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Manhattan Transfer 2

New York City, NY -

Promoter Don King has asked the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard to come here and see heavyweight Kali Meehan fight for Australia in Madison Square Garden this Saturday night (Sunday afternoon, EST).

"I'm trying to get the Honorable John Howard in attendance," the world's most spectacular boxing promoter for 30 years told today's press conference in the Eight Avenue Theatre of the Garden.

"Mr Howard has just won the Australian election in both houses. Australia was loyal to America in the fight for freedom in Iraq.

"I am trying to get the Honorable John Howard to see his fellow countryman, Kali Meehan engage in the Heavyweight Battle for Supremacy."

Kali Meehan, New Zealkand born, lives in Wyongah, NSW. He took the champion, Lamon Brewster to a split decision in their WBO heavyweight title bout in Las Vegas on September 4.

"I brought the kid from Australia," Don King said. They scorned him, but
Kali fought brilliantly, he earned his stars and stripes, he showed a lot of heart, brought a breath of fresh air to the heavyweight field. I love the
guy. He is one of John Howard's countrymen."

Meehan told the audience of three hundred media people and fight camp followers: "I came from a little country [New Zealand] and migrated to Australia to further my boxing career."

He won his first Las Vegas fight in April by knockout. Six weeks ago Meehan broke the cheekbone of Lamon Brewster in their close 12-round title fight.

The Down Under heavyweight said: "When I tell people I am matched with The Rock (Hasim Rahman, former world champion) I see fear in their faces. 'I wouldn't like to be facing him', their faces say.

"But they are wrong. I am going to take this opportunity and shift the
Rock."

This delighted Don King. He walked up and down waving two miniature flags yelling: "Damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead! Here's an Aussie ready to look Rock in the eye and say, 'I'll knock you out'."

The Afro-American who emulated Cassius Clay/ Muhammad Ali and adopted the Muslim name, Hasim Rahman (pronounce Rockman) took the microphone steaming.

"I'm going to knock you out, vicious and early," he slanged Meehan. "Nobody hits like Rock. It's gonna be my best fight ever."

Rahman knocked out universal champion, Lennox Lewis, with one punch in South Africa in 2001 but lost the titles back in a return.

Meehan and the "Rockman" are part of Don King's tournament to establish a universal champion, since Lennox Lewis retired.

The Battle for Supremacy has Chris Byrd to defend his IBF heavyweight title against Jameel McCline ands John Ruiz defend his WBA heavyweight title against Andrew Golota of Poland.

Four time champ Evander Holyfield, 42, the man whose ear Tyson bit, fights a sunset match with Larry Donald.

A suririse late entrance on stage was made by Lamon Brewster, just in from Los Angeles, west coast. His cheek broken in the 12 round fight with Meehan kept him out of this frrst series of the Battle for Supremacy.

Don King saluted Brewster to the audience as "the black Rocky." He said Brewster "changed the whole scope of the heavyweight division." Climbing off the canvas in April to win the title from Wladimir Klitschko, "like Stallone's Rocky beating the Russian in the movie, Brewster spoke three great words: 'Americans don't quit'."

Don King was a conspicuous supporter at the the Republican Partry convention in August, prior to President Bush's reelection.

The 73 year old promoter was on stage day and night waving his flags "for George Walker Bush" - that too was in Madison Square Garden - and he he made it back to Las Vegas for his own Brewster-Meehan and Spinks-Gonzalez double title promotion only an hour before the main fights.

Saying Kali "earned his stars and stripes" was a big wrap in King's world.