Updated: Fri, Aug 31 7:51 PM EDT
By TIM DAHLBERG, AP Sports Writer
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Hasim Rahman and Lennox Lewis just don't like each other - and they don't have much use for ESPN, either.
A day after they wrestled on national television, Rahman and Lewis got together Friday to trade insults once again and spread the blame for a scuffle that most likely drew more viewers than their first heavyweight title fight.
They ended up agreeing on two things - the second fight will be personal and bitter, and they weren't the only ones to blame for Thursday's debacle.
"Gary Miller definitely instigated the whole thing," Rahman said of the ESPN host. "He sat us together and provoked the whole thing."
"Television definitely helped facilitate it," Lewis said. "They love it. It makes good TV and brings up their ratings."
It also figures to bring up ticket and pay-per-view sales for the rematch, which will earn each fighter $10 million. But that seemed to be the furthest thing from either boxer's mind Friday as they displayed genuine animosity toward each other.
With guard standing by to keep them apart, Lewis and Rahman appeared at the final U.S. press conference to promote a Nov. 17 rematch that figures to attract a lot more interest after their televised scuffle.
Backstage before the appearance in front of a crowd of about 1,000 at the Mandalay Bay's showroom, Lewis was still seething about the scuffle that erupted while the two fighters were taping ESPN's "Up Close" show a day earlier in Los Angeles.
"He's not an honorable man," Lewis said. "I wish we were fighting today but I have 20 million reasons not to get into it with him again right now. But just wait until Nov. 17.
Rahman had the crowd roaring later as he berated Lewis, who briefly ran out in front of him on stage as if to challenge Rahman before a dozen guards intervened.
"He was kicking like a woman," Rahman said. "This man is bitter. He's upset. He's in denial."
It was all music to the ears of promoter Don King, who grinned widely at the incident that even he couldn't have been good enough to stage.
"Order in the court. Order in the court," King said, banging down a fake gavel. "They just don't like each other."
Neither Lewis nor Rahman were hurt in the scuffle, which broke out while the two fighters were seated next to each other and being interviewed by Miller.
Lewis was upset by a comment Rahman made about him being gay on an earlier radio show and pushed Rahman after the two stood to confront each other. Both rolled onto a table, breaking it before finally being separated.
Lewis kicked Rahman twice during the scuffle, and tore a medallion from around his neck. Rahman, though, ended up on top during the wrestling portion of the scuffle.
"I could have thrown a punch. I had him on the ground and helpless," Rahman said. "I felt if I threw punches I should be paid."
The wrestling was replayed widely on ESPN and portions on other networks, giving the fight millions of dollars in free publicity and leading to speculation it might have been staged.
That seemed unlikely, judging from the depth of bitterness and anger the two fighters showed toward each other on Friday. Still, both blamed ESPN for putting them so close together and then baiting them with questions to get them upset.
"It was designed to provoke an outburst," said Lewis' business manager, Adrian Ogun. "There was genuine ill feeling that was building up and someone in the studio sought to ignite the situation."
An ESPN spokesman said he would ask Miller to respond to the comments, but he didn't immediately return a phone call.