Fight fans of all ages lined up for Hasim Rahman's autograph, measuring their hands against his, touching his biceps, checking out his right fist, holding his bright green heavyweight title belt, taking pictures, talking fight talk.
"Wanna go two rounds tonight, Rock?" one older fan, squaring up at the autograph table.
"I thought we were friends!" said Rahman, laughing.
Then they laughed and embraced.
"Go for the knockout, Rock," another fan said.
Rahman's star power lit up downtown Las Vegas on Fremont Street Thursday night. Fight fans from all states and many countries met Rahman who signed hundreds of autographs.
Rahman promised a knockout win too.
"This is a big fight for me and I will knock out Maskaev on August 12," Rahman said.
Rahman, blasted through the ropes and stopped brutally by Maskaev in 1999, will attempt to avenge that when he takes on Maskaev at the Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas, on Saturday, August 12.
Rahman has been training for weeks in Las Vegas. This weekend, Team Rahman is off to a training facility in Big Bear, Calif. They will return to Las Vegas right around August 5.
Rahman vs. Maskaev is promoted by Top Rank and Dennis Rappaport Productions in association with Caesars Las Vegas and Wynn Las Vegas. Rahman vs. Maskaev will be available on HBO Pay Per View.
