On April 22, 2001, in Brakpan, South Africa, one of boxing’s most shocking upsets unfolded. Lennox Lewis - the undisputed heavyweight champion, was widely expected to cruise past Hasim Rahman before moving on to bigger fights. Rahman, meanwhile, was viewed as a late replacement-level challenger - an underdog by a massive margin, with most of the pre-fight attention focused on Lewis’s future, not the man in front of him.
Early on, the fight seemed to follow the script. Lewis controlled the pace behind his jab and appeared comfortable, edging the rounds. But outside the spotlight, key factors were already in play. Rahman had spent weeks acclimating to the high altitude, while Lewis arrived late and, by many accounts, underestimated both the conditions and his opponent. As the rounds progressed, Rahman grew into the fight, timing Lewis more cleanly.
Watch Lennox Lewis vs. Hasim Rahman full fight here: Watch
Then came the moment that changed everything. In 5th round, Rahman stepped in and unleashed a perfectly timed right hand that landed flush on the champion’s chin. Lewis collapsed to the canvas and was unable to beat the count. In an instant, the heavyweight division was turned upside down. One punch had taken everything.
The result sent shockwaves through the sport. Rahman went from overlooked challenger to unified heavyweight champion overnight, delivering a knockout that still ranks among the biggest upsets in boxing history. It was a reminder of the division’s raw unpredictability - no lead is safe, and no favorite untouchable.
The story didn’t end there. Just seven months later, Lewis reclaimed his titles with a knockout victory in the rematch. But April 22, 2001 remains the night when one punch rewrote the script and proved, once again, that in heavyweight boxing, anything can happen.