Hasim

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Hasim Rahman grew up in Baltimore and lives in Las Vegas. So why did he prepare for Saturday's defense of his World Boxing Council heavyweight title in this New York city? Simply put, he likes Rochester, and it likes him. Local businessman Neal Bauman often tells the story of a scene in a restaurant nearly two years ago when Rahman trumped another local hero - Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. "Donovan went to Syracuse, so he's pretty popular when he comes to town.

A fist-pumping crowd honored Baltimore's world heavyweight boxing champion Hasim "Rock" Rahman at City Hall yesterday - a celebration marred by a car crash that knocked the fighter and his family from the back of a convertible. Rahman, his wife, Crystal, and at least one of his children tumbled into the street when, police said, the driver of a Volkswagen Jetta ignored a traffic officer, sped by a cruiser blocking a downtown intersection and broadsided Rahman's parade car. Rahman was later released from Johns Hopkins Hospital, where his wife was held overnight for observation.

LAS VEGAS -- Yesterday's news conference for Saturday's heavyweight rematch ended with Lennox Lewis and his entourage walking out, refusing to pose for the traditional photos between the fighters. Shouting at him as he left was Baltimore's Hasim Rahman, the man from whom Lewis hopes to regain the World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation crowns he lost via a fifth-round knockout in April. "Come on back, Lennox! I'm not going to hit you in the mouth until Saturday!" Rahman yelled as Lewis departed.

Heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman of Baltimore, trying to avoid a pending lawsuit filed by Lennox Lewis, said he called Lewis on Sunday and yesterday in an attempt to negotiate a deal, the fighter said yesterday. "I called him, and I talked to him for five to 10 minutes today on the phone. I said, `Let's fight in the ring, not the courtroom.' He said that's also what he wants to do," Rahman said. "We're not enemies. I said, `Come on down, let's work out where we're going to fight. I want to fight this August fight and then you're next.

Former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman said yesterday he has agreed to a rematch with World Boxing Association champion John Ruiz, possibly in August, though Ruiz has not yet signed on. Rahman said he wants to win the title from Ruiz, then bring his hometown of Baltimore its first world championship fight, perhaps in October at M&T Bank Stadium. But he said everything is contingent on Ruiz's signing. And Rahman, 31, also must first defeat Rob Calloway, 34, in a June 17 fight at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie.

Terrence Lewis heard his nose crack when Hasim Rahman hit it with a bludgeoning jab early in the first round. The pain in the nose, which was broken by the blow, worsened as Rahman repeatedly found the mark. Lewis was down for the count, on his hands and knees, 43 seconds into the second round. "He caught me with another jab and everything went black," Lewis said from his Philadelphia home yesterday, recalling the events leading up to Wednesday night's second-round knockout loss in Rochester, N.Y. "He was more focused than I thought he would be. He's legitimate."

Talks between ex-heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman and Don King ended in anger Wednesday when Rahman stormed from the promoter's Las Vegas home. Feeling slighted by the amount of money being offered for an April 30 bout with World Boxing Council champion Vitali Klitschko, the Baltimore native rejected King's offer, according to Rahman's business manager, Steve Nelson. One source close to the negotiations said King is offering "nearly $3 million" to Rahman, a little less than half of what Klitschko would make.

Baltimore native Hasim Rahman won't be allowed to fight journeyman heavyweight Quinn Navarre on Wednesday at Frontier Field in Rochester, N.Y., the New York State Athletic Commission announced yesterday. "The New York State Athletic Commission evaluates each proposed bout. Based upon each boxer's history, the commission decided the bout would be one-sided and non-competitive," said Tim Donovan, spokesman for the NYSAC, reading from a statement. "Therefore, the bout would be potentially unsafe to approve, and it would also deny the public its right to a fair and competitive match," Donovan continued.

Former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman of Baltimore has signed a management deal with James Prince, who has helped guide the careers of a number of high-profile fighters. Among the boxers Prince manages are undisputed junior middleweight champion Winky Wright, lightweight champion Diego Corrales, former world champ Mark Johnson, of Washington, D.C., and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward. Prince's past clients include former lightweight champ Floyd Mayweather and former light heavyweight and heavyweight champ Roy Jones, each of whom has been considered among the sport's best fighters, pound-for-pound.

Baltimore native Hasim Rahman has come to terms on a settlement with Don King for $740,000, a move that will allow King to remain the ex-heavyweight champion's promoter throughout the duration of their contract, which extends until July 2008. King backed off of his lawsuit, which charged he was entitled to half of the $4.2 million that Rahman will earn for his Nov. 12 title challenge of World Boxing Council champion Vitali Klitschko. Rahman had countered the suit by filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, revealing more than $5 million of debt, including $2.1 million in unpaid taxes.