DOVER, Del. -- Hasim Rahman has a chance to get on a winning
streak and move closer to regaining the heavyweight title.
Rahman, coming off his first victory in nearly three years,
takes on Mario Cawley on Friday night at Dover Downs Slots in a
10-round bout. The fight could go a long way toward determining if
Rahman has what it takes to reclaim the belt he secured with a
stunning knockout of Lennox Lewis in April 2001.
Rahman lost the rematch against Lewis in November 2001, a defeat
that began an 0-3-1 streak that ended last month with his 10-round
decision over Al Cole.
"I had to get that win. That got me over the hump, so to
speak," Rahman said Thursday.
Just 36 days later, Rahman (36-5-1) is looking to make it two in
a row.
"I'm used to long winning streaks," he said. "I'm ready to
get on one that will take me right up to a heavyweight title
fight."
Rahman is ranked fourth by the WBA and sixth in the WBC. He
hopes a victory can propel him back into the heavyweight title
picture, which became wide open when Lewis retired in February.
The 31-year-old Rahman said last month that he expects to regain
the title by the end of the year. He sees no reason to adjust the
timetable.
"I definitely feel like I'm on right on schedule," he said.
Cawley (22-11, 16 knockouts) has an aggressive style that could
prove troublesome to Rahman, who absorbed several blows from Cole
en route to a narrow unanimous decision over the 39-year-old
journeyman.
"I fought the wrong fight. I was looking for a knockout, and
tried to force the fight," Rahman said. "I learned from that. I
need to stick to what I know best, which is to work my jab and back
it up with good punches."
It isn't often that a fighter goes just 36 days between bouts,
but Rahman has an agenda that just can't wait.
"If I'm going to get the title back, I need to keep busy," he
said. "I have to stay sharp."