PHILADELPHIA -- Bernard Hopkins could have made more money defending his middleweight championship elsewhere.

Instead, he told promoter Don King he wanted to fight in his hometown, where he hadn't performed in 10 years.

On Saturday night, he'll get his wish -- but with a smaller paycheck -- when he takes on No. 1 WBC contender Mourade Hakkar in a 12-round title fight at First Union Spectrum.

"Fighting in Philadelphia was so important to me that I sacrificed a few dollars,'' he said Thursday.

The 36-year-old Hopkins will make about $1.1 million for his 16th title defense, less than what he would have made had the bout been held in nearby Atlantic City, which has deep-pocketed casinos to help with sponsorship.

Hakkar, the 31-year-old European champion, brings a 29-3 record into the fight. He'll get $375,000.

Speaking through a translator, the soft-spoken Hakkar seemed slightly star-struck Thursday during interviews at the pre-fight news conference. "The fact that it's my first time in the U.S. makes me a little bit nervous. Everything's bigger here,'' he said.

Asked about how he would fight Hopkins, he said: "I don't have a specific plan, so far. I want to make it in the ring.''

If Hopkins stays true to form, waiting so late to begin strategizing may be a mistake for the challenger.

Hopkins lost his first fight as a pro and another one -- to Roy Jones, Jr., in 1993 -- but brings an otherwise-unblemished 41-2-1 record into the ring.

Hakkar's best hope might be ring rust: Hopkins hasn't fought in 13 months, since stopping Carl Daniels in the 10th round of a scheduled 12-rounder in Reading, Pa., early last year.

Hakkar's last fight was last May.

"Kill or be killed, that's the mentality I go into the ring with,'' Hopkins said. "You've got March Madness for basketball? This is my March Madness. It's my Sweet 16.''

He said he'd rather be fighting Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley or Ricardo Mayorga, but had to tend to his mandatory challengers first.

As for Hakkar's nationality, Hopkins was respectful.

He didn't throw any French flags to the floor Thursday, like he did -- with Puerto Rico flags -- twice before his Sept. 29, 2001, fight with Felix Trinidad.

Asked about anti-French sentiments among Americans, Hopkins said Hakkar shouldn't be blamed.

"It would be ignorant for the fans to take it out on Hakkar,'' Hopkins said. "You can't blame a man for being from France.''

In the co-feature, former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman fights knockout artist David Tua in a 12-round title elimination bout, the winner to get a shot against IBF champion Chris Byrd.

Rahman, who lost to Tua in a disputed 10th round stoppage in 1998, has lost his last two fights. But he was downright cocky Thursday about his chances in the rematch, predicting an easy victory.

"If I lose, that's it for me. If I can't handle this fight, there's no need for me to carry on,'' he said.

As of Thursday, less than half the seats in the 16,500-seat arena had been sold for the fight, which will be televised live (10 p.m. ET, HBO).