Hasim Rahman wrapped himself in the American flag while cameras clicked and his camp cheered.

Saturday's WBC title fight against Oleg Maskaev has been turned into a warmed-up Cold War chestnut, and Rahman, the two-time champion, loves his role.

As the only American still holding a title at this high-profile, low-esteem division, Rahman sees it as his duty to safeguard a heavyweight belt for the nation that produced the world's most charismatic and unforgettable fighters at that weight. Promoter Bob Arum labelled Rahman as ``America's Last Line of Defence,'' and the fighter believes it.

``I need to hold it down for my country,'' Rahman said. ``If I lose this fight, I let me down, my family down, my team down and my country down. I never before have I felt like I put my country on my back.''

It's exciting rhetoric _ the type that pushes $49.99 Cdn pay-per-view buys and generates enthusiasm for yet another heavyweight fight lacking much charisma.

But it isn't accurate: Maskaev lives in Staten Island with his wife and four children, embracing the American dream as a U.S. citizen.

``I would say I'm a proud Russian-American,'' said Maskaev, a former Russian Army officer who got his citizenship two years ago after living here since 1995. ``I have four kids now, and the last of them, she's an American, too. She was born here. . . . Whoever wins the championship, he is an American.''

If only the general public knew his name.

The heavyweight division is splintered, with three Eastern European champions _ Wladimir Klitschko (IBF), Nicolai Valuev (WBA) and Sergei Lyakhovich (WBO) _ and Rahman atop a cluttered, nondescript field.

But Saturday night's meeting at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas still has the ingredients for a memorable heavyweight bout: Two motivated veteran fighters with good attitudes, solid punching power _ and glass jaws, as evidenced by the knockout defeats on their otherwise impressive records.

Rahman (41-5-2) is a solid favourite, and he hopes a win will be a springboard to a match against Klitschko early next year for both fighters' belts.

But Maskaev's camp landed a humourous public dig earlier in the week, demanding extra padding on the arena floor _ ostensibly to cushion the blow when Rahman's head hits it. Rahman was winning the boxers' first fight in 1999 when Maskaev (32-5) knocked him out of the ring and onto the floor next to the broadcasting area with a heavy right hand in the eighth round.

Rahman, more introspective at 33, blames himself for that loss. He says he lost interest in training when Maskaev was named as a last-minute replacement for two other fighters. Rahman even agrees with the labels that have followed him _ inconsistent, frequently distracted, sometimes unprepared _ since his 2001 knockout win over Lennox Lewis.

``I think a lot of American heavyweights get it twisted,'' Rahman said. ``As soon as we get a little bit of success, then we want to go out and buy a bunch of jewelry and a bunch of cars . . . and let everybody know we are somebody and we've accomplished something, when in actuality we really haven't accomplished anything.

``I think that we move a little too fast, as opposed to those (Eastern Europeans). They stay hungry, and they stay on the quest.''

But Rahman kept working and winning after his slide, eventually inheriting the WBC title after Vitali Klitschko retired following several postponed bouts against Rahman.

Rahman hasn't been beaten since December 2003, but his last fight was an unappealing draw with James Toney _ a plodding, depressing fight of the sort that has come to define the heavyweight division for the casual fight fan.

Maskaev earned his shot as the top contender with a late-career resurgence: Arum calls him ``James J. Braddock with a Russian accent,'' referring to the former heavyweight champion and Cinderella Man who resurrected a similarly floundering career.

All but forgotten after three knockout losses in five fights from 2000 to 2002, Maskaev has won 10 straight bouts on both sides of the Atlantic, culminating in a unanimous decision over Sinan Samil Sam last November to earn this title shot.

``I like this Cinderella story,'' Maskaev said. ``I like it a lot.''