There was no stunner, no triumphant home return punctuated with a championship-belt trophy.

Rahman Charms Niagara Media

Former Heavyweight Champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman (46-7-2, 37 KOs) kept a big group of assembled local media captivated today, during a press conference at the Niagara Falls Conference Center to announce Rahman’s main event against Troy New York’s Shannon Miller (16-4, 9 KOs) on June 19.

Never short of wit, when informed Miller couldn’t attend because of his job as head of a security firm, Rahman quipped “That’s ok. He’s going to need security when I get through with him.”

“The Rock Returns” is promoted by X-Cel Worldwide in association with The Empire Sports and Entertainment.

The conference was emceed by former #1 heavyweight contender “Baby” Joe Mesi. Also in attendance was Niagara Falls, New York mayor Paul Dyster.

Also slated for action on June 19 are undefeated former Canadian Olympian and recent X-Cel promotional signee Donald “Donnie Boy” Orr (15-0, 6 KOs) in an eight-round tilt, as well as sensational Zambian future star Hastings “Sting” Bwalya (2-0, 2 KOs); Buffalo, New York’s superb, undefeated light heavyweight Lionel Thompson (2-0, 1 KO); and unbeaten heavyweight Johnnie Davis (1-0) in separate four-round bouts.

“We’ve teamed up with Greg Cohen and The Empire to put on this terrific night of boxing,” revealed X-Cel Worldwide CEO and Founder Nick Garone. “The name Hasim Rahman speaks for itself. He scored he knockout of the decade over Lennox Lewis. We’ve got him taking on a tough guy from New York in the main and then five undefeated kids from nearby and all over the world on the undercard.”

Single-handedly resurrecting a once-flagging local boxing scene, Garone has done five shows in the Buffalo/Niagara area in the last 18 months. “I love doing shows in this area because this area loves boxing!”