Maskaev wins WBC heavyweight title
14 August, 2006
Oleg Maskaev stopped Hasim Rahman in the 12th round Saturday night to give fighters from the former Soviet Union all four World Heavyweight titles.
Maskaev, a former Russian Army officer who immigrated to the U.S. in 1995 had won all of his previous 10 fights to earn a mandatory title shot against the man he defeated in 1999.
A crashing right hook by Maskev sent Rahman through the ropes on that occasion.
All three judges had the fight going down to the wire with Maskaev leading 106-103 on judge Jerry Roth's scorecard entering the 12th, Anek Hongtongkam favored the American Rahman 106-103 while Glenn Trowbridge had Maskaev ahead 105-104.
Rahman needed to win the 12th round to retain his belt.
Maskaev said, "I believed up to the last minute I could win this fight,"
"I got used to him as the fight wore on. I knew with three rounds left, I had to win them all to win the fight."
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