On April 22, 2001, unified WBC and IBF heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis was handed a shocking defeat by knockout. Lewis, a considerable favorite at 20-1, was expected to comfortably beat Hasim Rahman, who was seen by many as a standard opponent.
Perhaps Lewis himself underestimated the challenge. His lead-up to the fight in South Africa raised eyebrows; he arrived late, seemingly jetlagged from filming “Ocean`s Eleven” in Las Vegas, leaving insufficient time to adjust to the altitude. While experts suggested five to six weeks for acclimatization, Lewis was there for only two, claiming past experience made him immune. There were also reports of him being seriously hurt during a sparring session with Lamon Brewster.
Such perceived complacency proved disastrous. In the fifth round, Rahman connected with a perfectly delivered right hand to the champion`s chin, resulting in a dramatic and unexpected knockout. The event was widely described as one of the most stunning conclusions in boxing and sports history.
Reflecting on the fight, Lewis stated, “I felt I won each round comfortably but he never gave up. He was throwing a right as I did and he landed first. I went down and didn’t beat the count.”
Lennox Lewis did eventually get his revenge. In a rematch held later the same year in Las Vegas, Lewis knocked Rahman out in the fourth round.
Oliver Croft