Boxing promoter Don King has secured the services of the world heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman, signing the fighter to a deal that will guarantee him $US35 million ($82.8 million) for just two fights.
The deal leaves Britain's Lennox Lewis, who lost his world titles to Rahman in Johannesburg on 22 April, with few options but a legal bill that will continue to grow as his many lawyers attempt to enforce a rematch with Rahman in court.
King has given Rahman $US5 million as a signing-on fee and agreed to pay him $US5 million for his first defence against Denmark's Brian Nielsen in Beijing on 4 August, when John Ruiz is due to defend his World Boxing Association heavyweight title against Evander Holyfield.
Rahman would then meet Mike Tyson and receive $US25 million.
However, it would be difficult for King and Tyson to work together after their 1998 split.
It is also understood that Rahman's first defence will be recognised by the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Council; both had threatened to declare their titles vacant after a Rahman-Lewis rematch.
The deal was agreed after Rahman decided to meet Tyson's advisor, Shelly Finkel, on his own in New York yesterday, and overnight a deal was finalised between Rahman and King, but it is understood that Showtime have not yet either backed King or agreed to buy the Nielsen-Rahman fight.
It means Lewis and his personal manager, Adrian Ogun, who has been criticised for the contract he agreed for the Rahman fight, are out in the cold.
It also means that David Tua, who has taken legal action to make the IBF withdraw title recognition from Rahman for violating an IBF rule that prohibits rematch clauses in contracts, has been excluded.
- INDEPENDENT
Boxing: Rahman signs $82m deal with Don King
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