At the pre-fight press conference Hasim Rahman said “ I will be the best heavyweight fighter on the card� He also told the media they could go home after his bout because he was going to put on a performance better then anyone fighting that night. Hasim “The Rock� Rahman backed his words up the way he backed Kali Meehan up, destroying the newcomer Meehan in four rounds.
Promoter Don King returned to the famed Madison Square Garden with a heavyweight extravaganza. Two world heavyweight titles on the line with two former world heavyweight champions featured in four heavyweight bouts. The fight card billed Rendezvous with Destiny: Battle for Supremacy was seen on HBO Pay-Per-View live on Nov 13.
In the main event WBA Heavyweight Champ John Ruiz battled Andrew Golota. IBF Heavyweight Champion Chris Byrd faced –off with Jameel McCline. Former WBC and IBF Heavyweight Champion Hasim Rahman took on Kali Meehan and Four-Time Heavyweight Champ Evander Holyfield met Larry Donald. Truly a heavyweight explosion as the fighters jockeyed for position of supremacy. When the smoked cleared there were no clear-cut winners.
In the featured bout 34 year-old IBF Heavyweight Champion Chris Byrd put his crown up against best friend and top contender 34 years-old Jameel “Big Timeâ€? McCline. In the first round that’s exactly what both combatants looked like–buddies in a touchy feeling out bout. This brought the 12,777 fans in attendance to there feet in a chorus of Boo’s. The fight picked up quite a bit in the second as 6’6â€? mountain of a man Jameel McCline pinned 6’1â€? Chris Byrd against the ropes pummeling him with lefts and rights to the body and head of Byrd. McCline landed a big time right hand on the ear of Byrd. The 214lbs Chris Byrd felt the weight and the power as he found the canvas on the seat of his pants. The punch rocked his world as Byrd got up he shook it off.
In the third round massive Jameel “Big Time� McCline now a force to be reckon with jumped all over Bryd. Trapping Byrd in the corner an unleashed several hard punches hitting Bryd with nearly every shot. In the fourth and fifth, out weighted by 56lbs Byrd found his range and legs popping the jab boxing effectively. Both fighters exchanged with McCline landing a few good shots of his own, but the fast handed Byrd was landing punches in bunches to McCline’s face and body. The momentum shifted to Bird a crafty southpaw who kept McCline in the middle of the ring throwing combinations jab left upper- cuts and right hook repeatedly. McCline began to suck for air.
The hand speed of Byrd was too much for McCline as he just fell apart. Chris Byrd landed another big hook to the face of McCline that buckled him at the end. At the sound of the bell the bout was over two judges had the fight scored 115-112 & 114-113 for Chris Byrd. One judge scored the fight for Jameel McCline 114-112. The win improves Chris Byrd record to (38-2-1,20 KO’s) and still IBF Champion. Jameel “Big Time� McCline record drops to (31-4-3, 19KO’s)
IN OTHER ACTION: At the pre-fight press conference Hasim Rahman said “ I will be the best heavyweight fighter on the card� He also told the media they could go home after his bout because he was going to put on a performance better then anyone fighting that night. Hasim “The Rock� Rahman backed his words up the way he backed Kali Meehan up, destroying the newcomer Meehan in four rounds.
