World heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman will be the Grand Marshall at the upcoming Preakness Celebration Parade in Baltimore on Saturday, May 13. "The Rock is thrilled, as are our good friends at the Preakness," said Steve Nelson, manager of Rahman. "Hasim will be back at home and will see so many of his friends - this is a huge parade and celebration." In the spirit of the Preakness, the Rock will head the parade of high school marching bands, drill teams, colorful floats, giant helium balloons and equestrian units which will launch a week-long celebration of the 131st annual running of the Preakness on May 20. The parade will step off at Eutlaw Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard in Baltimore at 11 a.m.

RAHMAN - MASKAEV PRESS CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY IN NEW YORK CITY World heavyweight champion Hasim 'The Rock' Rahman and the WBC #1 rated challenger, Oleg Maskaev, will be at a Top Rank press conference at the Copacabana in New York City on Wednesday, May 10, 10:30 a.m.There, Bob Arum will announce the Rahman vs. Maskaev world heavyweight championship fight  -- titled 'America's Last Line of Defense' -- which will be held at the Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas on Saturday, August 12. Top Rank will promote in association with Caesars Palace and Wynn Las Vegas and the Rahman vs. Maskaev showdown will be available on HBO Pay Per View. Maskaev holds a riveting, chilling win over Rahman. Maskaev cracked Rahman and sent him through the ropes head-first, toppling HBO's announcing table the last time the two fought on November 6, 1999 in Atlantic City, N.J.  It was dramatic, brutal rally by the hard-punching Maskaev who stopped Rahman in the eighth round. Maskaev, who grew up in Abai, Kazakhstan, is promoted by Dennis Rappaport of New York City.