Rahman says he is at his best!
August 12, 2005
By David L. Hudson, Jr.
Photo:John Booz
No one has ever doubted the talents of former world heavyweight champion Hasim "the Rock" Rahman. The skeptics of the contender have come on the consistency front.
Rahman has looked impressive at times in his career, such as his second fight with David Tua (most fight fans agreed with Judge Bill Clancy's scorecard in favor of the "Rock" rather than the draw that resulted) and his demolition earlier this year of Kali Meehan.
But, in other fights he has sorely disappointed, such as his poor performance in dropping a decision to John Ruiz in December 2003 and his June 2002 loss to past-his-prime Evander Holyfield. And who can forget the sight of Oleg Maskaev kayoing Rahman through the ropes in November 1999? Other times he has tipped the scales too much and lost steam later in bouts.
In Chicago tonight, Rahman says fight fans will see "a better version than you've ever seen before" when he faces fellow contender Monte Barrett. "I plan to go out and give the best performance of my career," he said. "I've never been this focused or this consistent in my training. I am by far a better fighter now than when I fought Lennox Lewis. I'm a much smarter fighter."
Rahman, never lacking in confidence, said that his jab will dictate the fight: "No boxer in the heavyweight division has a better or stronger jab than me."
Rahman, who took the scales at 236 lbs., dismissed notions that he would return to his past ways of inconsistency. "I'm sorry I was ever part of that nightmare," he said, referring to his December 2003 12-round unanimous decision loss to Ruiz. "On this fight, I'm not even going to clinch."
Not since the retirement of Lennox Lewis has a fighter in the heavyweight division exerted his control over the division. Rahman, who has won his last five fights since the Ruiz debacle, says he is the guy for the job. "I know what people want to see," he says. "They want to see a heavyweight who can hit and hurt. That's me. I have all the tools."
He gives credit to his trainer Thel Torrance, saying he has learned more from him than he thought possible. It also could be a matter of maturity, realizing that, at 32 years of age, he can't last forever.
As for a prediction, Rahman said: "I will knock him out viciously. I don't foresee him getting into the later rounds."
