When it comes to Hasim Rahman, I simply haven't been impressed. While some look to him as one of the most feared punchers in recent Heavyweight memory, I see a basic fighter who has yet to win me over. Rahman has tasted many highs and lows in this game and I guess on my end I have just never bought into the hype.

          Rahman defends his piece of the championship pie this Saturday against James ‘Lights Out’ Toney in Atlantic City and more than just his WBC belt will be on the line. This is another do or die fight for Hasim and I feel this very well could be the end of his ride as a true Heavyweight threat. I don’t have anything against Hasim, and he has scored some great wins, but I think he is facing a whole new breed of fighter this weekend and that James Toney will pick him apart.

          I remember in late 2003 my brother Roger came to me with big news. He was excited because he had just started training Rahman, and felt that he had a fighter who he could guide to the title. My brother was getting Hasim ready to take on John Ruiz and I had the chance to catch Hasim training out in Las Vegas at the Top Rank gym as he prepared for the fight.

          Rahman came to camp fairly heavy and one of my brother’s goals was to key in on his conditioning as opposed to fine tuning his technical skills. It was funny because he seemed to train him much like he trains my nephew Floyd, focusing more on getting Rahman in tip-top shape as opposed to working out a strategy.

          Rahman hit the pads very well with my brother but it is when he started sparring that I saw holes in his game up close. Rahman sparred Willie Chapman for a while and I was shocked to see Chapman hold his own. I kept waiting for Rahman to establish himself as the superior fighter but Chapman hung right there with him. I also remember Rahman sparring with Cuban Heavyweight Yanqui Diaz and believe it or not, Diaz was getting the best of the sessions. The only guy who Rahman had really good moments against was Samuel Peter, and even then it was back and forth.

          I wanted to see something great in Hasim but my eyes couldn’t lie to me. I later told Roger that I wasn’t too impressed with Hasim but Roger wouldn’t hear me out. He insisted to me that Rahman had the chance to be special, perhaps not wanting to admit that it was a doomed venture on his end. Sure enough, come December 13th, 2003 Hasim Rahman would lose on points to John Ruiz in a completely lackluster outing.

          Regardless of not holding Rahman in the highest of light, I admit he has had a nice career and carved out some memorable moments. He has fought with his back to the wall more often that not and his upset one-punch knockout over Lennox Lewis will serve as a career high for him. Rahman’s desire on that night in South Africa was what champions are made of but he was dealt some harsh medicine of his own just seven months later as Lewis would crush him with a single right hand. Lewis showed that the right man had won and Rahman once again had to go back to the drawing board. Rahman’s career has always been up and down, but at least he is still in the Heavyweight picture today.

          Anyone in the Heavyweight division is going to be a threat, simply because of the sorry state that the division has been in. Hasim Rahman is no different, and his right hand could possibly be the jackpot that he needs against a seasoned craftsmen like Toney. It would be nice for some to think that Rahman could come out victorious, but in reality I think he has almost zero chance as far as skill is concerned. James is just that much better in just about every way. Skill for skill, this is Toney’s fight for the taking.

          Whatever happens this Saturday, I feel that I haven’t seen what others see when it comes to Hasim Rahman. Personally I never got to really know him because he always came off as having a brash and cocky demeanor, but I would still like to see him do well because he’s an American heavyweight. He will have the chance to win me over in the ring this Saturday, but for the moment I am still waiting to be sold on Hasim Rahman.

Questions can be emailed to Jeff Mayweather

3-15-2006