Belgrade - Serbian swimmer Milorad Cavic, who won the men's 50m butterfly at the world championship in Rome, said he can beat American superstar Michael Phelps - again, Serbian media reported Wednesday.

Cavic, who set a new championship record Monday in Rome, told reporters that he beat Phelps at the Olympics in Beijing but that he did not press the finish button strong enough which led to the victory of Phelps at the 100m butterfly race.

"At all the shots you can see that I have touched the wall first in Beijing. But I did not press the button hard enough to activate the clock. That is the problem of technology and FINA, not mine," Cavic was quoted as saying.

Serbian swimmer however welcomed the defeat at the Beijing's Olympics as a "career saving move."

"That lost race saved my career. If I have won the gold I would stop swimming, but now I have an even greater motive than ever. I have decided to work hard and try to defeat Phelps once again," Cavic said.

He also said that on Saturday's 100m butterfly race he and Phelps will swim under 50 seconds.

"I honestly believed Phelps would go under 50 seconds even before Rome, but he did not do it. I know he is close and that he will try to break the dream record. But the thing is not what he will do but what I can do. I hope that that what I am capable of will be better than his result," he said.

"I am not afraid of him. I think Michael Phelps can be beaten." (dpa)