On This Date in Sports April 22, 2001: Rahman Rocks Lennox
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
Hasim Rahman, a relative unknown from Baltimore, stuns the world, knocking out Lennox Lewis to win the heavyweight championship in South Africa. Lewis came into the fight 35-1-1, not having lost in seven years. Rahman was 34-2 and a 20-1 underdog, facing the champion. Hasim Rahman would not hold the title long, as Lennox Lewis won the rematch seven months later, knocking out Rahman in the fourth round.
Lennox Lewis was the king of the boxing world as the new century began. Lennox Lewis was born on September 2, 1965, in West Ham, England. The son of Jamaican parents, Lewis often fought his classmates growing up, leading him to the sport of boxing. In 1978, Lennox Lewis moved to Canada with his family and became one of the top junior amateur fighters in the world. Representing Canada at the Seoul Olympics in 1988, Lewis won the Gold Medal in the Super-Heavyweight division beating Riddick Bowe. At the closing ceremonies, Lennox Lewis carried the flag for Canada.
Turning professional in 1989, Lennox Lewis returned to England and quickly rose up the ranks, claiming the European Heavyweight Title in 1990. By 1992, he had become a world contender but had trouble getting a chance at the title as Riddick Bowe refused to give him a fight after beating Evander Holyfield. Bowe tossed the WBC title in the bin, as Lewis won the vacated title over Tony Tucker. On September 24, 1994, Lewis was stunned by Oliver McCall losing the title with a second-round TKO. Lennox Lewis regained the WBC title in 1997, with a seventh-round knockout of McCall. After a controversial draw with Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis unified the heavyweight title with a unanimous decision over Holyfield in Las Vegas. He easily won his next three fights and went into the Hasim Rahman fight at 35-1-1.
Hasim Rahman was born on November 7, 1972, in Baltimore. Nicknamed the Rock, Rahman began his professional career in 1994. He had a rough background, serving as an enforcer to a drug dealer in Baltimore. He survived several shootings and a car accident before getting in the ring as a professional for the first time. Rahman won his first 29 fights before losing to David Tua in 1998. After a loss to Oleg Maskaev, Rahman won his next three fights and was 34-2, entering his shot at the title.
Lennox Lewis was originally to fight Mike Tyson, but plans changed when Tyson was suspended for three months for testing positive for marijuana. Still preparing for a match with Tyson, Lewis took the fight against Hasim Rahman as a warm-up. The fight billed "Thunder in Africa" was set at the Carnival City Casino in Brakpan, South Africa. Looking to film a cameo in Ocean's Eleven, Lennox Lewis trained in Las Vegas and did not arrive in the high altitude city of Brakpan until ten days before the fight. Rahman had been there for a month and was more accustomed to the climate. The fight was close through four rounds, with Lewis having a slight edge. Lennox Lewis started the fifth round strong and stalked Rahman around the ring. However, late in the round, the fight turned as Lewis was cornered. Against the ropes, Hasim Rahman landed a combo that dropped the champion to the canvas. Lewis was unable to get up as a new champion was crowned.
Lennox Lewis used his option for an automatic rematch and beat Hasim Rahman in Las Vegas on November 17, 2001. Rahman would struggle over the next two years, going winless in four matches. Lennox Lewis would get his match with Mike Tyson, with an eighth-round knockout. It would be his penultimate fight as he retired as heavyweight champion. Rahman would regain the title in 2005, holding it for a year.