[url] This content is protected [/url] Former heavyweight champ Hasim Rahman is well-known in the United Kingdom because of his historic 2001 knockout of England's Lennox Lewis to win the championship. Now, Rahman (45-6-2, 36 KOs) could be headed there to fight another British star, cruiserweight champion David Haye (20-1, 19 KOs), who is planning a move up to heavyweight. Haye stopped Jean-Marc Mormeck in the seventh round last month to win the title, but making weight has been difficult for him, so he is eyeing heavyweight and hopes to make a splash against a big-name opponent. The Haye camp initiated conversations about two weeks ago, Rahman manager Steve Nelson told ESPN.com. Promotional outfit Top Rank and Haye promoter Frank Maloney have been negotiating the fight for late March. Nelson is enthusiastic about the fight for Rahman, who, despite looking shaky at times, has won four in a row since losing a title to Oleg Maskaev in August 2006. "I saw Haye's fight with Mormeck. He's a tremendous puncher at cruiserweight," Nelson said. "His people have come to us about putting this together. They think we're done. I don't think we're done. I think Haye's taking on too much in one step to fight a big, strong heavyweight like Rock. It will be considered a strong win for Rock. We're very confident. I think Haye might be biting off more than he can chew. It's a big jump for him before he's built himself into a heavyweight. "It will be a pretty big fight in England. We feel confident that Rock can beat the smaller guy." Haye, 27, has won 10 in a row since his only loss, a fifth-round knockout to cruiserweight Carl Thompson in 2004. Nelson said Rahman, 35, would take a tune-up bout before the proposed match with Haye, possibly Feb. 7 on Versus.
Wow Haye is bloody great no matter what people say about Rahman the guy knocked out Lennox Lewis! He is a huge puncher and he has been in there with some top names. If Haye wins this comfortably, expect the yanks to sit up and take notice. If Hayes left hand is as low as it was agaisnt Mormeck, hes gonna get KTFO! He is ranked 3rd by the WBC, 12th by the WBA, 5th by the IBF and 8th by the WBO so Haye would go top 10 of all if he wins
Haye has the ability to win, but if he lets himself get caught by big shots like he did against Mormeck, he won't be standing for long. I fancy Haye, to win by a late stoppage or UD.
he won't change a habit of a lifetime. i think hes just relying on his reactions to be faster at hw and have better punch evasion. still, rahman is a brave choice and is still a respectable opponent in a weakish hw division. haye has balls....lets wait for the "haye's ducking me to fight Hasim Rahman" jibes from Macca.
A very risky fight for Haye. Rahman's defence looked shoddy in his last fight but he still possesses a decent jab and a big right hand.
He was reportedly very unhappy with his last fight against Lawrence and maybe needs a confidence boosting victory.
Which is why Haye should be given respect for taking competitive fights, rather than boxing bums. Ok, Rahman may have seen better days & be passed his best, but as you say, it's still a risky fight for David. He could have quite easily fought a lesser calibre fighter than Rahman. If it does turn out to be Haye-Rahman, the that's a very good start for Haye for his permanent move to HW. Got to give Haye his due in that he wants to face stern competition.
Id love to see what Enzo Maccs has to say when Haye knocks out a former undisputed H/W champion. 1) Mormeck 2) Thompson 3) Fragomeni 4) Rahman all better than Braithwaite.
and if he fights rahhmaan next....we know there is no way haye was running from effing enzo mac....it was clearly the other way round
He should of seen it coming. Just because he punches like a welterweight, it does not follow that Lawrence is an easy opponent. Calvin Brock, for instance, looked mediocre against Lawrence (what a foreshadowing!) until he connected with that left-hook.