by James Slater – Some writers called it the biggest upset in the heavyweight division since James “Buster” Douglas shocked “Iron” Mike Tyson in ten rounds in 1990. The prestigious Ring magazine, no less, called it “The upset of the year.” The fight in question? Hasim “The Rock” Rahman’s incredible and quite unlikely 5th round KO of WBC and IBF – but most importantly, Linear – heavyweight champion of the world Lennox Lewis.
Looked at as nothing more than an easy, away from home payday – one that would add to his legacy as a WORLD champion – Lewis was unprofessional in his preparations going into the April, 2001 bout. Having taken part in a mock fight scene with Wladimir Klitschko for an appearance in the movie Ocean’s Eleven only days before the Rahman defence, Lewis arrived in the high altitude of South Africa no way near early enough to adjust before fight time..
Rahman, on the other hand, took no chances and fully acclimatised himself for battle. It told.
Ask any athlete about the debilitating effects high altitude can have on the body if you do not give yourself sufficient time to get used to it before demanding physical exercise, and they will tell you you can barely run a mile when the change in air quality hits you. It was in this condition that Lennox Lewis attempted to fight the dangerous Rahman. The one punch Rahman had was the right hand, and if given the chance to land with it he could take anyone out. Gasping for breath and virtually a sitting duck after only three rounds if not less, the out of shape and altitude-affected Lewis would soon give Rahman this chance.
Who can forget the docile, almost trancelike look on Lewis’ face as he backed up into a corner with Rahman pursuing him in round number five? Wearing a silly smile, his hands down due to exhaustion, the soon to be ex-champion was there for the taking. Inviting a KO punch that would take him out, Lewis was smashed by a fighter’s best punch as “The Rock” duly took advantage of his opening. Lewis hit the mat hard, badly hurt, and had no chance of getting up and fighting back. Hasim Rahman, a 29-year-old from Baltimore, Maryland, was the new heavyweight king. His reign would be short-lived, however.
After a brief scuffle in a T.V studio that broke out during a publicity bit for the rematch, Lewis and Rahman met again for real just less than seven months after the shocker in South Africa. This time, with the fight taking place in Las Vegas, and with Lennox both in much better shape (246 pounds as opposed to 253) as well as not having any altitude problems to deal with, the story was vastly different. After a brief half-wobble in the opening round, Lewis was in total control. The end came in the 4th, much to Lewis’ delight. He had said beforehand it was important for him to not only avenge his loss, but to do so in quicker time than he himself had been beaten in fight number one.
Scoring one of the most eye-catching and brutally beautiful KO’s of his entire career, Lewis utterly annihilated “The Rock.” Lewis landed a left hand that brushed away Rahman’s guard and then followed with a sledgehammer of a right hand. Rahman crashed to the canvas, his arms outstretched. Seemingly paralysed, Rahman instead attempted to rise, only to pitch head-first into a corner and crash for a second time The fight was over and Lennox was now the new, and three-time heavyweight boss.
The win Lewis achieved was one of the finest examples of how a great fighter can come back from a potentially career-ending KO loss, to regain his status and reputation. It is KO’s such as the one he scored over “Rock” that have helped earn Lennox his place in The Hall of Fame.