Hasim Rahman is willing to compete with the world’s top operators as he bids to break George Foreman’s record and become the oldest heavyweight champion in history.
Should he succeed in doing so, the 53-year-old would also trump the record of Bernard Hopkins, who was 49 when he reigned as boxing’s oldest-ever world champion.
Before attempting to tackle this challenge, though, Rahman must first end over 12 years of inactivity and complete his comeback assignment on September 24.
Standing in the opposite corner will be Phillip Triantafillo, who, with a record of 4-4, is certainly no world-beater and would be the first to admit his limitations.
Nevertheless, he is the man tasked with scuppering Rahman’s title ambitions in Indiana, where both men have agreed to collide in a scheduled six-round contest.
In his last professional outing, Rahman lost a three-round unanimous decision to little-known Australian Anthony Nansen and, prior to that, was stopped in two rounds by Alexander Povetkin.
As he looks to eventually secure a world title shot, however, the American has told Abrams Boxing that he is prepared to face any heavyweight in the sport.
“Any time I can make history I’m interested in doing it. It don’t really matter who’s on the other side [of the ring]. It could be any heavyweight in the world – any of them. I feel like I’m capable of getting in there with anybody in the world.
I’m punching like a 25-year-old and out working young guys in the gym. I’m ready for whatever and whoever, this is just step one.”
Known for his almighty upset victory over Lennox Lewis, who he stopped in five rounds before suffering a fourth-round stoppage defeat in their immediate rematch, Rahman went on to cement his legacy as a two-time world champion.
