Judge: Rahman's contract with Arum valid

10/12/2005

Judge: Rahman's contract with Arum valid

The words "heavyweight champion" and "Top Rank" aren't often heard in the same sentence, but after years of promoting some of the biggest non-heavyweight bouts in the sport, a court has allowed promoter Bob Arum's company to proceed with its signing of WBC titlist Hasim Rahman.  A bankruptcy judge in Nevada ruled yesterday that Rahman's contract with his former promoter Don King could be cancelled as part of the bankruptcy process he initiated recently, and that Rahman could go through with a three-year deal he recently signed with Arum's Top Rank. The Las Vegas Review Journal said Rahman's manager Steve Nelson called it another knockout victory for his man, who was awarded the WBC title when Vitali Klitschko retired. Rahman is likely to fight James Toney next, who is co-promoted by King and Dan Gooossen. --Scott Shaffer