Kenny Weldon would be the first to say a heavyweight champion can be discovered in the strangest of places.

On June 1, 2002, for instance, Weldon was preparing to walk to the ring in Atlantic City to work former champion Evander Holyfield's corner. Sergei Liakhovich was just leaving the ring, having been knocked out by Mo Harris.

Weldon, a disciple of Bill Gore, trainer to the legendary Willie Pep, remarked to Holyfield about Liakhovich's talent. Holyfield said he could arrange for Weldon to take over as his trainer.

Weldon, believing Liakhovich's vast talents were being wasted, quickly accepted.

"Great move for me," Liakhovich said. "He is a great trainer. I needed someone who would teach me the fundamentals. He made me better in every area."

But it took a while for the world to realize that. Because of fights falling out, injuries and lethargy, Liakhovich basically disappeared from the public consciousness -- not an easy thing to do in the barren heavyweight division.

He won a dreadfully boring decision over Dominick Guinn on Dec. 3, 2004, a bout in which Weldon said Liakhovich "was being sold down the river."

"Guinn was with Main Events and it was in New Jersey and (Main Events') offices were in New Jersey and they were bringing Sergei in as an opponent just to make (Guinn) look good," Weldon said. "Sergei hadn't fought in a long time (because of injury) and he was overweight, but he fought the right fight."

He took criticism despite the win, but that was fine with Weldon, who spent hours with Liakhovich in the gym.

While others saw a lazy, moody malcontent, Weldon saw a man with the power of a heavyweight and the grace of a lightweight.

"I was telling everyone Sergei was the best heavyweight in the world for a long time, but he was kind of boxing's best kept secret," Weldon said.

But the secret was unwrapped April 1, when he challenged Lamon Brewster for the WBO belt in Cleveland.

Even in that fight, although both men were promoted by Don King, Liakhovich was being set up to fail, Weldon said. The ring was only 16 feet square and clearly favored Brewster.

"Figuring out how to beat Brewster was simple," Weldon said. "Take away the left hook and he has nothing. I don't think he hit Sergei with three left hooks in the whole fight. When people saw Sergei, they were surprised.

"But I knew what was going to happen. And this kid is only going to get better and better. People can talk all they want about there being no good heavyweights, but I know this: There is at least one."

Liakhovich will make his first title defense Nov. 4 when he faces Shannon Briggs, the one-time linear champion who defeated George Foreman.

Weldon has little doubt Liakhovich will defeat Briggs in their nationally televised bout on Showtime. Soon, Weldon said, others will wake up to what he has known for a long time.

"This kid is a legitimate, good heavyweight and he'll beat anyone out there, including (IBF champion) Wladimir (Klitschko)," Weldon said.

• AMATEUR TRIUMPH -- Las Vegas-based heavyweight Michael Hunter continued his strong amateur showing as he bids for a spot on the 2008 Olympic team.

Hunter, son of the late former contender Mike "The Bounty" Hunter, won the super heavyweight title in the 2006 National PAL Championships on Oct. 7 in Oxnard, Calif.

Hunter scored a decision victory over Jonte Willis in the gold medal match of the first qualifier for the 2007 USA Boxing National Championships.

Another Las Vegan, lightweight Diego Magdaleno, was the silver medalist in Oxnard. He lost to Terence Crawford in the gold medal match.

• FOUND CAR -- Former lightweight champ Diego Corrales, whose Cadillac Escalade was stolen from the parking garage at Mandalay Bay on Oct. 6, the day before he lost his WBC belt to Joel Casamayor, said police have recovered the vehicle.

It was not good news, however. Corrales said the sport utility vehicle "was completely trashed" and was found sitting on blocks.

• STILL WAITING -- When WBA lightweight champion Juan Diaz announced he would finally sign a promotional agreement with Don King Productions after reneging on oral deals with Star Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions, he said he was signing a one-bout contract while the language for the multifight deal was being finalized.

But more than a month later, and just two weeks before Diaz is to defend his title against Fernando Angulo, the multifight deal hasn't been completed.

Diaz, who is attending college at the University of Houston-Downtown and plans to become an attorney, insists he's not concerned.

"I have my manager (Willie Savannah) taking care of that," Diaz said. "He is the businessman and I am the fighter. Whatever happens is going to happen."

• OFFICIALS CHOSEN -- The Nevada Athletic Commission named Jay Nady as referee and Paul Smith, Chuck Giampa and John Keane as judges for the Nov. 4 bout for the linear welterweight title between unbeaten Las Vegan Floyd Mayweather Jr. and champ Carlos Baldomir.

Executive director Keith Kizer said the WBC was urging the commission to appoint Duane Ford, Jerry Roth, Nobuaki Uratani and/or Doug Tucker as the judges, a suggestion that made commissioner John Bailey bristle.

"I understand the WBC would love to pick our judges and our referees," Bailey said. "Their role in that, in my view, should be non-existent."