Nansen upbeat about facing former world champion

Whatever happens at Trusts Stadium in Waitakere tonight, Antz Nansen can always say he stood toe-to-toe with a former heavyweight boxing champion of the world.

Auckland’s Nansen is a big underdog in his first-round Super 8 matchup against American veteran Hasim Rahman.

When Nigerian Samuel Peter withdrew last month because of a calf problem, Nansen was given a wildcard spot in the tournament.

A kickboxer with a 32-3 record, Nansen has also competed in two professional MMA bouts (1-1), while he has laced up the boxing gloves five times (3-2).

‘‘I love any kind of combat sport,’’ Nansen said. ‘‘I’m always confident when I get in the ring.’’

The 31-year-old will give up height, weight, reach and a wealth of experience against Rahman who famously floored Lennox Lewis to claim the heavyweight title in South Africa in 2001 but lost the crown in the return fight with the big Brit.

The Super 8 tournament, which has a $500,000 purse, sees eight boxers paired off and they will then meet each other over three threeminute rounds with the winner advancing until a champion is crowned.

One advantage Nansen does possess over Rahman is an intricate knowledge of an eight-man fighting tournament given he is a two-time winner of New Zealand’s King of the Ring kickboxing event.

The 41-year-old Rahman (50-8-2) hasn’t fought since he was knocked out by Russia’s Alexander Povetkin in late 2012 but looked trim when he weighed in at a neat 115kg at SkyCity yesterday, while Nansen tipped the scales at 107.7kg.

‘‘I definitely feel fit,’’ Rahman said. ‘‘I’m on my way to getting in the best shape of my life. I’m just taking it one day at a time, keep the ball rolling, go in, win this tournament and get back in the gym on Monday.’’

After he weighed in, Rahman predicted he would finish Nansen in the first round but insisted he wasn’t getting ahead of himself.

‘‘They all can punch,’’ he said of the field. ‘‘Anything can happen, so I’m not taking anybody lightly.’’

In tonight’s other first-round matches, Kiwi Brice Ritani-Coe will meet American Alonzo Butler who is the heaviest fighter in the tournament at 134.4kg.

Kali Meehan will square off against Australian heavyweight champion Hunter Sam and Ireland’s Martin Rogan will meet two-time UK Prizefighter winner Michael Sprott.