Lewis and Rahman to resume in November

Hasim Rahman will defend the World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation heavyweight titles for a minimum of $10m (£7.1m) in a November re-match with Lennox Lewis. "We're very excited the deal is done," Steve Nelson, Rahman's co-manager, said yesterday. "We believe we're going to win again."

Rahman became the champion following an unexpected fifth-round knock-out victory over Lewis on 22 April in Johannesburg. "Rahman has signed, Lewis has signed and TVKO wants it," Nelson said. TVKO is the pay-per-view arm of HBO, which has a multi-fight deal with Lewis.

"The fight definitely will be on 10 or 17 November," Nelson said. "We anticipate it will be in Las Vegas." Nelson said Rahman would get a percentage of the pay-per-view sales and share in other revenues.

Lewis signed a contract for the fight with Don King, Rahman's promoter, on 20 July.

Nelson said that Rahman had been due to sign a contract in Beijing at John Ruiz's World Boxing Association heavyweight title defence against Evander Holyfield, which had been scheduled for last weekend but which was called off after Ruiz sustained a neck injury. "We waited until King got back from China," Nelson explained.

Pat English, attorney for Main Events, Lewis' American promoter, has said there is no deal until Main Events agrees. Lewis's British promoter, Lion Promotions, has signed. "That's between Lewis and Main Events," Nelson said.