RAHMAN: November 12, I'm going to become the new heavyweight champion of the world.

GL: Bob Arum told me that he's looking to stage your fight with Vitali Klitschko on HBO PPV on November 12 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Have you heard any of this and what can you tell us about this situation? "Yeah, I've heard the same things. I haven't heard them from Bob, but I'm looking forward to fighting on November and becoming the heavyweight champion of the world in impressive fashion. I would love to get the chance to win the title in Vegas and I feel confident in defeating Vitali Klitschko, I'm just ready to go." GL: You and Floyd Mayweather Jr are good friends. I'm sure you know November 12 was originally his date, however, since there's been trouble securing a PPV worthy opponent and Top Rank won the purse-bid for your fight with Klitschko, it appears as though Mayweather's next fight is getting pushed back one week if he's on regular HBO or two weeks if he fights on PPV Thanksgiving weekend. Does you fighting Klitschko on PPV two weeks before Floyd could be headlining his own show hurt his potential PPV's success? Hasim Rahman: "Possibly. But the good thing about Floyd's situation is, he's got HBO dates also so he could make out either way. I mean, right now I'm just focused on the task at hand. After his last fight Floyd has put himself in a very good position, the kind of position I'm going to put myself in after I beat Vitali Klitschko." GL: I don't know how many Boxingtalk readers are aware of this, however, with Top Rank winning the purse bid, according to WBC rules they're going to promote your first title defense as well. How do you feel about that situation and are you disappointed that your plans to capture and defend the heavyweight title as well as your first defense will not take place with Don King as your promoter? Hasim Rahman: "I'm aware of that option and I'm not disappointed at all because I fully expected Don to go out there and win the purse-bid. Don told me he was going to go out there and win the purse-bid and he didn't. I'm sure Don understands the rules that if you win the purse-bid they get the option on the next fight. I don't make the rules, I'm just going to abide by them. I'm going to go out there and win the title and when I do, they've got the first option." GL: Are you confident that you are going to be treated as though your promoter had won the purse-bid and do you think you and Top Rank will get along for what could be the next two promotions? Hasim Rahman: "I definitely feel like I'm going to get a fair shake. Me and Bob got a good relationship, we're cool. Top Rank is a first class organization and I don't expect them to play any games with me, I expect them to treat me first class. I think everything is going to go according to plan. And the plan is to go out there and win the title impressiviely." GL: Is there anything you'd like to say in closing? Hasim Rahman: "I've got a lot to prove and come November 12, I'm going to become the new heavyweight champion of the world.