Connect with us

Articles of 2006

Oleg Maskaev Triumphs Over Hasim Rahman

Published

on

LAS VEGAS – America, be glad the Cold War is over.

Oleg Maskaev knocked out Hasim Rahman in the final round at the Thomas and Mack Center to grab the WBC heavyweight title and become the fourth boxer from the former Soviet Union to hold a heavyweight world title.

Somewhere Nikita Kruschev is smiling.

Maskaev repeated his feat of seven years ago by stopping Rahman when faced with the prospect of losing by a decision.

“I knew I had to win all three last rounds,” said Maskaev (33-5, 26 KOs). “He had a good jab.”

The former Russian soldier, who is now an American citizen living in Staten Island, appeared physically drained by the seventh round. But he rallied with a surge of energy that stunned the 8,842 in attendance and most especially Rahman.

“I never thought he would taking the world title from me in Las Vegas,” said Rahman (41-6-2, 33 KOs). “I’m very disappointed.”

According to the scorecards, two of three judges had Rahman ahead by the end of the 11th round. Rahman landed 250 total punches to Maskaev’s 184. But he couldn’t hang on.

Maskaev joins three other former Soviet fighters with world titles including WBO titleholder Sergei Liakhovich, WBA titleholder Nicolay Valuev, and IBF titleholder Wladimir Klitschko.

Where is Joe Louis when you need him?

“Maybe we’re spoiled,” said Rahman when asked what is happening to American fighters.

Maskaev found his opening in the 12th round when Rahman dropped his right hand guard. A swift left hook wobbled Rahman and a couple of more punches sent him down in the corner.

“I got caught with a shot,” Rahman said. “I put my hands down and he caught me.”

Though Rahman rose before the count of 10, his legs wobbled and it was apparent the end could come soon. Once the fight resumed, Maskaev dropped him again with a fusillade of punches. Referee Jay Nady let the fight resume, but Maskaev stunned Rahman immediately and the referee stopped the fight at 2:17 of the 12th round. Maskaev became the fourth former Soviet fighter to have a world heavyweight title.

“I am proud where I come from but I am Russian-American,” Maskaev said. “European fighters are tough…I am going back to Staten Island.”
Other bouts

Humberto Soto nailed his claim as the number one contender in the WBC junior lightweight division with a right uppercut that had opponent Ivan Valles (24-8-1, 20 KOs) sprawled on his back in the fourth round.

“I knew he could punch, but I knew he had a weak chin,” said Soto (40-5-2, 24 KOs), who is poised to fight the winner between Marco Antonio Barrera and Rocky Juarez for the WBC title.

The contest featured two hardened veterans from Los Mochis, Mexico, an area famous for his hard-drinking and hard-fighting boxers. Few expected the boxing match to end with both standing up.

“He hit me hard in the first round,” Soto said. “But I trained very hard for this fight and I knew I was going to win.”

In a lightweight match for the NABF title, challenger David Diaz (32-1-1, 17 KOs) proved in emphatic fashion that a boxing match is never over until the last punch is thrown, Chicago’s Diaz overcame nine rounds of battering from Jose Armando Santa Cruz (23-2, 13 KOs) and knocked out his taller California opponent.

Santa Cruz had captured six rounds in a row according to the judges, but a single left uppercut undid all of the Californian’s work and down he went like a surprised child. Diaz jumped on Santa Cruz immediately and down he went once more. Though he survived the second knockdown, a final flurry of punches proved too much as referee Richard Steele ended the bout with a wave.

Armenian-American Vanes Martirosyan blasted away at Georgia’s Marcus Brooks (6-2) and may have broken his right hand for his eagerness in a junior middleweight bout.

“I hurt it in the first or second round,” said Martirosyan (10-0, 6 KOs) who won by unanimous decision. “I was trying to please all of my fans and it was my first time on national television.”

It was the former US Olympian’s toughest fight to date.

Heavyweight Travis Kauffman (6-0, 4 KOs) needed only 1:48 to find the chink in James McCloskey’s (2-3-2) guard and win by knockout. A right hand found its mark.

In a battle between New Yorkers, John Vargas took a unanimous decision over Aneudi Santos in a fight that was closer than it appeared on one scorecard. Two judges scored it 77-75 for Vargas, but a third saw it 79-73 that seemed a stretch. It was an ebb and flow fight with Vargas left hook giving him a lead, and Santos adjusting with lead rights.

Miguel Garcia, the younger brother of former IBF junior lightweight world titleholder Robert Garcia, battled another fighter with boxing pedigree in Chad Ganigan. Garcia fired a short right hand that ended the fight in the first round. It was Garcia’s pro debut and Ganigan’s second loss with no wins.

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles1 week ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles1 week ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles1 week ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Paro
Featured Articles6 days ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles6 days ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles3 days ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles4 days ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Avila-Perspective-Chap-332-Jake-Paul-vs-Chavez-Jr-plus-Mbilli-Deontay-and-More
Featured Articles4 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 332: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr., plus Mbilli, Deontay and More

Holly-Holm-Joshua-Edwards-and-Rene-Alvarado-Sparkle-on-the-Paul-Chavez-Undercard
Featured Articles3 days ago

Holly Holm, Joshua Edwards, and Rene Alvarado Sparkle on the Paul-Chavez Undercard

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles2 hours ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Mexico's-Francisco-Rodriguez-Jr-is-the-TSS-Fighter-of-the-Month-for-June
Featured Articles1 day ago

Mexico’s Francisco Rodriguez Jr is the TSS Fighter of the Month for June

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles3 days ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

Holly-Holm-Joshua-Edwards-and-Rene-Alvarado-Sparkle-on-the-Paul-Chavez-Undercard
Featured Articles3 days ago

Holly Holm, Joshua Edwards, and Rene Alvarado Sparkle on the Paul-Chavez Undercard

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles4 days ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Avila-Perspective-Chap-332-Jake-Paul-vs-Chavez-Jr-plus-Mbilli-Deontay-and-More
Featured Articles4 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 332: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr., plus Mbilli, Deontay and More

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles6 days ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Paro
Featured Articles6 days ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles1 week ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles1 week ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles1 week ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending