USA: BOXING - LENNOX LEWIS RECLAIMS WBC AND IBF HEAVYWEIGHT TITLES WHEN HE KOCKED OUT HASIM RAHMAN
Record ID:
648890
USA: BOXING - LENNOX LEWIS RECLAIMS WBC AND IBF HEAVYWEIGHT TITLES WHEN HE KOCKED OUT HASIM RAHMAN
- Title: USA: BOXING - LENNOX LEWIS RECLAIMS WBC AND IBF HEAVYWEIGHT TITLES WHEN HE KOCKED OUT HASIM RAHMAN
- Date: 20th November 2001
- Summary: LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 17, 2001) (REUTERS) 1. SCU STILL PHOTOGRAPHS OF FIGHT IN PROGRESS/ RAHMAN FLAT OUT ON CANVAS/ LENNOX LEWIS CELEBRATING/ LEWIS WITH HIS BELTS 2. WIDE ANGLE NEWS CONFERENCE/ FIGHT PROMOTER DON KING ANNOUNCES LEWIS 3. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) EMMANUEL STEWARD SAYING "He was jabbing and giving him angles where Rahman could never get set to through the right hand. And when I told him at the end of the third round to take it to him, the man cannot counter punch he can only punch going forward. One of the most beautiful executed combinations in the history of boxing. He through a left hook that was not intended to land, it was just to maneuver Rahman's body into a position where he could hit him with a right hand, and Bingo 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LENNOX LEWIS SAYING "I'm really happy about this win. A lot of people talking about my legacy and my word try to create some pressure for me. But I believe we create our own pressure. My main focus was to go in there and do what comes naturally. I've got an arsenal filled with punches that I can throw at any moment. I know you've heard it before. You know in the fight he was definitely watching out for my straight right. He even has the audacity to come to my changing room before the fight, I'm saying this guy is joking. I actually laughed. But I realized that he wasn't as focused as I was." 5. CUTAWAY EMMANUEL STEWARD SITTING AT PODIUM 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LENNOX LEWIS SAYING "Has been Rahman, I've changed his name: Has Been Rahman. The Buster Douglas of the the 21st century. Believe it. I told you that punch was a lucky punch in South Africa. I've got too much attributes for him. I remember on one of the tours he gave me a belt. I wanted to give it back to him today you know, but I just put it in his place you know." 7. LEWIS PLACES BELT IN RAHMAN'S PLACE AT NEWS CONFERENCE 8. CUTAWAY BELT AT RAHMAN'S PLACE 9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LENNOX LEWIS SAYING "Everybody thought that Rahman got under my skin, he did get under my skin a little bit. Just a little bit. But I kept that all reserved because I said he's going to have to pay for that. He's going to have defend all that in the ring." 10. EXTERIOR MANDALAY BAY HOTEL 11. SPECTATORS LEAVING AFTER THE FIGHT 12. SOUNDBITE (English) SPECTATOR REGGIE CRAWFORD SAYING "I thought that Lewis schooled him big-time. I thought that he way outclassed him. I think the first time was luck of the punch, one lucky punch. This time he just overwhelmed him." 13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) JERRY TERRACE SAYING "I love Rahman, but that was an incredible fight. I sure wasn't (expecting a knockout), I really was expecting it to be that other, but it was a very good fight." 14. LEWIS POSES FOR PHOTOGRAPHS WITH HIS TROPHIES Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 5th December 2001 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, UNITED STATES
- City:
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVABMF5TCNS2SDGS20KO3TMVMSF0
- Story Text: Lennox Lewis reclaimed the World Boxing Council (WBC)
and International Boxing Federation (IBF) heavyweight titles
in devastating fashion when he knocked out Hasim Rahman in the
fourth round.
Briton Lewis, who labelled Rahman a one-punch wonder
when the American took his crowns last April in South Africa,
was never threatened in the rematch in the early hours of
Sunday (November 18, 2001).
He dominated the first three rounds before dropping his
opponent with a thundering right one minute 29 seconds into
the fourth.
Rahman lay motionless on the canvas before trying to
stumble to his feet as referee Joe Cortez counted him out,
while Lewis pounded his chest in jubilation at joining
Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield as the only men to win the
world heavyweight title three times.
Lewis also became just the fourth boxer to regain the
heavyweight championship from the same fighter he lost it to.
The others were Floyd Patterson, Ali and Holyfield.
So punishing was Lewis's assault that Rahman was unable to
attend the post-fight news conference, making a mandatory
visit to hospital as required by the Nevada state athletic
commission doctor.
Lewis, known for the strength and quickness of his jabs,
brought Rahman to the mat with one of his 72 connected
punches. Rahman connected with 48 of his punches. Lewis will
probably next fight former champion Mike Tyson.
Lewis's trainer Emmanuel Steward later said: "Lennox has
worked so hard, he's been totally focused and didn't get
involved in a lot of the shenanigans with Rahman because he
felt it was just a matter of time anyway.
"That was one of the most beautifully executed
combinations in the history of boxing.
In the months leading up to Saturday's rematch, Rahman
baited and taunted Lewis at every opportunity, questioning his
sexuality and labelling the 36-year-old Briton as over the
hill.
At one point the two men engaged in a wrestling match on
the set of a television programme when Rahman used the word
"gay" in referring to the former champion.
But after that incident, Lewis refused to be provoked any
more. He distanced himself as much as possible from Rahman,
refusing to share the stage with his opponent or pose for the
traditional pre-fight photograph.
"Everyone thought Rahman got under my skin and he did just
a little, little bit," conceded Lewis. "But I kept that in
reserve, I kept telling myself he'll have to pay for that in
the ring. He's had his moment of fame now the belts are back
with me. I've changed his name to Has-Been Rahman. The Buster
Douglas of the 21st century. I told you that punch in South
Africa was a lucky one."
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