Quick Read
- Hasim Rahman is returning to boxing at 53.
- He aims to break George Foreman’s record as the oldest heavyweight champion.
- His comeback fight is scheduled for next month in Rochester, NY.
Hasim Rahman, the former heavyweight champion who famously secured one of the sport’s biggest upsets against Lennox Lewis, has announced plans to return to professional boxing at 53. Rahman, who has not competed since 2014, intends to challenge for a world heavyweight title, aiming to surpass George Foreman’s record as the oldest heavyweight champion in history.
A Legacy Defined by High-Stakes Rivalries
Rahman’s career remains inextricably linked to Lennox Lewis, the Olympic gold medalist and three-time world champion. While Lewis is widely regarded as one of the finest heavyweights of the modern era, his 2001 defeat to Rahman stands as a defining moment in heavyweight history. Rahman, speaking with ABC News, emphasized that his confidence remains undiminished by age, citing superior endurance and technical knowledge.
The Road Ahead
The path back to a title fight is complex. Rahman is scheduled to compete next month at the ESL Ballpark in Rochester, New York, marking his first bout in over a decade. Currently, the major heavyweight belts are held by Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois, with a robust field of younger contenders blocking the path to a mandatory title shot. Despite the logistical hurdles, Rahman continues to embrace his role as an underdog, insisting that his experience will prove the skeptics wrong.