Rahman in peak form was a good fighter. only 10 amateur fights so he started late & had a solid career. he never could see the left hook for some reason. lennox, wlad, tua but maskaev had a very sneaky short hook that he never saw coming in both fights. he also use to put his jab hand up for some strange reason which left him open. much better fighter then people give him credit for. he was a 2 time champion with only 10 amateur fights. he was behind the 8 ball from the start.
is it me or right before the KO lewis was laughing at rahman's jab
he was smirking I believe then he bounced himself off the ropes like you would in pro wrestling...lol
I was stunned when I saw it because this was the same Rahman who got knocked out of the ring against Maskaev. I wasn't stunned so much by the knockout as how frequently Lennox was getting hit with the right hand. It wasn't beyond the realm of possibility that Rahman could knock Lewis out. But he did not belong in the same ring with Lewis, he was much lower in class as a boxer.
The fight was actually pretty even, Lewis was dropping his left a lot and Rahman was timing him with the right hand, but Lewis was also hitting Rahman, and Rahman's eye was closing shut, but Lewis was also taking some shots. So it's not like it was a fluke. It was a close fight up until that point. But it was still shocking the way it played out.
I had money on that fight, after reading how Lennox arrived in South AFrica Late, and it appeared he was out of shape. I put 50 bucks on Rahman, and I won 6 or 700. I was really happy, but the way Rahman acted after the fight, I wanted him to get whooped in the rematch - and he did...lol
I remember rahman showing up in south africa 3 months before the fight. He was acclimated to the elevation & got in solid shape. Lennox totally overlooked him. He was too busy filming oceans 11 or 12 & partying with A list actors & i believe he flew in a week before the fight. Rahman had a tough fight with corrie sanders & lost to maskaev & tua. Lewis figured he'd crush him. Twice lennox took a guy lightly & both times he was on his back...
never got the disdain for Lewis
his style was just fine to watch and he wasn't a twat
Rahman got a surprise KO on him, which was cool
just as cool when Lewis got his big KO in the rematch
2 good moments, never moved emotionally either way
If I recall, even the HBO lead in for the fight was talking about how Lennox was not taking the fight seriously. He broke camp to shoot Oceans 11 and didnt get to South Africa until a few days before fight. Whereas Rahman was there for like a month running thru some slums in SA and had all the country behind him
Rahman was trying to impose the rumble jungle Ali factor in Africa while Lewis was busy superstarring it in hollywood.
I remember I was looking at my CPU screen because I figured the fight would continue going the way it had (snooze fest.) Then boom, I had to catch the replay. I was like ain't that a b.itch
If I recall, even the HBO lead in for the fight was talking about how Lennox was not taking the fight seriously. He broke camp to shoot Oceans 11 and didnt get to South Africa until a few days before fight. Whereas Rahman was there for like a month running thru some slums in SA and had all the country behind him
Yes, it was. And a good one. Lewis wasn't focused/motivated. As I said, I literally jumped over my coffee table and went nuts.
It was a shock, that's for sure. Was even better to see Lewis avenge the defeat in such devastating fashion. Arguably one of the best HW knockouts.
The HBO commentary did it for me:
"BOOM"
"Will Rahman get up? Or have the tables been turned?"
Great moment for Rahman but do you think it was a lucky punch? Rahman got white washed in the rematch.
Yes, it was. And a good one. Lewis wasn't focused/motivated. As I said, I literally jumped over my coffee table and went nuts.
I fucking jumped up over my coffee table, stumbled around, lit a joint and ran 4 times round my house. That was some moment.
Great moment for Rahman but do you think it was a lucky punch? Rahman got white washed in the rematch.
Since we're going back a few years, IMO, this topped it:
The Poisoning!
http://www.heavyweightblog.com/knnimages/wladimir-klitschko-vs-lamon-brewster.gif
:D
I think Wlad is superstitious. He has never lost once switching to the white puma shoes Emanuel gave him to use.
12y ago
When Rahman knocked out Lewis | BoxingScene Community