World heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman will fight Denmark's Brian Nielsen in August at Beijing, China, in what might become a two-day landmark boxing festival.
Don King, the controversial promoter who signed the 28-year-old American last week, confirmed the bout in New York today, saying it could be August 4th or 5th.
World Boxing Association champion John Ruiz will meet ex-champion Evander Holyfield in Beijing on August 4th.
King said he is considering staging the Rahman-Nielsen bout the following day rather than as an undercard bout.
That would preserve the Ruiz-Holyfield fight as the first world heavyweight title bout to be staged in China, then give International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Council champion Rahman his own stage to face low-rated Nielsen.
Lawsuits could scuttle King's well-laid plans, which began last Friday with an early morning deal with Rahman sealed by $500,000 in $100 bills and a check for $4.5 millionto complete the signing bonus.
Rahman, who took the titles from Britain's Lennox Lewis with a fifth-round knockout April 21 in South Africa, is set to receive another $5 million for fighting Nielsen.
King has promised Rahman $15 million for a unification fight against the Ruiz-Holyfield winner, $20 millionto fight Lewis and 30 million to face Mike Tyson, according to reports in Boston, New York and Las Vegas.
-AFP