Lewis-Rahman tangle on ESPN

It was supposed to be a start of a five-city promotion tour to pitch the November 17th rematch between WBC heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman and former champion Lennox Lewis. It turned out to be an ugly brawl seen by millions of viewers, and will certainly increase the number of pay-per-view buys, as well as the lecherous grin now forming on Don King's face.

On Thursday, August 30th, the two lugs were sitting next to each other at a round table taping of ESPN's Up Close and Personal with host Gary Miller in Anaheim, California. Miller asked Lewis, "Did Rahman question your sexuality?"

Glaring at Rahman, Lewis responded, "Why you starting that gay stuff? I'm not gay. Why you calling me gay?"

Rahman said it he thought it was "gay" for Lewis to have taken him to court to force the rematch. "I don't know why he was so offended," Rahman said.

Lewis, who has denied for years rumors that he is gay, answered, "I'm 100% women's man. If you're worried about that, bring your sister, bring anybody."

Rahman fired his own verbal jab, saying, "Don't insult my family."

Lennox countered with, "Then watch what you say about me."

You could see the steam coming out of Rahman's ears. He stood hovering over Lewis and bellowed, "Who are you? I can say anything I want about you. You're nobody."

Soon, as Miller sat with a loopy grin on his face, the two heavyweights stood chest to chest, like two banty roosters arguing over the last available hen. Lewis tried to push Rahman away, and in an instant, Rahman bull-rushed Lewis backwards against the wall. They spun around, grunting and cursing, as huge bodyguards tried to separate them.

Suddenly, Rahman spun Lewis backwards against the table and the table collapsed, under the 500 pounds, or so, of gay, or otherwise beefcake. After some grappling on the floor, where Rahman appeared to get in a right hand or two, the fighters lumbered to their feet.

Rahman's co-manager, wee Stan Hoffman, his rubberband-bound pigtail flapping in the wind, tried to grab Lewis from behind. Visions of Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy hanging on to Miami's Alonzo Morning's leg during the playoffs a few years back, came rushing to mind.

For a full 90 seconds, Lewis, more enraged than he's ever been in the ring, tried to get back at Rahman. Bodyguards, security personnel and a frightened cameraman or two, were shoved aside, as Lewis tried to cut the ring off on Rahman, who was now being controlled by Hoffman. Hoffman probably figured, one bad move, and a broken hand, or jaw could demolish the proposed $10 million payday for him and his fighter.

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