Analysis of the Upset: Rahman dethrones Lennox Lewis for world title
Reported by: boxinginsider.com
Brakpan, South Africa (dpa) - Boxing history repeated itself in Africa at sunrise on Sunday when world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis lost his title to American challenger Hasim Rahman.
In a fight billed the "Thunder in Africa", the 28-year-old Rahman delivered a stinging blow to Lewis, sending him to the ground at the Carnival City arena in the former mining town of Brakpan.
Over 6,000 spectators rose in disbelief when it became evident that the underdog had defeated the match favourite two minutes and 32 seconds into the fifth round.
The mostly white crowd had forked out between 750 rand (94 dollars) and 5,000 rand to see the sunrise fight, only the second of its kind on the continent.
The guest list turned out to be disappointing for many, since few of the promised celebrities travelled to South Africa for the match.
"If this had been a Mike Tyson or Evander Holyfield fight, more celebrities would have been here," Arthur Curry, the boxing scout for the United States-based Home Box Office television network to which Lewis is signed, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur, dpa.
Rahman is expected to show off his belt at a meeting with Nelson Mandela later Sunday. Mandela asked Lewis to fight in South Africa but failed to make it to the early morning fight.
Twenty-seven years ago, boxing great George Foreman, who was among those from the fraternity who attended Sunday's fight, suffered a similar defeat at the hands of Muhammed Ali.
Ali eliminated the fight favourite Foreman in the eighth round of the "Rumble in the Jungle" held in the former Zaire.
Following his victory on Sunday, Rahman appeared keen to return to South Africa for the rematch required under Lewis' contract.
Boxing fans too want their new champion to return.
But Dumile Khanyiso, a junior waiter at the Carnival City Casino, said even with his record tally of tips on Sunday, he still could not afford a ticket of 750 rand.
"Maybe he comes back cheaper," he quipped
Britain's Lennox Lewis was dethroned as heavyweight champion of the world on Sunday by American challenger Hasim Rahman, who scored a stunning fifth round knockout victory.
Rahman, who came into the fight as 20-1 outsider, never looked troubled by a sluggish Lewis and gained confidence as the fight progressed.
He connected well with a right in the fifth round. Lewis appeared to underestimate the power of the punches that he was getting and instead of guarding himself against a KO punch, kept his hands down.
The American, who gave away 9cm in height against the 36-year-old Lewis, connected with a right to the champion's jaw in the fifth and sent Lewis reeling to the canvas.
Lewis tried to beat the count, but failed to do so and the fight was over. Lewis, who has a rematch clause in this contract, said afterwards that Rahman had connected with a a good punch.
"I was sure that I could beat the count, but the referee saw it differently and stopped the fight. I will put him to the floor in our next fight. I did it with Oliver McCall. He put me down once but I came back and beat him," Lewis said.
The new WBC, IBO and IBF champion, said that he had been
confident of winning the fight.
"I knew that I could beat Lewis. I took the fight to him and was in control. I was prepared for the fight and it showed. I wanted the title and I got it," Rahman said.
Lewis' knockout, is one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight boxing, comparable to Buster Douglas' knockout victory over Mike Tyson and Lewis' own defeat against McCall.
ROUND BY ROUND:
Round 1 - A slow start to the fight, both fighters squaring up to each other. For Rahman the round serves as a confidence builder. Although Lewis has more reach and is much taller than his opponent, Rahman is not overwhelmed. He takes the fight to Rahman and scores with several jabs to the body and a sharp right.
Round 2 - The contest has not yet caught fire, as neither boxer is willing to take a chance. Rahman tries to stay out of reach of Lewis' right, but fails to duck under a uppercut, which connects. Lewis has more of the round. At the end of the round the two fighters stare each other down.
Round 3 - Rahman's left eye has started swelling, he continues trying to take the fight to Lewis. The challenger is looking for an overhead punch by jabbing at Lewis' body. The champion scores with a short right and seems to be pressing for a KO, without looking very dangerous though.
Round 4 - Lewis continues looking sluggish, although he manages to wing in a hard right, which just misses Rahman. The American does not let Lewis dictate matters and manages to and a good right, which has Lewis reeling. He seems tired and not his usual self.
Round 5 - The champion manages to pin Rahman into a corner, but he can free himself and moves into the center of the ring. He manages to connect a jab to Lewis. He keeps his hands down. Rahman connects with a huge right to Lewis' jaw, which sends the champion crashing to the floor. The referee takes a count and although Lewis attempts to beat count, he fails to do so and Rahman is the new heavyweight champion of the world. |
