Rahman Stops Fox

By Boxing News - 10/24/2007 - Comments

Former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman (44-6-2, 35 KOs) stopped Cerrone Fox (8-7, 5 KOs) in the 1st round on Thursday night at the Kewadin Casino, in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. Rahman, 34, blasted out Fox with a powerful combination, sending him to the canvas where referee Dale Grable counted him out at 2:27 of the first round. The fight was in now way competitive, as Fox was gunshy from the very first, looking as if he was just there to survive.

It didn’t help that Fox was coming off a recent 2nd round knockout to David Tua last month. Not sure how or why they would allow Fox back into the ring so soon after a devastating knockout last month, especially against a big puncher like Rahman. Unlike his battle against Tua, Fox wasn’t swinging for the fences, as he mostly spent the round backing up under tremendous fire by Rahman, until finally getting tagged with a perfect 1-2 combination that sent Fox to the canvas.

With this win, Rahman is looking to get back into the ring next month against 46-year old Ray Mercer on November 15th. Since getting starched by Oleg Maskaev in August 2006, and losing his WBC heavyweight title, Rahman has shown no interest in fighting quality opponents, instead fighting Taurus Sykes, Dicky Ryan and now Cerrone Fox, all C-level opponents. That won’t change against the ancient Mercer, who left his prime behind 10 years ago, and is nothing but an opponent at this stage in his career.

Rahman seems to be using the same career direction as Tua and Shannon Briggs, that is, fighting nothing but bums until they’re ultimately rewarded with an unearned title shot. Never mind that none of them deserve it, it’s the safest way to the top, because they would have big problems if they had to take on the young lions at this stage.