Hasim Rahman shocked the world when he knocked out Lennox Lewis over two decades ago.
‘The Rock’ scored a sensational fifth round knockout victory over Lewis in South Africa 24 years ago to become the unified WBC and IBF world heavyweight champion, in what was one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.
Lewis would get his revenge in their rematch just seven months later, stopping ‘The Rock’ in the fourth round. Rahman would go on to regain the WBC heavyweight title in 2005, although the American would make just one defence of his crown in a majority decision draw against James Toney in 2006.
After coming up against an abundance of hard-hitting heavyweights during his career, including the likes of David Tua, Alexander Povetkin and Wladimir Klitschko, Rahman has revealed the one fighter who hit him harder than the rest.
Speaking to Pro Boxing Fans, ‘The Rock’ revealed it was indeed Lennox Lewis as his hardest hitting opponent, after finding himself on the end of a brutal left-right combo in their rematch.
“I would have to say Lennox Lewis, definitely.”
Lewis is often regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, and in the eyes of many the greatest British fighter ever. ‘The Lion’ had a glittering professional career, which began after he won an Olympic gold medal in the 1988 games in Seoul, Korea.
Lewis won the world heavyweight championship on three occasions during his tenure, culminating in him capturing the undisputed heavyweight championship when he defeated Evander Holyfield in their 1999 showdown.
The British-Canadian great did suffer two defeats throughout his tenure, to Rahman and Oliver McCall respectively, although he would avenge both of these losses, effectively beating every fighter he ever faced.
