(From Don King Productions press release)

CLEVELAND—Cleveland native and heavyweight contender Ray “Rainman� Austin got a call Thursday that most boxers only dream of when his promoter, Don King, notified him that another boxer had suffered a training injury, paving the way for him to step into the co-featured main event for the USNBC heavyweight championship on Sept. 3 at Gund Arena against World Boxing Council No.7-ranked heavyweight contender Owen “What the Heck� Beck, which will be televised domestically on SHOWTIME at 9 pm. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

“I was very excited to get the shot and it’s even better that it will take place in my hometown of Cleveland,� Austin (22-3-3, 15 KOs) said. “I am going to make the most of my opportunity. I’m coming to knock Owen Beck out. I’m not playing.�

Beck (24-1, 18 KOs) had been scheduled to face Sergei “White Wolf� Liakhovich. The Belarussian heavyweight sparred on Wednesday in Las Vegas and awoke in severe pain with a swollen chest yesterday, and visited a doctor who advised he had sustained a bruised cartilage injury to his rib cage and will not be able to resume training for four weeks.

In a wide-open heavyweight division, the winner of this important heavyweight match could be in line for a world title fight.

The other half of the co-featured main event remains a World Boxing Council and an International Boxing Federation cruiserweight elimination bout between former World Boxing Council cruiserweight champion Wayne “Big Truck� Braithwaite and Guillermo “El Felino� Jones. This fight will also be shown domestically on SHOWTIME.