LAS VEGAS (AP) - Vitali Klitschko will defend his heavyweight title against former champion Hasim Rahman in Las Vegas, most likely Nov. 12.

Promoter Bob Arum said he won the rights to the WBC title fight with a purse bid of $12 million, beating out bids by rival Don King and K2 Promotions.

Rahman won the right to meet Klitschko by beating Monte Barrett by decision Saturday in Chicago. Klitschko, who had back surgery in April, has not fought since stopping Danny Williams last December.

It will be the first heavyweight title fight promoted by Arum since George Foreman beat Axel Schulz in 1995.

"We felt it was about time we got back in the heavyweight business," Arum said. "We've been out of it too long."

Arum said King bid $11 million for the fight and K2 offered $10.7 million.

Arum, in Paris on vacation, said he was meeting in Monte Carlo with casino operator Steve Wynn about sponsoring the fight. If Wynn buys it for his new resort it would be held at the UNLV campus arena; if not it could be held at the MGM Grand hotel-casino.