NEW YORK -- Although Hasim Rahman was elevated from interim champion to World Boxing Council titlist in November when Vitali Klitschko pulled out of a scheduled defense against him and later retired, the Baltimore native also was left feeling as if he has something to prove.
Rahman (41-5-1, 33 knockouts) actually is a repeat champion after having knocked out Lennox Lewis in April of 2001 only to squander that victory by losing their rematch seven months later.
The Las Vegas resident told those gathered at yesterday's news conference at a restaurant in New York's Central Park that he will be "on a seek-and-destroy mission" of redemption on March 18 when he puts his title on the line against James Toney (69-4-2, 43 KOs) at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. The bout will be televised by HBO.
"I definitely feel the same way. I will have a number of title defenses and it's just starting with James Toney," said Rahman, 33, when asked whether he needed to validate himself by defeating the 37-year-old Toney.
"There's only one man in the division who can bring the best out of me, and that's James Toney," said Rahman, winner of six straight with four knockouts.
"The winner of this fight between James Toney and myself will be recognized as the heavyweight champion," said Rahman, adding that he will be the first man to score a knockout against Toney. "I would rate James Toney as the best heavyweight out there. He's probably the slickest and fastest. How else can you be the best than to beat the best?"
Toney went 2-0 against John Ruiz and Evander Holyfield, fighters who defeated Rahman. Toney became the only man to knock out Holyfield, stopping him in October of 2003. But Toney had to forfeit the World Boxing Association crown he won from Ruiz in April after testing postive for steroids.
"In the form that I'll be in when I'm in with James Toney, Ruiz wouldn't go two rounds with me," Rahman said. "I've got so much to show this boxing game, and only one guy can bring it out of me. James Toney will get hurt, believe that. I'm going to knock him out. James Toney will get hurt and I will finish him."
Rahman and Toney were in a fighting mood last month in Cancun, where Rahman was officially named WBC champion by the organization's officials. After exchanging words, the fighters nearly came to blows in an incident that took place a day before Toney married his longtime fiancee, Angie.
"If he sits there in front of me, I'll pick him apart with uppercuts, left hooks, right hands. I will not miss," said Toney. "I'm knocking him out. It won't go more than six, I promise you that."
lem.satterfield@baltsun.com
