I’M READY: Heavyweight boxer Hasim Rahman of the US attends the official weighing in Hamburg, northern Germany. Rahman prepares his title fight against Russia’s Alexander Povetkin to take place today. (AFP

Agencies/Hamburg


Hasim Rahman, who famously relieved Lennox Lewis of his heavyweight titles in 2001, bids to become world champion once again today when he tackles Russia’s WBA belt-holder Alexander Povetkin in Hamburg.
Despite his 40th birthday fast approaching, the American believes his record of 50 victories in his 60 fights — 41 inside the distance—can stand up to examination.
“When I am on top, nobody can absorb the power of my punches,” said Rahman.
The likes of Lewis can testify to that. The Briton lost his WBC and IBF crowns in 2001 in a stunning fifth round knockout in South Africa before he regained them in a fourth-round knock-out seven months later.
The Baltimore fighter, nicknamed “The Rock”, then lost to Wladimir Klitschko in 2008 in Mannheim when the IBF, WBO and IBO titles were up for grabs.
Rahman has won his last five fights, but all were low-key events.
Povetkin, 33, defeated Ruslan Chagaeva in 2008 to win the WBA heavyweight title and has defended it with wins over Cedric Boswell and Marco Huck.
He has also called upon the expertise of Russian-born Australian Kostya Tszyu, the former world light welterweight champion.
“We have been building up my strong points and trying to eradicate the weaker parts to make me a more complete boxer,” said Povetkin, nicknamed “The White Tiger”.
Meanwhile, former welterweight and light-welterweight world champion Ricky Hatton will fight Ukraine’s Vyacheslav Senchenko on his return to the ring in Manchester on November 24.
Briton Hatton, who quit after a devastating two-round knockout by Manny Pacquiao in May 2009, announced his comeback from retirement earlier this month.
Senchenko, 35, represents a stern test for Hatton. He has lost just one of 33 fights, winning 21 by knockout, and is a former WBA world welterweight champion.
“I can’t wait to get in the ring now and I’m sure that Vyacheslav Senchenko will give me a good fight. It’s one that I am confident I can win though,” Hatton told a news conference.
“Senchenko lost the last time he fought to Paulie Malignaggi but he has got a good pedigree. I’m in great shape, I’m feeling good and I know I can put on a performance for all those watching.”
Hatton was one of the Britain’s most popular fighters but has struggled in recent years.
His love of drinking beer was well documented while he was also photographed apparently snorting cocaine after which he checked himself in to a rehabilitation centre in 2010.
“It’s well documented what’s happened to me, my life turned to mush,” Hatton, whose only other defeat came at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr, said earlier this month.
“I’m back to fight for world titles.”