Maskaev KOs Rahman ... Again!

If Hasim Rahman was "America's Last Line of Defense", as his title fight with Oleg Maskaev was (misleadingly) billed, then America is now officially defenseless. Maskaev TKO'd Rahman in the twelfth and final round to score the upset and capture the WBC heavyweight title. All four "major" heavyweight titles are now held by fighters born in the former Soviet Union (Maskaev is now a U.S. citizen).

After eleven relatively even rounds it seemed as if the winner would be selected by the judges. Maskaev made sure that wouldn't be necessary by knocking Rahman down with a right hand and then pounding on him until referee Jay Nady called a halt to the action at 2:17 of the twelfth round. At the time of the stoppage, two judges had Maskaev ahead on points (106-103 and 105-104), while the third judge favored Rahman (106-103).

The 1999 meeting between Maskaev and Rahman also ended in stunning fashion when a Maskaev right in the eighth-round knocked Rahman out cold and sent him tumbling through the ropes, over the broadcast table and onto the hardwood floor at ringside.