Lennox's big mistake

"His hands were down and he was very comfortable"

In his latest exclusive column for BBC Sport Online, Lennox Lewis' trainer, Emanuel Steward, reviews his fighter's shock defeat to outsider Hasim Rahman.

The right hand that Rahman landed on Lennox was perfect and for the first time in my life I left a heavyweight championship match on the losing end.

It's a feeling I don't like but I am looking forward to the rematch, so Lennox can regain the belts.

From the opening bell Lennox was winning the fight, he was doing things we'd worked on in the gym.

But he could have applied more pressure and forced Rahman to fight at his pace a little more.

During the fourth round it seemed that Lennox had become too relaxed and had dropped his level of intensity.

Lennox carried the title of heavyweight champion with class and grace will once again rise to prove that he's the best heavyweight of this generation

  Emanuel Steward

His hands were down and he was very comfortable, which one round later would prove to be a huge mistake.

Lennox's defeat reminds me of Thomas Hearns' knockout loss at the hands of Iran Brakley in 1988.

Tommy was winning the fight big, but during the third round got nailed with a perfect, Rahman-like, overhand right.

Tommy fell and hit his head hard on the canvas, just as Lennox did, and the fight was over.

Hearns' heart has never been questioned and I am sure when he's eligible, he will be voted into the Boxing Hall of Fame.

The same will go for Lennox.

In these sort of fights, there isn't much you can do.

Getting hit with a knockout punch can happen to any fighter.

I'd be surprised if Rahman lasts four rounds in the rematch

  Emanuel Steward

Hearns hit the iron-chinned Roberto Duran with one and knocked him out cold; Leonard hit Dave Boy Green with one; it happens on all levels of the sport.

When a punch delivered by someone with the size and strength of Rahman is correctly thrown and lands unexpectedly, the results are often a foregone conclusion.

Heavyweight boxing is the most exciting sport in the world because of this knockout factor.

The underdog landed his punch and shocked the world.

Merciless and cruel

There will be a rematch and like so many great fighters before him, Lennox will get the chance to redeem himself.

I'd be surprised if Rahman lasts four rounds in the rematch.

Lennox is on a mission to get his belts back.

In finishing, it's no surprise that many of the media are really dogging Lennox now; sometimes the media can be merciless and cruel.

One must remember that Lennox carried the title of heavyweight champion with class and grace.

He represented the position well.

He was a role model to youth and will once again rise above the press' negativity and prove that he's the best heavyweight of this generation.