- Title: USA: BOXING FANS ARRIVE IN LAS VEGAS FOR HASIM RAHMABN /LENNOX LEWIS FIGHT
- Date: 16th November 2001
- Summary: LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, UNITED STATES. NOVEMBER 16, 2001 (REUTERS -ACCESS ALL) 2. LIMOUSINE ARRIVING AT HOTEL WITH LENNOX LEWIS POSTER IN BACKGROUND 3. CLOSE-UP OF LENNOX LEWIS POSTER 4. MANDALAY BAY HOTEL LOBBY 5. BOXING FANS POSING IN LOBBY 6. LADIES BUYING RAHMAN/LEWIS T-SHIRTS 7. BRITISH FANS IN PRESS ROOM WEARING RAHMAN/LEWIS T-SHIRTS 8. WIDE SHOT OF PRESS ROOM 9. PROMOTER DON KING DOING RADIO INTERVIEW 10. (SOUNDBITE)(English) DON KING SAYING: "I think that Lennox Lewis for the first time has become alive and now he's fighting back, he's agitated, he's frustrated, he's really fighting now for his dignity and his principle and so what's going to be a real exciting thing here because he feels that he's been victimized by losing his title and that he's going to demonstrate to the world that it was a fluke. On the other hand you got Rahman who is courage personified. Here's a man who has the American dream-while you start out yesterday he's nobody, today he's somebody. He has the hope, the dream, and the aspiration which is fortified by determination, courage, faith, sacrifice, and fortitude and so he has the ennobling qualities of all Americans black and white alike they share-and try to get a slice of the American dream and so what this means is the symbolism is there and so you get the symbolism as well as the great heavyweight title fight both tied into each other which gives you a heavyweight extravaganza second to none-a spectacular that you cannot afford not to see!" 11. BOXING AUTHOR BERT SUGAR 12. (SOUNDBITE)(English) BERT SUGAR SAYING: "Look at the styles-Rahman landed a punch that Lewis called the lottery punch in South Africa in April. Lewis can't allow that to happen again and Rahman can't believe that he's going to win on that punch. There's all kinds of things here. Lewis has got to come out and he's got a brilliant left jab-can he use it? But too often he's a fighter who fights cautiously-he doesn't seem to...I mean here's a heavyweight champion who drinks tea with his pinkie extended, that's what I want for passion. So he's got to get out there with his long jab and also hit Rahman early to show he's not afraid of him, not intimitated and doesn't remember that one punch." 13. EXTERIOR SHOT OF THE CROWN AND ANCHOR BRITISH PUB 14. PUB PATRONS SINGING 15. FAN DAVID WIMBERLEY 16. (SOUNDBITE)(English) DAVID WIMBERLEY SAYING: "He didn't think he was a worthy opponent and he thought he was going to kill him and he just got smacked in the wrong place and got killed. I'm willing to bet you right now, in fact I'm going to go do it in a casino in half an hour, that he will knock him out before the fifth round." 17. FAN DAVID KENNA 18. (SOUNDBITE)(English) DAVID KENNA SAYING: "He maybe took it too easy, maybe he was complacent, he paid the price but I think he's taking it seriously this time-I think he's going to do it this time." 19. PATRONS SINGING Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 1st December 2001 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, UNITED STATES
- City:
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVAEOGRTBN9K0R3X3DUB91RQMKR3
- Story Text: On the eve of the Hasim Rahman/Lennox Lewis fight,
people in the city of Las Vegas and boxing fans from around
the world excitedly prepared for the second showdown between
the heavyweight fighters.
Workers were making the final preparations on Friday
(November 16) at the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino where
Saturday's fight between Lennox Lewis and Hasim Rahman will
take place.
Rahman of the USA caused a huge upset in April when he
stripped Lewis of his World Boxing Council (WBC) and
International Boxing Federation (IBF) crowns
with a fifth round knockout in South Africa.
Boxing promoter Don King said he was expecting an
exciting fight.
"I think that Lennox Lewis for the first time has become
alive and now he's fighting back, he's agitated, he's
frustrated, he's really fighting now for his dignity and his
principle and so what's going to be a real exciting thing here
because he feels that he's been victimized by losing his title
and that he's going to demonstrate to the world that it was a
fluke," he said. He described Rahman as "courage personified".
Boxing author Bert Sugar said he wanted Lennox to
demonstrate more passion in the fight. He said the former
champion seemed to refined for his opponent.
Visiting British boxing fans were drinking to Lennox's
success. One fan, David Wimberley, said he thought Lennox had
underestimated his opponent before and would beat Rahman by
the end of round five in the rematch. In fact, Wimberley said,
he was going to make a bet on his prediction at the casino.
Another fan David McKenna echoed Wimberley's words that
Lennox would win this time around.
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