Hasim Rahman

Well Bruno, Weaver and Morrison was retired by then, Mercer shot. He probably wins some loses some prime to prime. You forgot to mention his draw with Tua that he deserved to win.

Tyson beats him in 2003 when they may have met, he would have got past Rahman's jab and wrecked him inside

Rahman is similar to Bruno in many ways, very strong and powerful with an excellent jab but not very good inside and limited.

 

It was no lucky punch that Rahman landed on Lennox. It was a terribly unprepared and lackadaisical Lennox that he beat though. This was definitively proven in the rematch.
Rahman...that version that beat Lewis, would clear out the heavyweight division today of anyone not named Klitschko. He was strong, very limited, but especially dangerous with that right hand of his. The brevity of his title reign would leave you to discount him as a modern day Ingo or something. Maybe if he made a defense or two against other opposition besides Lewis his rating as an exchamp would be a bit higher.

 

Hasim Rahman was really good HW, with his obvious limitations and strong sides too.

Pre-Lewis Rahman had really good win over Corrie Sanders TKO in 7th, and few more decent wins over Obed Sullivan, Ross Puritty, 42 y.o. Berbick and 41 y.o. Fergusson (all by points).

He also was winning fight vs Tua till Tua caught him after the bell.

His KO loss against Maskaev was really bad though. I remember that after his KO of Rahman Maskaev was knocked out cold two times in a row - by Johnson and Lance Whitaker. People were wondering how Rahman who was KO'd cold by such fighter is going to fight Lennox Lewis. He didn't seem to have even a slim chance.

After great KO win over Lennox, Hasim scored wins over Kali Meehan and Barrett among others, and should've got a decision in rematch vs Tua. Rahman's career as true contender ended when Maskaev KO'd him once again in great fight.

His last two fights against Povetkin and 3-2 novice are painful to watch.

As a fighter, Rahman had good power and was very strong. He also had good defensive skills (watch his fights vs Tua and Sanders - when he was hurt vs Corrie, he showed nice defense). Very good and strong jab.

His weak sides were his speed - he was always slow, even in his 20's. His left hook wasn't very good, making him more like one-handed fighter, and his ring IQ wasn't the highest too.

He lost to Ruiz and was KO'd by Maskaev twice, two slow fighters (Maskaev was painfully slow).

I think Rahman's resume is pretty good overall and I'd like to see Rahman from early 2000s vs today's top-fighters like Bermane Stiverne, Tyson Fury, and Pulev.

 

Ok, you just made me feel really really old.

 

Lewis was way off his game...and paid for it...but he set the record straight in the rematch. The upset would have never happened if he was properly trained and on form that night in S.A.

 

Solid contender. Not spectacular in any way, but had good size, strength and decent skills.
He'd never be a major player in most eras, but he'd be in the mix in pretty much all of them.

I'd have liked to have seen him against someone like Ray Mercer or Ron Lyle.

 

He caught Lewis with a cracking punch and although behind at the time was right in the fight. Unfair to say it was a lucky shot in my opinion,Lewis might not have been at his best but he certainly wasn`t boxing badly that night.

Up to that point I would say Rahman was as good as any of the other 90`s contenders,he would and did hold his own against any of them. The surprise win over Lewis seemed to change his attitude,he just wasn`t the same fighter. He kept going too long but his name got him a few big pay days he would not have had so fair play to him. I always liked the guy,in beating Lennox he won me a decent little bet,about £100 when I cashed the slip.

 

I recall Rahman saiedthat before the Louis fight he was training for one punch KO power. It paid off.

Also I note that Rahman had the 2nd longest "ape factor"amongst any fighter I haveever seen, just 1" less that Liston's +10" (wingspan relative to height).

I feel that this helped him deck Louis, they both had very liong arms at 7' reach like Sonny, but I'll bet Lewis dd not gague the distance well when Rahman was only 6' 2", so got caught near the end of his power range.

 

Lennox thought he was playing with him. You are right what you say,I think Lewis thought Rahman was out of range and got nailed by a deceptively long reach. Looked like a points/late stoppage formality for Lennox then he showed Hasim an opening that he took perfectly. Not a chin thing or in any way lucky,just a well timed punch.

 

On a given day a match for most . He had all the tools.
Lacked discipline and therefore consistency ...like many before him and many since.Dedication is the key as with all things in life.

 

Whatever ups and downs he had in his career, there is one thing you can’t take away from him.

He knocked out an all time great heavyweight champion, and became the lineal successor to John L.

How many contenders of comparable ability, can only dream of that?