Confident Rahman predicts knockout win over Lewis

Hasim Rahman predicted has that Saturday's world heavyweight title fight rematch with Lennox Lewis would once again end in a knockout victory for the American.

But a seething Lewis was in no mood to listen Rahman's boasts on Wednesday, as the former-champion and his entourage walking off the stage during a press conference refusing to pose for the traditional pre-fight photograph.

"I'm not looking for a decision, I'm looking to knock Lennox Lewis out," screamed Rahman, who stunned Lewis and the boxing world last April in South Africa when he floored Lewis with thundering right in the fifth round to claim the Briton's World Boxing Council (WBC) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) titles.

"I can say, I will knock Lennox Lewis out.

"Look, he's scared of me.

"Come back, I promised wouldn't hit you in the mouth until November 17.

"I don't know why you're scared of me, I promised I wouldn't hit you."

A stoic Lewis (38-2), who has a genuine dislike for his Rahman (35-2) labelling his opponent a one-punch wonder, refused to make similar predictions saying only that he expected a tough fight and emerge the winner.

"Enough has been said, it's time for action," Lewis said. "I'm going to leave all the talking to my counterpart over there.

"I'll do the fighting.

"We've got three days to go and I'm counting down the days until I can show the world the true champion I am.

"Some people think Rahman is going to come in and run me over in the first round. It's been tried before.

"But anything he tries I'm ready for, I'm bringing some thunder too.

"I'm ready to fight now. Lennox Lewis will be victorious."

The exchange was the closest the two fighters came to confronting each other during a carefully orchestrated day designed to keep them apart.

After the two men engaged in a brawl during a joint television interview to promote the rematch in August extraordinary steps have been taken to keep them separated in the days leading up to the fight.

Seating arrangements for Wednesday's final press conference had Rahman at one end of the large dais and Lewis a the other with iron bars and several Las Vegas police officers between the two heavyweights.

Promoters said a Plexiglas wall would be constructed to keep Rahman and Lewis separated during Thursday's weigh-in which will be carried out on two scales.

Rahman, who has made no secret that part of his fight plan is to get "under the skin" of Lewis, continued to take shots at his opponent during individual interviews that were again set up in such a way that the two men would not cross paths entering and exiting the room.

GAY TAUNTS

Rahman, who triggered the brawl on ESPN when by using the word "gay" in referring to Lewis, again questioned the Briton's sexuality.

"How many children does he (Lewis) have? asked Rahman.

The 29-year-old American has also shown little respect for Lewis and displayed even less since his victory in South Africa.

"One thing that is funny to me, he (Lewis) has had all these hundreds of amateur fights, two Olympics, fought great, great fighters but yet this little bum, this little journeyman, this little guy that don't have a chance

"Now he's fighting the biggest fight of his life against me," said Rahman, promoter Don King waving an American flag at his side.

"I heard that I'm not fit to be his sparring partner and that's absolutely right.

"I ain't nobody's sparring partner and certainly not yours Lennox.

"It's a good thing these bars are here so my man Lennox feels safe.

"I don't care how many adjustments you make, you can't make an adjustment for something you're not ready for.

"I know they got ready for the man in South Africa but this new man is hungry, has a lot to prove and he's ready to knock Lennox Lewis out."