Lennox Lewis Smashed "The Rock" In Lightening In Vegas

By Chris Curry

18.11.01 - Hasim Rahman produced "Thunder in Africa" to knockout Lennox Lewis and in the words of Muhammad Ali "Shook up the World" when he was crowned Heavyweight Champion in April this year. The heavily anticipated rematch billed as "Repeat or Revenge" had all the fireworks when Lennox Lewis brought more than thunder and exploded "Lightening in Vegas" and smashed the "The Rock" into pieces to emerge once again as the Heavyweight Champion of the World.

A very focused and devastating true Champion was in the ring at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on Saturday night, he showed Hasim Rahman that he really was lucky having the honour of being called Heavyweight Champion.

Round one and the crowd is electrified as the bell rings. The Champion and former Champion meet in the centre of the ring, Taking a look at one another, they get into a rhythm. "The Rock" throws first with a double jab, missing the head and slapping into the body. Lennox is fast and light on his toes, circles to the left side of Rahman, keeping out of range from the famous right hand. Lewis takes a look while moving, Rahman keeps pumping the Jab. Lewis blasts his own dominating Jab and right to the body. Rahman again sharp with his jabs, hones into the former Champion, doubling it up with success. The sleeker looking Lennox Lewis, moves well, fires single jabs, while working the ring with great foot work he throws powerful and accurate lefts in two's and three's and catapults his own lethal right hand. The punch finished so many fighters and Hasim tasted it for the first time in the contest. Throughout the opening round, Lewis is snappy with his shots, landing the more superior punches, he starts a cut on Rahman's left eye, Hasim fires back, landing at times and often getting picked off on the way in. The round ends as a "Battle of the Jabs" with Rahman's crown starting to slip away.

Round two and Lennox is straight out executing at "The Rock". Rahman measures
out his left hand, but fails to back it up with a right. Lennox's is dissecting away with hard shots, while circling fast on his toes. Lewis goes for a right, they get into a clinch, with Hasim landing meaningless hooks. They break and Lennox has success with a left hook and short right to the body, again in a clinch, this time both fighters punch the back of their heads and receive a warning from the referee, Joe Cortez. Lennox slips out more stinging lefts, rolls on his hips, Rahman's throws a short combination and bob and weaves some of Lennox's shots. Lewis lands a series of hard shots and opens up with a cracking left, right, left combination. The former Champ uses the ring extremely well and is bouncing on his toes. The last 30 seconds and the Champion presses forward and gets picked off easily. This is a smart start by Lennox Lewis and Rahman is looking frustrated.

Both rounds to Lennox, he's warmed up and his reflex's are fully awakened. Round three of the Heavyweight Championship of the World and Lewis wants those titles back. He explodes a left onto Rahman's chin, sending his head launching back. Rahman needs a bit more head movement , but gets some success landing a hard left hook that seemed to affect on the legs of Lewis. Both fighters trade jabs, Lennox opens up with a left and his "Honey Punch" right and propels back a left. He really is showing his skills as the superior technician and fighter. Rahmam keeps coming forward, really with little success and Lewis keeps circling away from "The Rocks" right. "The English Lion" blasts out a left hook and right hand combination, he continued his master plan with graceful lateral movement and launches a beautiful attack, again landing lightening fast, thunderous left and right shots, reeling the "Lucky" Champion back, who looks disorganised. A super sharp Lewis has never looked as razor sharp and finished the round very elusive, moving brilliantly. "The Rock" is starting to crumble.

The authoritive Lewis moves back as the Champion attacks. He moves around and shoots a left, right into the Champions head, moving him back. "The Rock" moves down low, and the giant former Champion goes for a left hook. Missing, he then leans down on Rahman enforcing his strength, showing him "I am the stronger fighter and no more disrespect". Hasim Rahman is finding it very hard to be effective and is flung back like wet laundry after eating another left right combination as Lewis is hunting him down. It was a terrific shot, very focused. Rahman is in big trouble and has very little to come back with, he's firing shots with no purpose, his dreams turn into nightmare's. Lennox keeps pounding his jab and Rahman holds on and slaps the body and head, bringing the referee in for the break. The Champion lands a few lefts, but the effect was take out as Lewis was advancing back. After taking centre ring again, going shot for shot, the thunder was beginning to rumble. This was it, "Revenge" Lennox sweeps around, plants his feet, executes a left hooks and then uncorks a lightening bolt right, sending Hasim "The Rock" Rahman crashing to defeat, in the sweetest form of revenge. It was a fantastic shot Hasim Rahman was completely laid out. He tried to beat the count but was helpless as he rose half way up and went sailing into the corner.

Lennox Lewis triumphed, beating his chest, jumping, savouring his moment of victory, he simply could have not been more sensational. The ring and crowd was in mayhem as Lennox Lewis once again was crowned "The Heavyweight Champion of the World" joining Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield as a three time Champion.

The Champion said "I turned Hasim Rahman into "Has-Been" Rahman. When we were in Africa I said he had the belts on loan. His fifteen minutes of glory are over now. I want Tyson, I've been waiting for him since Holyfield".

The defeated and now former Champion, Hasim Rahman said "It was a hard right hand I did not see the punch coming, It was a good shot and I wasn't able to recover, I've got a few more surprises left in me yet, though".

This was the performance Lennox Lewis needed after his devastating loss to Rahman in April. He was very much in danger of history leaving his name tarnished, but now his place is secure. He needs to fight with fear in him and he used it in a very positive way. His balance, movement and jab keep Rahman at bay, the end result was a spectacular performance and finish. The difference was he had respect for him after South Africa. Boxing is about more than winning, it is about how you win. Lewis showed grit and determination and he completely confused Hasim Rahman, then blew him away with one terrific combination. This is one of his best ever wins. British Boxing can be very proud of their "World Heavyweight Champion". This time Lennox did not get caught in a storm of thunder but smashed "The Rock" with Lightening when he stuck down Hasim Rahman, in "Lightening in Vegas".

By Chris Curry, Belfast, Northern Ireland

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