Kazakhstan-born Oleg Maskaev stopped Hasim Rahman in the final minute of the 12th and final round on Saturday to seize the World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight title.
The triumph for the 37-year-old former Russian Army lieutenant, who became a United States citizen two years ago, left no American-born fighter atop the heavyweight division among the major sanctioning bodies.
Rahman (33) had been the lone US native title holder. He appeared poised to remain so as he led on all three scorecards heading into the final round.
But Maskaev came alive to dominate the 12th.
He knocked Rahman down in the first minute, then sent him to the canvas again moments later.
After a standing eight-count, Rahman was backed into the ropes and sustained another barrage of punches before referee Jay Nady stepped in to end the bout at 2:17 of the 12th.
Maskaev improved to 33-5 with 26 knockouts as he became the latest fighter from the former Soviet bloc to seize a heavyweight crown.
Russian giant Nikolai Valuev is the World Boxing Association champion while Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko owns the International Boxing Federation crown and Belarus’s Sergei Lyakhovich is the World Boxing Organization heavyweight king.
Rahman fell to 41-6, with two drawn and 33 knockouts.
The last time no American was seen as a major heavyweight champion was when England’s Lennox Lewis unified the titles.
It was the 11th consecutive win for Maskaev, who afterward admitted to injuring his back while training for the chance at the title. — AFP
