According to Rick Reeno of Boxingscene. Rahman is fourth in the IBF rankings, making him the highest available contender. It looks like maybe The Rock will be rewarded for his actions in the Toney rematch. Not a great heavyweight match-up, but as late replacements go he's a recognizable name...and it would clean up a litle family business the Klitschko's have with Hasbeen.
somebody put him out of the sport. I think Wlad is the man to do that. Rahman just got lucky vs Lewis. I loved the image of him plastered over the floor in the rematch. :crafty:
Oh boy. It will take Wlad five rounds till he throws the first right hand, which will put Rahman on the deck and James Toney´s mouth into a frenzy, how he stopped Rahman faster than the alleged heavyweight champ. :doh:
rahman doesn't deserve this payday. my god, imagine if he somehow won? that's another guranteed 2 million plus payday for that bum!
It's not like Rahman is a free-swinger who comes out looking to land bombs. He's a pretty basic jab and right hand puncher, and is rather slow and methodical when it comes to the application of those two punches.
Look at how he dropped Sanders. The punch came from nowhere. Sanders was beating the crap out of him. Rahman stretches his arm and Sanders drops like a sack of shit. He dropped Tua in the same way. Vitaly couldn't drop Sanders despite throwing many bombs. We all saw how the "washed up" Sanders destroyed Wlad. Don't discount Rahman.
Klitschko doesn't give up space all that easily (except when he's holding or tired). With Rahman, as straight forward as he is, I don't see him getting lucky. This might be a jabbing contest until Kltischko decides to step up and do something more.
dsimon writes: As much as I hate to say it I try never to say it but... how about "Rahman is slow and useless when it comes to appying any sort of speed and intensity ona punch... he is in a word a bum"! ::::
Well, he was probably one of the best jabbers in the division when he was at his best. If he was closer to his prime, I think he might've been able to disrupt some of Klitscho's timing with his left hand, and make it more of a tactical match-up. But at his age and as faded and slow and basic as he is, Klitschko should be able to put him away as soon as he decides to...which should be under 4-5 rounds.
He still can get in good shape for a formidable opponent like Wlad. The guy is still relatively young.
Rahman is completely done, he looked terrible last time I saw him vs Zulu Lawrence. Btw, even if Wlad blows him out in 1 seconds, it doesnt change the fact that Vitaly shamefully ducked him
dsimon writes: Its not about age. Especially for heavyweights they can lose a few milliseconds here and there and still kick butt. Its about interest and commitment. Rahman had problems with his level of both at his best... and as Mitchell said, trying to pick up where he left off and trim, well good luck. He just has not looked good at all. He had some decent skills in the day, I would not call him one of the best jabbers like my dear esteemed collegue Mitchell opcorn:, but he could put together a few punches when he wanted too. Finally as I have argued consistantly despite my dearesteemed collegeus and his Australian compadre... what we need to see against Klitschko is a pure puncher! Get Mccall off of Crack Alley and Alcehole street, and even not at his best he could be a threat (I always liked Mccall), or my favorite David Haye... But someone who can punch is what we need to see to challenge Klitschko's superemacy.
I thought HBO didn't let Wlad fight the rest of last year because of weak oponents. I hope they don't let this fight happen. Wlad should just sit out the rest of the year if this is the best they can do. Even as a stay busy fight it sucks. Wlad will get a bigger sweat walking to the ring before the fight.
If Rahman was in the shape he was in for Kali Meehan and James Toney fight #1 (225-232lbs), I'd give him a decent chance at beating Wladimir through a knockout. Also, Rahman was heavy for the Corrie Sanders fight back in 2000 but he let his fists fly and gladly traded with Sanders for the better part of the fight even though Sanders had faster hands. Rahman got nailed but kept coming. If he could fight like that, he'd give Wlad a good go IMO. I'd imagine if the fight is to be made, Rahman would treat the fight as a 'last chance' and would get into the best shape of his life and give it all he's got. He's still got a long left powerful jab and a dangerous right hand. Surprisingly, he's actually got the reach advantage over Wlad.
