LAS VEGAS, NV (August 9, 2006) — It’s fight week baby! Two-time WBC heavyweight champion HASIM RAHMAN, (41-5-2, 33 KOs), from Baltimore, MD, and OLEG MASKAEV, (32-5, 25 KOs), the No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger from Kazakstan, rumble for the biggest prize in sports — the heavyweight championship of the world! It’s been nearly seven years since they first tangled on that November 6, 1999 night in Atlantic City, where Maskaev, behind on the judges’ scorecards, slammed Rahman with an overhand right to the head, sending Rahman through the ropes head-first, crashing through the HBO announcing team’s table and onto the concrete floor. It was a chilling, riveting finish with Maskaev getting the stoppage victory in the eighth round..
Ironically, 1999 was also the last time an American did NOT hold a heavyweight title, with Lennox Lewis and Vitali Klitschko holding the WBC/WBA/IBF and WBO titles, respectively. (Note: Lewis will be ringside as part of Saturday’s HBO Pay-Per-View broadcast team.)
Can Rahman hold “America’s Last Line of Defense” or will Maskaev complete the sweep of former Soviet Union natives holding a heavyweight title, joining IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko, WBA champion Nicolay Valuev, and WBO champion Sergei Liakhovich?
Despite entering this fight riding a 10-bout winning streak, Maskaev is still the betting underdog, just like he was when he fought Rahman the first time in 1999. See the attached clip of the 1999 knockout to see what THAT means!
FINAL NEWS CONFERENCE will take place Tomorrow! Wednesday, August 9, at the Mouton Ballroom at Wynn Las Vegas. 11:30 AM Luncheon / News Conference at Noon.
Remaining tickets to Rahman-Maskaev II, priced at $600, $400, $300, $200, $100 and $50, can be purchased at the Thomas & Mack box office, online at www.unlvtickets.com or by calling (702) 739-FANS. The Rahman-Maskaev II pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT has a suggested retail price of $49.95. It will be distributed domestically by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 56 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in high-definition television for those viewers who are HDTV capable. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. Rahman vs. Maskaev daily updates can be found during fight week at www.HBO.com.