Former undisputed and two-time Heavyweight Champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman (50-7-2, 41 KOs) is putting the final touches on an “intense” training camp that has him in the best shape he’s been in a decade.
Rahman will challenge WBA World Heavyweight Champion Alexander Povetkin (24-0, 16 KOs) on Saturday, September 29 at the Sporthalle in Hamburg, Germany, and his promoter says the conditions are ripe for another upset KO to win the title.
“They’ve been basically writing Hasim off since the start of the promotion,” said Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions, Rahman’s promoter. “Hasim isn’t even on the posters for this event. They’ve been making jokes and having fun. But while they were doing that, Hasim has been getting himself into fantastic shape.”
According to Cohen, it’s all reminiscent of the buildup to Rahman’s upset KO over Lennox Lewis 11 years ago.
“Hasim is going to shock the world again. This is the exact situation you don’t put Rahman in. Disrespected. Overlooked. An over-confident champion thinking he can just show up and win. But in the gym with Hasim, and seeing how focused he is, you know something’s about to happen.
The 39-year-old Rahman was originally scheduled to face Povetkin on July 14, but an injury forced the postponement.
“Hasim is completely healthy and ready to pull off the upset. I think at this stage of his career, it takes a big fight like this and an opponent and his people behaving this way to put him at peak motivation… and that’s what he is. Hasim Rahman is 100% ready to shock the world.”
