Could Hasim Rahman have ripped the title from Frazier?

Overall of course rahman was not the fighter that foreman was but in the strength department they were pretty close. Rahman was a powerlifter. Rahman in the interview pre fight he moved the 245 pounds of lewis like a rag doll

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I don't disagree with most of what you wrote, but since when did Rahman ever show anything but tons of heart? I don't recall him ever quitting or folding in a fight. Lennox knocked him out cold effectively, Maskaev did the same. He absorbed a ton of damage against Sanders before rallying back to win. I don't think he had much quit in him.

 

I guess as long as it's against Joe Frazier from his 11th pro fight. When they fought in their primes Bonevena didn't put Joe down or hurt him badly. Sonny Banks knocked down Ali.

 

Not to over simplify this potential fight, but Rahman was badly KOed twice by Oleg Maskaev. Frazier would tore Rahman apart, leaving him a lump on the canvas.

 

There’s always a puncher’s chance but, if we’re talking about who the form guide would lead us to back, it’s no contest. Joe Frazier - easy money.

Rahman was a great competitor and achieved what he did through sheer guts, determination and faith. But it also took a touch of good fortune for his name to become known the way it did.

Fair play to Rahman’s efforts. He used the few attributes he had to take his minute window of opportunity. The likelihood of that window being open to him, even for a split-second against Frazier, seems virtually non-existent.

 

True. But I think Rahman hit hard enough to deck a prime Frazier. I mean, in an actual fight, he may or may not, but I think it's probable. It's just keeping Frazier down that's the issue.

Lewis was a much bigger man than Frazier, but Lewis chin is an enigma to me. He wars with Vitali yet is stopped with a single shot from Rahman. So I have to say Frazier has the greater chin.

 

AGREED! I saw someone who claimed Frazier was their favorite fighter post an ancient Shannon Briggs would have to much power for Frazier.

 

This is a good post. I always appreciated Rahman for those reasons, he was a good fighter who was able to capitalize on a tremendous opportunity and made the best of it.

He'd also get run down by a peak Frazier.

 

JF is a really bad matchup for him..... Maybe on a really good night but probably not.

 

He quit in the second Toney fight.

 

Which Frazier? The Frazier vs Stander and Daniels, perhaps.

 

Kind of cracks me up how much love and air time the likes of David Tua get on here, but someone who completely out boxed him , even when 30 pounds over his best weight in the case of their second fight "draw", gets aired out to draw as a guy who "just got lucky" against Lennox Lewis.

I also haven't seen it mentioned that Rahman took out Kali Meehan in four rounds in the bout after Meehan was shafted out of the WBO title after a one sided drubbing robbery vs once extremely highly regarded Lamon Brewster.

 

Maskaev and Lewis both took Rahman out with picture perfect right hands. That's kind of irrelevant if you're talking about Frazier. Those fights where Ruiz and Holyfield grinded him down and the decent performances against Tua tell you more.

 

Rahman is a really strong guy in a gym but he doesnt have the functional ring strength of someone like Foreman or even Ali or Holyfield. Mike Tyson is another guy who while I have no doubt was very strong in the gym wasnt actually that physically strong in the ring.

Hasim actually reminds me a lot of Sonny Liston as far as his actual physique goes. A bull of a man. Despite that Rahman's functional ring strength was nothing exceptional.

Hasim also tends to throw straight or overhand type punches which Frazier was always fairly adept at avoiding and Rahman's stamina was never AAA grade. Apart from the straight right-overhand right I don't think Rahman was that big a puncher either.

I reckon the Toney, Holyfield , Ruiz and Makaev fights show that Rahman didnt like fighting busy, in your face guys much.

If you put Frazier on the modern " special sauce " and have him weigh around 220 when he faces Rahman I know who my money is on.

Cheers All.