BALTIMORE -- Four months after Hasim Rahman brought home two world heavyweight titles, he treated his city to some Las Vegas showmanship.

Rahman and Lennox Lewis squared off Tuesday at City Hall in a courtroom drama staged to hype their Nov. 17 rematch at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

Mayor Martin O'Malley played defense attorney for the city's latest hometown sports hero, and promoter Don King presided, wearing black robes that contrasted sharply with his gray hair.

The question: Who is the rightful world heavyweight champion?

O'Malley moved for summary judgment, arguing that Rahman was the clear choice. The Baltimore native became the WBC and IBF champion by knocking out Lewis in the fifth round on April 22 in South Africa.

"Thank you, Mr. Mayor," King replied. "I must deny your motion. The evidence is not conclusive. And the decision will be that we'll go to judgment day at Mandalay Bay where the flying fishes play."

The actors were barely able to stifle their own giggles in a mock trial that followed a serious legal battle.

After Rahman signed on with King, the promoter tried to schedule a fight against Brian Nielsen of Denmark. But Lewis sued King and others in Rahman's camp, contending there was a rematch clause in the original fight contract.

A federal judge ruled this summer that if Rahman did not fight Lewis, he could not fight anyone else for 18 months. The two sides finally announced details of the rematch last week.

"There's going to be a little animosity in the ring because of that, I promise that," said Lewis, to the jeers of Rahman's hometown crowd.

But Rahman looked unconcerned, saying Lewis would "have to kill me to get these belts."

"I still think he's suffering from that concussion I gave him," Rahman said. "He was a great champion. But the key word is `was, has been, done."'

Rahman was already looking ahead to his next victory celebration, which he hoped would be less eventful than the last one. Days after stripping Lewis of the heavyweight titles, Rahman and his family were thrown from a chauffeured convertible.

"I want the mayor to just go ahead and plan this celebration convertible-free," said Rahman, who chose to drive himself home from Tuesday's rally.