LAS VEGAS (Nevada), Nov 18: Lennox Lewis reclaimed the World Boxing Council (WBC) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) heavyweight titles in devastating fashion Saturday when he knocked out Hasim Rahman in the fourth round.

Briton Lewis, who labelled Rahman a one-punch wonder when the American took his crowns last April in South Africa, was never threatened in the rematch.

He dominated the first three rounds before dropping his opponent with a thundering right one minute 29 seconds into the fourth.

Rahman lay motionless on the canvas before trying to stumble to his feet as referee Joe Cortez counted him out, while Lewis pounded his chest in jubilation at joining Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield as the only men to win the world heavyweight title three times.

“I said in South Africa that my belts were on loan,” the 36-year-old Lewis said. “He’s had his moment of fame, now the belts are back with me.

“I’ve changed his name to Has-Been Rahman. The Buster Douglas of the 21st century.

“I told you that punch in South Africa was a lucky one.”

Lewis (39-2-1) also became just the fourth boxer to regain the heavyweight championship from the same fighter he lost it to. The others were Floyd Patterson, Ali and Holyfield.

So punishing was Lewis’s assault that Rahman was unable to attend the post-fight news conference, making a mandatory visit to hospital as required by the Nevada state athletic commission doctor.

Rahman’s manager said later that the 29-year-old fighter was fine and was taken to the hospital only as a precaution.

“I want to assure all of you the Rock is fine,” Steve Nelson said. “The Rock says he will be back.”

The fighters entered the soldout Mandalay Bayevents centre to a mixture of applause and whistles from an audience of 11,400, some of whom paid $1,200 for ringside seats, equally split in their support.

A fight that was slow to catch interest had become the big ticket on the Las Vegas strip by Saturday, attracting a galaxy of movie and sports stars from America and Britain, including Meg Ryan, Tracy Ullman, Arnold Schwarzenegger, John McEnroe and Serena Williams.

First into the ring, Lewis, wearing a plain white robe and trunks, stared stoically as Rahman, dressed in Stars and Stripes, made his entrance and his entourage paraded the belts in front of the expressionless Briton.

After months of ugly legal wrangling and public wrestling, Lewis, looking fitter and more focused than he did in South Africa, charged confidently from his corner at the opening bell and immediately went to work, scoring repeatedly with his jab and opening a cut above Rahman’s left eye.

As chants of “Lewis, Lewis” went up from the crowd in the second round, Lewis continued to score, never allowing the hard-hitting Rahman close enough to land the kind of punishing blow that caused one of the biggest upsets in boxing history in the fifth round of their fight in South Africa.

Lewis, who had to go to court to force the rematch, made it clear that Rahman had got under his skin during the long build-up to the fight.

At one point during the run-up, the two men became involved in a wrestling match during a television interview after Rahman questioned Lewis’s sexuality, using the word “gay” in referring to the former champion.

But despite their genuine animosity, Rahman was gracious in defeat, giving full credit to Lewis.

“He fought a great fight, you can’t take that away from him,” conceded Rahman whose career record fell to 35-3.

“If Lennox wants a rematch we will be happy to do that,” said his manager, Nelson.

That, however, is unlikely.

Lewis, who said he would retire if he lost the rematch, can now look forward to sharing what could be the biggest purse in boxing history and a long-awaited fight with Mike Tyson.

“I want Tyson, I definitely want Tyson,” screamed Lewis. “But I’ll take on whoever, there’s enough guys out there.”—Reuters