Rahman shocks Lewis: New champion wins by KO
Associated Press
April 22, 2001
BRAKPAN, South Africa - Hasim Rahman flattened Lennox Lewis with a stunning right hand near the end of the fifth round to capture the WBC and IBF heavyweight titles early today (Saturday night Arizona time) in one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.
The 28-year-old challenger from Baltimore chased the champion across the ring and, with Lewis smiling at him, unleashed a right cross that caught Lewis flush on the jaw and sent him sprawling to the canvas.
Rahman was dancing around the ring before Belgian referee Daniel van der Wiele went halfway through the count.
Lewis was unable to get up, and at 2:32 of the fifth round, the world of boxing had a new, totally unexpected, heavyweight champion.
"I told you all I was confident," Rahman said. "Not one time since the fight was made was I nervous. He came out and tried to dictate the pace, but I wouldn't let him."
Lewis, 35, was taking part in his 15th world title fight and had been unbeaten for more than 61/2 years since being knocked out in two rounds by Oliver McCall in London on Sept. 24, 1994 - when a right hand also floored Lewis.
He fought Evander Holyfield twice, scoring a draw and a decision victory, and had been hoping for a $100 million showdown with Mike Tyson. That fight had been put on hold because of a clash of TV contracts - Lewis is with HBO and Tyson with Showtime - and now may never happen after Lewis' stunning upset loss.
"No Lewis-Tyson! No Lewis-Tyson!" Rahman, who suddenly is in line for a big payday of his own, yelled in the ring after the fight.
The signs that an upset was in the cards came early when Rahman (35-2) clipped Lewis on the chin in the second round.
Lewis seemed intent on ignoring his left jab, and instead concentrated on throwing big right hands.
In the third round, Lewis landed a left followed by a left-right combination, but Rahman responded with a big right hand of his own.
Lewis (38-2-1) had Rahman in trouble early in the fourth but was rocked by a left hook, and hundreds among the 5,500 in the crowd at Carnival City Casino began chanting "Hasim! Hasim!"
Lewis' stamina was questioned because he arrived in Johannesburg only two weeks before the fight, with little time to get used to the 5,200-foot altitude. That showed in the fifth round as he clearly began breathing heavily. |
