Hasim Rahman: from boxing to MMA

Thursday, February 26, 2009
Jason Probst
<script language="JavaScript" type="text/JavaScript"> var title = ''; var author = ''; var image = ''; var body = ''; var date = ''; if(opener.document.getElementById("article_title") != null) { var title = opener.document.getElementById("article_title").innerHTML; } if(opener.document.getElementById("article_image") != null) { var image = opener.document.getElementById("article_image").innerHTML; } if(opener.document.getElementById("article_body") != null) { var body = opener.document.getElementById("article_body").innerHTML; } if(opener.document.getElementById("article_author") != null) { var author = opener.document.getElementById("article_author").innerHTML; } if(opener.document.getElementById("article_date") != null) { var date = opener.document.getElementById("article_date").innerHTML; } document.title = title; document.getElementById("article_title").innerHTML = title; document.getElementById("article_date").innerHTML = date; document.getElementById("article_author").innerHTML = author; if(image != "") { document.write(image); } document.write(body); </script> Former boxing heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman is coming to MMA sometime this year, according to the fighter’s agent.

Rahman, who knocked out Lennox Lewis in 2001 to win the linear heavyweight title, has his heart set on a mixed marital arts career, said Sondro Gelke, who represents him. Now living in Las Vegas, Rahman, 45-7 (36 KO), is coming off a one-sided, Dec. 13 seventh-round stoppage at the hands of IBF/WBO champ Wladimir Klitschko.

In news sure to perk up the ears of both boxing and MMA fans alike, “The Rock,†whose boxing career was defined by some of the strangest twists of fate this side of Riddick Bowe, wants to step into the new sport. And fast.

Gelke said that the 36-year-old Rahman is “quite serious about fighting in MMA†and they are currently in negotiations with several promotions, hoping to line up a debut fight sometime in the next 2-3 months. The ex-champ -- whose boxing career went south after losing a rematch to Lennox Lewis -- built a reputation on a big right hand in the sweet science, though he was also inconsistent and at times seemed to lack the impetus to get in shape.

“He thought it would be an interesting thing. He’s seen Kimbo Slice fight on TV, and he’s like, ‘I’d like to fight some of these guys,’†said Gelke.

Rahman was not initially available for comment.

Rahman, who has zero grappling background, last scored a takedown while scuffling with Lewis on the ESPN set while promoting their November 2001 rematch. Gelke said that his client plans to keep his boxing career going as well, but has yet to locate an MMA-based gym. But they’re looking around, he added.

“He hasn’t wrestled. He was actually quite a streetfighter (in Baltimore) so people said he should box,†Gelke said of Rahman, who took up boxing at the relatively late age of 20. “He’s like Quinton (Jackson) and Kimbo in that sense. We’re talking to quite a few different organizations, from small promotions up to the big ones. We’re looking to fight name fighters like Kimbo, Butterbean [Eric Esch], James Thompson, someone to bring a name to the table.â€

There’s no long-term plan in place, Gelke added, as Rahman gets his feet wet in MMA -- they’re not making noise about challenging the top dogs just yet.

“We’re just taking it one fight at a time and see what comes to us,†he said. “We want to get a few smaller fights under our belts before we take on a Lesnar or Fedor or someone like that. There’s nothing solid right now. But we’re already talking with promoters about shows in April or May.â€

Gelke said that he knows how vexing the transition will be given the added combative aspects of MMA. Other boxers such as Butterbean and Ray Mercer found out the hard way, along with a spate of early-day MMA competitors; but those were far less accomplished boxers than Rahman. The question long-asked by fans of both sports could get at least a quasi-relevant answer with Rahman’s journey that those other entries never really supplied -- what would happen if a world-class boxer with MMA training entered the sport? Shannon Briggs’ flirtation with it never materialized, but the reports out of American Top Team were certainly encouraging. It’s still a question that elicits heated debate from virtually any combat sports fan you ask.

“I understand how difficult it is,†Gelke said. “That’s why I’m looking to not put him in with any big grapplers at first. I don’t think Rock really understands how hard it will be to fight these guys with a grappling and wrestling background. So I’m looking to put him in with someone like Tank Abbott, or James Thompson.â€

Rahman’s weight fluctuated greatly during the latter half of his boxing career. Best suited in the mid 230-pound range, he ballooned up in the 250s during a tour of tune-ups in recent years, and was a lackluster 253.5 prior to being dismantled by Klitschko in December.

“I’m talking to a Strikeforce, [a] lot of big promotions,†he said. “Some in Japan, like Sengoku and Dream. Hasim would love to fight over in Japan. Also some smaller promotions, like Wargods. I’m trying to get him into an MMA gym, work with some top trainers, there are some great gyms out here in Vegas. So that’s still kind of a work in progress. I think he’s waiting to see that I have a fight set. Then he can focus on training.â€

Along with Marcus Davis, Chris Lytle is one of the most accomplished MMA fighters with a pro boxing career under his belt, going 13-7-1 (7 KO) in the squared circle. Better known in MMA as a UFC regular, Lytle gave his take on what Rahman will face.

 

If he takes it seriously it might be interesting. Since he hasn't even trained properly as a boxer in years he's almost certainly just looking for a payday though.

 

Rahman is painfully slow at this point, but it would be fun to see him spark some low level guys. Heavyweight is loaded with scrub "strikers" that might actually trade with him.

 

I shudder to think what a decently powerful heavyweight boxer like Rahman would do with those little 4 ounce gloves to some of the bum 'strikers' in MMA. I don't think I'd even want to see that. That said he would have to land before getting taken down which is no given for a painfully slow fatty like Rahman.

 

I'm talking about the fat local level brawlers, like Ken Shamrock's and Tank Abbot's opponents a couple weeks ago. Anyone remotely decent, striker or not, would try to take him down with the quickness.

 

Well, Since Rahman's FINISHED as a World Class Heavyweight BOXER, he May as Well Masquerade as an MMAist...The NOVELTY of it will Get him a Couple More DECENT Paydays....

REED would FAVOR Rahman Over Kimbo, N a Cage...A Rahman-Brett Rogers Fight would B Interesting...But Pretty Much ANY UFC Heavyweight would MURDER Rahman...

REED:mj:

 

Rahman will beat Fedor and lose his next fight to Kimbo ::

 

We’re just taking it one fight at a time and see what comes to us,â€￾ he said. “We want to get a few smaller fights under our belts before we take on a Lesnar or Fedor or someone like that.:atu:

 

What else is a guy gonna do who gases after three rounds?

 

He should find someone to promote a fight between him and butterbean. He's quickly approaching Butterbean's status as a joke of a fighter. If I were him, I might pursue the fight except there's a good chance he'd lose.

 

I can remember Petre talking about Mercer being able to beat Kimbo with his jab alone in an MMA match. Doh!!

Don't take anything for granted when you match a lazy has-been with no desire to fight against a hungry, lesser skilled boxer in an MMA match.

While I don't think Rahman has quite slipped to the Mercer level, I think their level of desire is very similar. That will get your ass kicked in a real fight.

 

Agreed. When one guy is only fighting for money the difference in skill level isn't nearly as much a factor as it otherwise might be.

 

Great, another washed up idiot to make boxing look bad.

 

I don't think it makes boxing look bad.

MMA is a last resort for boxers, and looking at how Rahman was in the ring against Toney (let alone Klitschko) it's apparent he doesn't have anywhere (good) to go in the sport.

The next step is probably either as stepping stone or fighting bums.

He might as well at least feel out some MMA org's and see if there's potential there (if not right away, then at least if he puts a couple wins together).

 

MK, what I mean by that, is he'll get submitted by some scrub, and the sherdog type of MMA fan will be all "MMA is teh betterz!".

 

my first thoughts exactly, tbh.

 

Yep.

 

Just Tell 'em that WWE is "Better" than MMA...


REED:hammert:

 

If Rahman thinks he can go in against any real fighter, even an average one at best, with little to no MMA training and succeed, he deserves what's coming to him. If he fights someone like a Kimbo or a Butterbean, who have trained and fought in MMA, but aren't really legit, he's still probably gonna get killed, but he at least has a chance if he can keep the fight standing.

Like Suite said, his only chance is to go against some nobody 'striker' that has the same lack of overall talent that he has, and hope for the best.

And Rahman should not only fire his agent, he should have him killed for even suggesting the names Fedor or Lesnar.


TFK

 

This is all true but if he follows through with fighting MMA he may as well get his ass handed to him by Lesnar or Fedor. (if those fights could be actually signed)

If you're going to get the shit beat out of you why not get best pay possible? Plus it's not as embarassing to lose to the best than some can.

 

Well, people who know understand Rahman was been irrelevant for years in this sport.

I'm sure some there's some mileage in the fact that Rahman fought for the heavyweight title last year...but Rahman couldn't even compete with Klitschko.

He couldn't even finish a fight against James Toney.

He's got nothing left in the sport.

What it does show to MMA fans is just how bad boxing sanctioning bodies are, because Rahman was ranked.

It certainly doesn't help boxing's reputation.

But Rock's been finished for a long time. He can't live off of South Africa anymore in boxing, so he's simply seeing what it'll get him in MMA.

 

He'll never make it to Lesnar or Fedor, unless it's Fedor in some Japanese freak show fight. But he'll probably get beat against the first fighter with a pulse he faces.

TFK

 

Almost surely, but it depends on how they match him and more importantly how they market him. If he knocks out a few scrubs in impressive fashion, any MMA or would be stupid if they didn't hype up the "ex heavyweight champ of the world" angle. Sports fans are largely stupid and probably would buy a PPV with him on it if it's marketed well.

 

dsimon writes:

Its an interesting situation. Kimbo has the advantage of "feelin it" when he went out of his comfort zone. He is probably better cause of it and may yet become a half decent mmaist despite the haters.

Now with Rahman a lot depends on how he trains and who trains him. I don't see him intially doing well because MMA, works on three dimensions at vitually all times. Boxing works on two: you have to think and act in a world where there are three points of contact and not one or two... this is never easy for a boxer imo.

 

What about Seth Petruzelli for his first bout? :crafty:

 

Thats exactly why boxers suck in MMA.The chances of them getting taken down and submitted is 90% imo

 

Yeah but, as you can see by his latest fight, Fedor thinks he's the king of shit when it comes to striking, Im not sure it's beyond him to attempt to trade hands with a pro-boxer.

 

Rahman can't even get in shape for boxing. He'll be entering MMA at around 280lbs and delusional, thinking he'll just KO his opponent with 1 punch. Next thing you know, he's on his back with his arm broken in like 28 seconds.::
A lot of these washed up boxing clowns like Rahman, Bowe, and Morrison are just trying to make a little money is all.

 

Butterbean would kill Rahaman, wow, I heard it all now.

 

You obviously haven't watched much of Fedor. He will do exactly what it takes to win. Period.