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What a shock: Lennox picks Rahman to beat Vitali. Didn't he also pick Sanders and Danny Williams (though he changed the Williams pick) This article below is from secondsout.com. Anyhow, you have to wonder if Vitali beat Rahman, will he look better than Lewis in that he beat him the 1st time?
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Retired World Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis believes the only man capable of defeating his old foe and replacement as the dominant heavyweight, Vitali Klitschko, is another former nemesis - Hasim Rahman.
Klitschko made a hugely impressive first defence of his title at the Mandalay Bay Event Center last night, hammering a beyond courageous but outclassed Danny Williams to a one-sided eighth round defeat. Hard to hit, tactically aware, heavy-handed, hard-chinned and deceptively fast, 'Dr Ironfist' looked a very powerful heavyweight champion indeed in spite of his awkward and somewhat clumsy style.
Lewis holds a win over the giant Ukrainian, a sixth round technical stoppage in June 2002 - in a fight Klitschko was clearly winning before Lewis hacked the flesh from around Klitschko's eyes and forced the intervention of the ringside doctor. And, of course, Lewis and Rahman knocked each other out with single right hands in a brace of fights in 2001.
Now Lewis wants to see his two toughest opponents fight each other.
"Rahman impresses me again," the Londoner told SecondsOut. "He's back in shape and an in-shape Hasim Rahman can take it to Vitali Klitschko. I was impressed with what he did (against Kali Meehan) last month and he deserves a shot at the WBC title. I think Rahman liked being champion (April 2001 to November 2001) and now is very hungry to take that title back now I am retired."
Lewis clearly doesn't think too much of "too small" reigning IBF champion Chris Byrd (who, like Lewis, holds an injury win over Klitschko) or WBA bore-athon John Ruiz.
"Man, when I see that Ruiz I want to throw the television set out of the window. It is just - ugh!"
Quite.
So in a depleted heavyweight division Lewis believes Klitschko v Rahman is the best fight out there.
"I think it'd be a very tough fight between them," the three time champ said. "You have to have a jab to beat Klitschko and Rahman has a good jab. He'll also get a lot closer to Vitali than Danny Williams did and put more pressure on him. Klitschko doesn't like pressure."
Although the Ukrainian seemed to handle everything Lewis was throwing at him...
"I would have knocked Klitschko out in the next round," Lewis said. "Maybe Rahman can get there and do what I would have done had the doctor let Klitschko come out for the seventh round."
"Lennox always was a very smart man," laughed 'the Rock' when informed of his old rival's appraisal. "Because he fought us both, Lennox knows that you have to jab this guy (Klitschko) to win and Lennox also knows I've got the best jab in the division.
"I'll know this Klitschko guy right out. I can't wait for this fight. Klitschko is supposed to have an early March date from HBO? Great. My wife'e birthday is March 5 and I won't even have to get her a present - I'll just give her my brand new WBC title."
Rahman, who went four fights without a win following his upset win over Lewis in April 2001, let's not fail to remember, is now the WBC No.1 contender and Klitschko is obligated to fight him by June 2005 at the latest.
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Retired World Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis believes the only man capable of defeating his old foe and replacement as the dominant heavyweight, Vitali Klitschko, is another former nemesis - Hasim Rahman.
Klitschko made a hugely impressive first defence of his title at the Mandalay Bay Event Center last night, hammering a beyond courageous but outclassed Danny Williams to a one-sided eighth round defeat. Hard to hit, tactically aware, heavy-handed, hard-chinned and deceptively fast, 'Dr Ironfist' looked a very powerful heavyweight champion indeed in spite of his awkward and somewhat clumsy style.
Lewis holds a win over the giant Ukrainian, a sixth round technical stoppage in June 2002 - in a fight Klitschko was clearly winning before Lewis hacked the flesh from around Klitschko's eyes and forced the intervention of the ringside doctor. And, of course, Lewis and Rahman knocked each other out with single right hands in a brace of fights in 2001.
Now Lewis wants to see his two toughest opponents fight each other.
"Rahman impresses me again," the Londoner told SecondsOut. "He's back in shape and an in-shape Hasim Rahman can take it to Vitali Klitschko. I was impressed with what he did (against Kali Meehan) last month and he deserves a shot at the WBC title. I think Rahman liked being champion (April 2001 to November 2001) and now is very hungry to take that title back now I am retired."
Lewis clearly doesn't think too much of "too small" reigning IBF champion Chris Byrd (who, like Lewis, holds an injury win over Klitschko) or WBA bore-athon John Ruiz.
"Man, when I see that Ruiz I want to throw the television set out of the window. It is just - ugh!"
Quite.
So in a depleted heavyweight division Lewis believes Klitschko v Rahman is the best fight out there.
"I think it'd be a very tough fight between them," the three time champ said. "You have to have a jab to beat Klitschko and Rahman has a good jab. He'll also get a lot closer to Vitali than Danny Williams did and put more pressure on him. Klitschko doesn't like pressure."
Although the Ukrainian seemed to handle everything Lewis was throwing at him...
"I would have knocked Klitschko out in the next round," Lewis said. "Maybe Rahman can get there and do what I would have done had the doctor let Klitschko come out for the seventh round."
"Lennox always was a very smart man," laughed 'the Rock' when informed of his old rival's appraisal. "Because he fought us both, Lennox knows that you have to jab this guy (Klitschko) to win and Lennox also knows I've got the best jab in the division.
"I'll know this Klitschko guy right out. I can't wait for this fight. Klitschko is supposed to have an early March date from HBO? Great. My wife'e birthday is March 5 and I won't even have to get her a present - I'll just give her my brand new WBC title."
Rahman, who went four fights without a win following his upset win over Lewis in April 2001, let's not fail to remember, is now the WBC No.1 contender and Klitschko is obligated to fight him by June 2005 at the latest.
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