Rahman: ‘I got cheated’ in loss to Tua

Dean Juipe

Thursday, Aug. 3, 2000 | 9:47 a.m.

Boxing fans, particularly those in Las Vegas, have been inundated of late with stories pertaining to David Tua. A newcomer to the city, he's in line for a fight with WBC and IBF heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis that's tentatively set for November.

But had the rules of boxing been followed to the letter the night Tua fought Hasim Rahman in 1998, it could have been Rahman and not Tua waiting on Lewis.

"The way I look at it, I beat Tua," Rahman said Wednesday, referring to a fight in Miami in which Rahman was leading on the scorecards through seven rounds when Tua delivered a punch that landed after the bell. While Rahman was entitled to an extra five minutes' rest, none was given and he said he never fully recovered.

The referee stopped the fight after the ninth round, giving Tua a major victory and sending Rahman back to square one.

"I beat Tua, there's no doubt," Rahman said. "I just got cheated, that's all."

A year later Rahman suffered a second loss, to Oleg Maskaev, which further damaged his career. Yet he hopes to add to his reputation Friday at the Hard Rock when he takes on journeyman Frankie Swindell in a 10-round fight that tops a seven-bout card.

"I've got to deal with my situation as it is," Rahman said. "I can't cry about spilled milk.

"It was my own fault I lost to Maskaev. I took him lightly and he came prepared and I didn't."

Rahman, 27, is 33-2 with 27 knockouts and is coming off his best win, a TKO-7 over South Africa's Corrie Sanders May 20 in Atlantic City.

"If I could get a rematch with Maskaev, or Tua, or fight somebody in the top 10, everything would be just fine," Rahman said. "But there's nothing I can do about that right now. I've got to beat the man in front of me."

Swindell may or may not be up to the challenge.

"Don't count me out," he said. "I'm coming out of the best training camp I've had in three years and I'm here to fight. I'll be standing at the end."

Swindell, 36, is 37-19-3 with 28 knockouts. His name is a staple on the resume of the game's brightest stars, but, unfortunately for him, he has always come up short in his significant fights.

Among those who have beaten him are Tony Tucker, Michael Moorer, Jeremy Williams, Henry Akinwande, Alex Zolkin, Herbie Hide and Chris Byrd. Swindell was held to a draw in his most recent outing, with Ross Puritty last January.

The Hard Rock has not posted a betting line on the fight.

"He's a durable, tricky guy," Rahman said of Swindell. "I need to not only beat him but make a statement. I need an impressive knockout."

Also scheduled: Daniel Lynem, 11-0, vs. Humberto Zubia, 11-1, 10 rounds, junior welterweights; Talmadge Griffis, 13-1-1, vs. Greg Pickrom, 10-4-1, eight rounds, heavyweights; Kuvanych Toygonbayev, 11-0, vs. Vincent White, 12-1-1, six rounds, junior middleweights; Davarryl Williamson, 1-0, vs. Greg Dial, 4-2, four rounds, heavyweights; Rohnique Posey, 3-0, vs. Cabien St. Pierre, 6-10, four rounds, junior middleweights; and a women's super bantamweight bout between Irichelle Duran, in her pro debut, vs. Geraldine Iglesias, 0-1. Of note: Lynem is co-managed by Shane Mosley; Duran is the daughter of Roberto Duran; Pickrom is a sparring partner for Tua; Dial and St. Pierre are Las Vegans.