15 years ago

Date: 13th December 2008

Venue: SAP-Arena, Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg

Title: IBF, WBO & IBO World Heavyweight Titles

Promoter: K2 East Promotions

Tv: HBO World Championship Boxing & RTL

Wladimir Klitschko
( 51 - 3 - 0 )
Weight: 244¾ lbs

Hasim Rahman
( 45 - 6 - 2 )
Weight: 253½ lbs

On December 13, 2008, Wladimir Klitschko (245 lbs) successfully defended his IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles by stopping former two-time world champion Hasim Rahman (254 lbs) in the seventh round at the SAP-Arena in Mannheim, Germany. The bout, billed as "X-Plosive," was Klitschko's mandatory IBF title defence after original challenger Alexander Povetkin withdrew due to injury.

Klitschko utilised his significant height and reach advantages from the opening bell to control the fight's pace. The Ukrainian champion consistently kept Rahman at bay with his jab, making it difficult for the shorter American to close the distance and land effective punches.

As the rounds progressed, Klitschko's dominance became more apparent. Rahman struggled to find his rhythm and spent much of the fight on the ropes, absorbing punishment from the champion. In the sixth round, Klitschko sent Rahman to the canvas with a series of left hooks, further demonstrating his superiority.

Early in the seventh round, Klitschko trapped Rahman in the corner and unleashed a devastating left-right-left combination that prompted referee Tony Weeks to stop the contest just 44 seconds into the round. The technical knockout victory improved Klitschko's record to 52-3 with 46 knockouts, while Rahman fell to 45-7-2.

CompuBox statistics underscored Klitschko's dominance, as he landed 178 punches with a 48% accuracy rate, compared to Rahman's 30 punches landed with a 14% accuracy rate. The judges' scorecards at the stoppage were also heavily in favour of Klitschko, with two judges scoring the bout 60-53 and the third having it 60-47.

In the post-fight interview, Klitschko expressed surprise at Rahman's slower-than-expected performance. At the same time, his trainer, Emanuel Steward, praised the champion for fighting a smart, patient fight behind his left jab. Rahman, gracious in defeat, acknowledged Klitschko's superior skills and intelligent game plan.

The event also featured the return of former undisputed heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe, who made a modest comeback with an eighth-round unanimous decision victory over Germany's Gene Pukall in what would be the final fight of Bowe's career.

Wladimir Klitschko's impressive performance against Rahman solidified his status as the dominant force in the heavyweight division and set the stage for future high-profile matchups, including a proposed bout with former unified cruiserweight champion David Haye.