According to reports in the Baltimore Sun- Hasim Rahman's hometown newspaper - the heavyweight boxing champion will make his first world title defence against Lennox Lewis rather than Mike Tyson.
The paper suggests Rahman has agreed terms on a deal with the US television network HBO which already has a deal with the Lewis camp.The total package is expected to be worth $17 million.
Without naming sources the report said the deal marked the end of a two-week bidding war where the Showtime firm had offered a similar deal. Showtime has a TV deal with Tyson.
Rahman is said to have met managers Stan Hoffman and Steve Nelson and promoter Cedric Kushner to discuss the networks' two offers.
"We expect to make the announcement as soon as the deal is signed," said Nelson. HBO's offer is said to be worth $14 million to Rahman for fighting Lewis with two more fights guaranteed at a total of $3 million regardless of the Rahman-Lewis outcome.
The deal is expected to be completed sometime within the next 24 hours. Las Vegas is expected to host the fight on August 18th.
