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By James Slater: 39-year-old Hasim Rahman, already a two-time heavyweight ruler, will get a chance to become a three-time champ next year. “The Rock,” 50-7-2(41) has been named as the mandatory challenger for Alexander Povetkin, and the unbeaten Russian’s manager, Vladimir Khryunov, told Sportbox.ru how negotiations for the fight will have to be commenced before December 27th of this year.
As fans know, 32-year-old Povetkin faces U.S veteran contender Cedric Boswell in his first defence on Dec. 3rd in Finland. Assuming “Sasha” comes through that fight okay (and he is favourite to win), it will be Rahman next.
“Hasim Rahman of the U.S is Sasha’s official contender,” Khryunov said. “ We have to start negotiations with him before December 27th.”
Rahman recently told ******.com that he is training hard, awaiting his shot at Povetkin. Last seen tipping-in at a career-heavy 284-pounds, when he TKO’d fellow hefty-weight Galen Brown in the 6th-round back in June, Rahman had better be working hard if he’s to have a real chance against Povetkin. Rahman - who rose to global fame by shocking Lennox Lewis via 5th-round KO ten years ago, and also won the interim WBC strap with a points win over Monte Barrett for his second tenure as champ in 2005 - will always have a puncher’s chance.
Winner of five in a row against modest opposition since being stopped in the 7th-round by Wladimir Klitschko, the Baltimore fighter sees himself walking away from boxing as a champion. And against Povetkin, a far from invincible-looking fighter, maybe “Rock” will be able to make his dream a reality.
There are a number of fighters currently craving a shot at the Teddy Atlas-trained titlist, but after Boswell has had his chance, it will be Rahman next. The fans, of course, would prefer to see Povetkin in there with a Klitschko, but the former Olympian will instead face two “old” guys in a row.
Povetkin will, in my opinion, out-point “The Boz” and retain his belt next month. That fight doesn’t exactly promise to be a thriller, and neither does a Povetkin-Rahman showdown to be fair. Still, the latter could at least end via a highlight reel KO.
Rahman might, he just might, become the third oldest heavyweight champ in history next year. On paper at least!
As fans know, 32-year-old Povetkin faces U.S veteran contender Cedric Boswell in his first defence on Dec. 3rd in Finland. Assuming “Sasha” comes through that fight okay (and he is favourite to win), it will be Rahman next.
“Hasim Rahman of the U.S is Sasha’s official contender,” Khryunov said. “ We have to start negotiations with him before December 27th.”
Rahman recently told ******.com that he is training hard, awaiting his shot at Povetkin. Last seen tipping-in at a career-heavy 284-pounds, when he TKO’d fellow hefty-weight Galen Brown in the 6th-round back in June, Rahman had better be working hard if he’s to have a real chance against Povetkin. Rahman - who rose to global fame by shocking Lennox Lewis via 5th-round KO ten years ago, and also won the interim WBC strap with a points win over Monte Barrett for his second tenure as champ in 2005 - will always have a puncher’s chance.
Winner of five in a row against modest opposition since being stopped in the 7th-round by Wladimir Klitschko, the Baltimore fighter sees himself walking away from boxing as a champion. And against Povetkin, a far from invincible-looking fighter, maybe “Rock” will be able to make his dream a reality.
There are a number of fighters currently craving a shot at the Teddy Atlas-trained titlist, but after Boswell has had his chance, it will be Rahman next. The fans, of course, would prefer to see Povetkin in there with a Klitschko, but the former Olympian will instead face two “old” guys in a row.
Povetkin will, in my opinion, out-point “The Boz” and retain his belt next month. That fight doesn’t exactly promise to be a thriller, and neither does a Povetkin-Rahman showdown to be fair. Still, the latter could at least end via a highlight reel KO.
Rahman might, he just might, become the third oldest heavyweight champ in history next year. On paper at least!