Hasim Rahman Still A Draw
By Robert Ecksel August 27th, 2006Former heavyweight champ packs ‘em into Baltimore mall
With fame still the coin of the realm, the adage ‘once a celebrity/always a celebrity’ is still in effect. One needs look no further than the Security Square Mall in Baltimore for confirmation of that creaky maxim, the mall where former two-time heavyweight champion of the world Hasim Rahman took to a makeshift stage last week to meet and greet and sign autographs for his fans.
Rahman, as gracious in defeat as he’s always been in victory, had a message for Baltimore County students just as schools are about to open.
“I always want the kids to know that school is most important,” he said, “no matter what they want to do.” According to the Baltimore Sun, Rahman said he hopes to return to the ring in November, wants to fight one of the division’s contenders, and expects to be heavyweight champion for the third time by the end of 2007.
Dressed in the requisite t-shirt, three-quarter-length shorts and sneakers, Rahman was flanked by his wife, Crystal, and his brother, who doubles as Rock’s manager. In a mall filled with shopping moms and dads and their kids, with a DJ blasting hip-hop a few feet away, Rahman appeared totally relaxed, completely at home, entirely in his element.
One of Rahman’s fans, an administrative officer for the Maryland Parole Commission named Leo Dymowski, was thrilled to be in the presence of the former champ.
“Since he won the title,” said Dymowski, who recalls seeing Rahman box live many times, “I’ve literally spent thousands of dollars on memorabilia and traveling to see him fight. I love boxing, and he’s a guy from Baltimore. And that blows me away. I never thought I’d see a heavyweight champion from Baltimore in my lifetime.”
A Baltimore nurse, Rosie Traynham, waited patiently for her moment with the Rock. “I’m in line because my friend is a boxing fanatic,” she said. “But I don’t even know who he fought.”
Roger Kahler, a janitor from Baltimore who did know who Rahman fought, asked the ex-champ how it was he lost to Oleg Maskaev.
“I asked him again about the fight,” Kahler said, “and he told me, ‘Things happen.’ I told him to keep up the good work.”
Bill Brown, a salesman from Baltimore, broke ranks and handed Rahman a baseball to sign.
“I like to have people sign baseballs,” Brown said, “because they’re easy to display. I’m not really a boxing fan, but you don’t get to meet a champion that often.”
August 27th, 2006 at 5:54 pm
Of course Rahman is still a draw in Baltimore, what else do they have as a sports franchise????? The Orioles are going nowhere and the Ravens are turning to a broken down Steve McNair to take them back to the Super Bowl.
But back to boxing, Rahman has always been one of the good guys in boxing, but unfortunately, he has never been consistent as a fighter. I don’t doubt that he could come back and win a title next year, but that only speaks of how wide open the heavyweight division is right now. When Shannon Briggs, Owen Beck, Monte Barrett, and Kevin McBride have gotten, or are being discussed as title challengers, then by all means Rahman should get another shot. All these fringe guys need to look at Toney and Peter and realize they need to fight each other to give some credibility to the division and actually EARN a title shot.
August 28th, 2006 at 11:11 am
Rahman is pathetic, he has no skill and has to try and land a big shot to beat somebody. If he had a hard time fighting Ruiz, who is even worse, he has no buisness even in the ring with Klitschko. He is lucky he didnt get in the ring with Vitali. It wouldnt have gone long and if it did it would have been even worse than the 1st Maskaev fight. Rahman didnt earn a shot at Klitschko in 05 and surely doesnt deserve another title shot. He needs to go back to ESPN fights at best and stay far away from PPV. Just look at the last 2 PV bombs for Rahman for proof. - Done.
August 28th, 2006 at 4:20 pm
Monte Barrett lost a title eliminater last year to Rahman. Owen Beck lost to somebody last year, or the year before. Kevin McBride has never been good. Shannon Briggs is the only fighter who has been fighting often and winning. Rahman is 1-1-1 in his last three fights. I’m not checking for him for another year, at least!
August 28th, 2006 at 7:05 pm
Briggs has been fighting and winning, but WHO has he fought?????? Let me see him fight anyone in the RING magazine’s top ten before he gets thrown into a title fight. My point is none of the fighters mentioned have earned a shot.
August 29th, 2006 at 9:58 am
Rahman two shining moments:
1. Lucky KO of an overconfident LL
2. His beating he gave Kali Meehan
That’s it!! Everything where else he has either lost or really failed to impress.