LAS VEGAS, Nevada, 14 August 2006 — Kazakhstan-born Oleg Maskaev stopped Hasim Rahman in the final minute of the 12th and final round here Saturday to seize the World Boxing Council heavyweight title.
“I said before this fight would be a war, and that’s exactly what happened,” Maskaev said. “But I believed until the last minute, because I knew I was going to win.” The triumph for the 37-year-old former Russian Army lieutenant, who became a US citizen two years ago, left no American-born fighter atop the heavyweight division among the major sanctioning bodies.
Rahman, 33, had been the lone US native title holder. He appeared poised to remain so as he led on all three scorecards heading into the final round.But Maskaev came alive to dominate the 12th. He knocked Rahman down in the first minute, then sent him to the canvas again moments later. After a standing eight-count, Rahman was backed into the ropes and sustained another barrage of punches before referee Jay Nady stepped in to end the bout at 2:17 of the 12th.
Rahman said the first damaging blow came after the referee had told them to break and stop punching. “He hurt me with a shot after the ref said ‘break’, man,” Rahman said. “I’m extremely disappointed.”
Maskaev improved to 33-5 with 26 knockouts as he became the latest fighter from the former Soviet bloc to seize a heavyweight crown.
Russian giant Nikolai Valuev is the World Boxing Association champion while Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko owns the International Boxing Federation crown and Belarus’ Sergei Lyakhovich is the World Boxing Organization heavyweight king.
“There is a message that European fighters are tough,” Maskaev said. “They are strong. Now they have a chance to go somewhere, Germany or America, hire a good trainer and this way become great professional fighters.” The last time no American was seen as a major heavyweight champion was when England’s Lennox Lewis unified the titles.
Rahman, who fell to 41-6, with two drawn and 33 knockouts, had a simple explanation for the dearth of Americans making a mark in the division.
“I think they’re a little spoiled,” he said. “Make too much money too quick.” It was the 11th consecutive win for Maskaev, who afterward admitted to injuring his back while training for the chance at the title.
But he said he felt it was Rahman who was tiring in the later rounds.
“After the eighth round I noticed,” he said. “When I knew there were three more rounds left, 10 minutes, if I wanted to win this fight, I have to fight.” Rahman suffered his first loss since dropping a 12-round decision to John Ruiz for the WBA interim heavyweight crown on December 13, 2003. His record also includes a loss to Maskaev in 1999.
On the undercard, David Diaz captured the WBC interim lightweight title with 10th-round technical knockout of Jose Armando Santa Cruz.
