he ain't gonna get know where 'cause I'm gonna knock him out. I know he is over in Africa trying to steal my thunder right now, but when I come over there's gonna be a different story. I'm definately prepared. I even took a couple days out to do a movie. I'm way ahead of schedule. I'm glad that he's in shape, so there will be no excuses. I'm looking forward to this fight on many different reasons, so I can showcase my talent, and I'm gonna showcase it on Hasim Rahman. It looks like you got a black eye already. I'm glad you saved the otherside for me. But I would like to thank everybody involved in putting on this show, you know, Carnival City, all the promoters, HBO, everybody involved, and on the 21st of April, Lennox Lewis is gonna bring thunder and lightning to South Africa. Thank you.
You said you took time out to make this movie you've been doing the past couple days. Do you think that's showing any disrespect for your opponent that your two weeks before a fight and your in the ring with Wladimir Klitschko filming a Hollywood flick?
Well I'm way ahead of schedule. I'm glad that I'm actually working out on the west coast. I didn't really get out of shape while I was taking a break. I mean I'm way ahead of schedule. I mean what more can I say. I'm glad this movie thing came up, so I can actually spare two days out of my schedule to do it. It got me an opportunity to actually size up to Wladimir to see how big he is. I actually get in the ring with him. I know he definitely wants to fight, but everybody has to wait their turn.
First, I'm thinking of taking out the Rock. I know they say rocks are hard to crumble, but this rock is definitely gonna get broken.
Where do feel mentally now? Do you think that a Tyson fight will happen? Are you frustrated? Have you put it on the back burner? Do you care? Where are you in terms of beating Tyson down the road?
Well you know, listen to this, right now it's Hasim Rahman. I'm not even thinking about Tyson, so everybody can save the Tyson questions. You know Hasim Rahman is the man right now. He's the Rock right now. He's after my belt. He's the man standing in front of me right now. So I have to be able to beat him before I even start thinking about Mike Tyson.
Don't you have anything to say about the Tyson fight? Anything going on, or are you just waiting for this fight to see what happens?
You're gonna have to wait until after this fight to think about Tyson. You know Hasim Rahman is the man right now. That's who I'm thinking about.
Scientists say that if you fight at altitude, you should be there six weeks before a fight or within 48 hours of the fight. Why are you not at altitude training?
I've boxed at altitude at many different times, and I've actually traveled. I've boxed all around in different places, so I'm used to altitude. If you've watched my history. I've trained up in Big Bear many different occassions, so I know how to deal with altitude and don't believe everything scientists say...Rock I'm ready.
Can you tell us about the relationship with Nelson Mandela when you first met him?
Yeah, I mean it's a very warm relationship in the sense that he's a person just like me, very calm. He's a lovely man. Very enthusiastic about boxing and his boxers that he loves. I'm just happy that I met the man, because he's been through so much and it gave me an opportunity to ask him different questions that I wanted to know. I'm just glad that I'm able to box in his country and I'm glad that he's going to be at ringside watching.
How do you feel about someday fighting John Ruiz to so called unify all aspects of the heavyweight title?
He's basically got my belt anyway, so he can hang onto it for a minute, but I'm gonna take out on Hasim Rahman.
You've been working with the Klitschko guys for the past couple of days, so will you give us a little more detail opinion of them?
Yeah, I actually told them I want one for breakfast and one for lunch. But Hasim Rahman is the man I'm thinking about now...and you're getting knocked out.
Leaving yourself out of the equation. Who would you say pound for pound is the best fighter of the world today?
There's many different boxers out there. I wouldn't want to mention one and leave out the others.
Do you feel Hasim is the best heavyweight out there for you to fight right now? If not, who do you think you would like to fight after this?
Yeah, definitely Hasim Rahman is definitely the best heavyweight out there right now, and like I said he got unlucky against Tua. I'm giving him another opportunity, and he's the man that says he wants to make sure I go on with my acting career. That's very nice of him, thank you. But like I said he's the man I'm thinking about right now, and then I'll let you know then after this fight.
How did the acting go with Julia Roberts, George Clooney and Brad Pitt?
Yeah, it was great, quite an experience. |
