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| | Friday, 31 May, 2002, 12:14 GMT 13:14 UK Losing not an option for ex-champs Holyfield believes he can regain the heavyweight crown Evander Holyfield and Hasim Rahman meet on Saturday in a heavyweight clash seen as a must-win fight for both men. No title is at stake in Atlantic City as the former world champions top the bill at the newly-renovated 12,000-seat Boardwalk Hall. But Holyfield and Rahman know they can ill-afford to suffer a loss at vital stages in their differing careers. "If I can't beat Evander Holyfield, I can't be the heavyweight champion of the world,"said Rahman.
"I'm in it to be the best, not just his opponent." The 29-year-old won the heavyweight title in April 2001 with a shock knock-out of Lennox Lewis, but lost the re-match seven months later. He refers to his short time as champ as "a little appetiser" - now he's hungry for more. "I want the main course," said the Baltimore fighter. Wisdom To get it, Rahman must go through the 39-year-old Holyfield (37-5-2), a four-time champion whose only bouts in the last two-and-a-half years have been against John Ruiz. The two fought to a draw last December and split two previous meetings in 2001 and 2000. Holyfield hopes a victory over Rahman will put him in line to fight Lewis or Mike Tyson for the title.
"I don't put myself in the position of 'must' anything," he said. "I just go out and do my best and hope to win. If not, I get back in line." The 12-round bout is taking place a week before the Lewis-Tyson title fight fight in Memphis. Rahman, who weighed in on Thursday at 224lbs to Holyfield's 216lbs, says he wants to be the aggressor on Saturday. "I'm hoping to set the tone. I have the speed advantage and the power advantage," he said. Holyfield insists that he still has the tools to win back his old titles. "I'm a guy who's been here a long time and who should sit down but won't sit down," he said. "My goal is to be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, and I will be." | | Internet links:  The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top Boxing stories now: Links to more Boxing stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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