GLOVE AFFAIR
Hasim Rahman Jr is the son of boxing champ who KOd Lennox Lewis and will fight Jake Paul after sparring with YouTuber
HASIM RAHMAN Jr is the son of a boxing legend who is set to fight Jake Paul on short notice.
The American prospect - who was once involved in spat with Floyd Mayweather - is in line to replace Tommy Fury on August 6 in New York.
11
11
It comes after Fury was denied access to the US amid visa issues and has ultimately been withdrawn.
It left Paul - for a second time - to source a substitute opponent with Rahman Jr due to be announced as the alternative.
For the 31-year-old, boxing is a family affair, as Rahman Jr takes inspiration from his dad.
The heavyweight famously knocked out Lennox Lewis in 2001, and shared the ring with other legends such as Evander Holyfield and Wladimir Klitschko.
READ MORE IN BOXING
Rahman Jr made his debut in 2017, only three years after his dad's retirement.
He eased past his first 12 fights, winning six by knockout, but was beaten for the first time in his last bout.
James McKenzie Morrison, son of ex-champ Tommy, won by knockout in round five in April.
But he is braced to return at Madison Square Garden with the pay-per-view chance of a lifetime against Paul.
Most read in Boxing
11
11
Although it will not be the first time the pair have shared the ring.
Rahman Jr sparred the YouTube star-turned boxer before Paul, 25, won his pro debut in January 2020.
And when he checked back a year later, he immediately noticed the improvement.
Rahman Jr revealed: "I kind of expected the same thing that I boxed the first time - and that's not what I got.
"I got somebody that had a better right hand, I had somebody that was actually stepping in with the jab.
"The best thing about it is - I had somebody that could control his distance.
"The first time he couldn't really do anything like that. He was really just fighting. I could just tell that he had heart.
11
11
"Now he's using his distance better, he's actually stepping into his jab, instead of just putting it there, and he's throwing a good one-two."
Rahman has campaigned at heavyweight and fought at 15st 3lb, whereas Paul's wins have come at around 13st 5lb.
The social media sensation is also far less experienced with only five pro wins, having yet to even face a recognised boxer.
But Rahman Jr will change that as the two finalise a deal for what is believed to be an eight-rounder at cruiserweight.
As well as his unbeaten record and famous dad, Rahman Jr also received attention after he and his brother Sharif were involved in infamous row at Mayweather's gym.
It stemmed from a pair of sparring sessions in 2014, which were documented on Showtime's "All Access'" pre-fight series.
Sharif sparred Brit Donovan Cameron and they were supposedly given minimal breaks.
11
11
11
11
The continuous sparring until one quit is what Mayweather called "Doghouse" rules.
After Sharif took a beating from Cameron, big brother Hasim showed up at the gym and demanded revenge, in the form of another spar.
The challenge was accepted, with the Rahman brothers' mum this time ringside to bark orders at her eldest.
Mayweather also sat ringside and encouraged the session, which cameras revealed lasted 31 straight minutes.
But after it aired - which was in the build up to Mayweather's win over Marcos Maidiana - the legend found himself in hot water.
He was called before the Nevada State Athletic Commission to answer questions about the incident.
Mayweather, who was executive producer of the show, claimed the sparring scenes were staged in order to help boost PPV sales.
And he said the half-hour long session did not happen as it was shown and the boxers were in fact allowed to take several breaks.
Read More on The Sun
The commission accepted his version of events and closed the matter without punishing the pound-for-pound great.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
The Rahamn brothers were both amateurs at the time, but have since turned pro, with Sharif since now 6-0 himself.
11
Topics