Updated: Mon, Sep 03 11:24 AM EDT
By Bill Barclay
LONDON (Reuters) - Lennox Lewis labeled Hasim Rahman a "one-punch wonder" on Monday and vowed to grab back his world heavyweight boxing crown when they square up in Las Vegas in November.
Rahman knocked out Lewis in the fifth round of their fight in South Africa last April to take the Briton's International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Council (WBC) belts.
The two came face-to-face at a London news conference on Monday to promote the re-match, but there was no repeat of the extraordinary brawl that took place during a talk show interview in the United States last Thursday.
The fight in Las Vegas on November 17 is being promoted by extrovert American Don King and Rahman arrived dressed in a regal robe with a crown on his head and a scepter in his hand.
On the day after his 36th birthday, Lewis donned a more sober dark suit and gold tie and immediately got stuck into his opponent, this time verbally.
"You can dress somebody up and put a crown on them or make them wear better clothes or whatever but that still don't make him a king, especially after such a one-punch wonder," Lewis said.
"That's what Hasim Rahman accomplished the other day -- a one-punch wonder.
"I put up my hands to stop that punch and it sneaked through, that's what I call a lucky punch, it was thrown in desperation.
"I personally don't believe that Rahman can do it again. He needs to prove himself. I think he's living in a fantasy world in that sense.
"I'm gonna show that he's just holding on to my belts, he doesn't even belong in the ring with me."
"I'm coming with full guns blaring."
DO-OR-DIE FIGHT
Rahman said he was not concerned.
"You all know that there's only one king and there will only be one king," he said.
"I've been through enough life threatening situations to not be worried about a heavyweight fight against somebody I've already knocked out."
But the American admitted he had been lucky with his punch in their first fight in South Africa.
"I kinda agree with Lennox," he said. "It was desperate, it was well-placed."
Lewis's trainer, Emanuel Steward, confirmed that Lewis planned to quit the ring should he lose to Rahman again.
"This fight is do-or-die as Lennox has said he will retire and quit boxing if he doesn't win...that's how serious this fight is," Steward said.
Lewis, though, said: "I don't think I'm going to retire after this fight because I'm going to win."
Steward said he was having trouble controlling Lewis because the Briton was so hyped up for the re-match, which was agreed only after Lewis went to court.
"I've not been with two guys who are so emotionally charged going into a fight," Steward said.
"Lennox Lewis right now is in so angered a state of mind that we've had problems controlling him."
Rahman later clarified what he had said to Lewis on the Los Angeles talk show.
"I never accused Lennox Lewis of anything," he said. "I said it was gay of him to take me to court."
Asked if he had any regrets about the incident Lewis said: "No, I just wish I had my boots on.
"This is what happens in boxing, we have both got big egos and when big egos clash that's what happens."
Lewis also denied suggestions he had parted company with his manager Frank Maloney, who was an unexpected absentee from the news conference.
"He's technically still my manager," Lewis said.
"He hasn't been invited (to the news conference). We're still working on the case. Me and Frank are working on the case, end of story."
Lewis Calls Rahman 'One-Punch Wonder'
Updated: Mon, Sep 03 7:48 PM EDT
LONDON (Reuters) - Lennox Lewis labelled Hasim Rahman a "one-punch wonder" as the Briton's trainer Emanuel Steward said he was having problems controlling the former world champion before his rematch with Rahman.
Stewart told a news conference Monday that he had never seen two boxers so emotionally charged before a fight. The two scuffled during a U.S. television interview last week after Rahman said Lewis had "acted gay."
"I am having a problem controlling him," Steward said. "This fight will bring out the true character of Lennox."
Lewis said of American Rahman: "He needs to prove himself, he's living in a fantasy world. He doesn't belong in the ring with me."
The pair meet in Las Vegas on November 17. Rahman knocked out Lewis in the fifth round of their initial meeting last April.