Zahir Raheem and the art of staying alive

ZAHIR “Z-MAN” RAHEEM was sporting a pink sports activities jacket and a smile as he moved swiftly throughout the stage to simply accept his Pennsylvania Boxing Corridor of Fame plaque. Many in attendance had not seen him since he retired in 2014. Gone was the spindly boxer of years previous, changed by a match man of 45 who has moved on geographically however has not forgotten his roots.

There was at all times one thing ethereal about Raheem, a thin boxer with a pencil-thin moustache. Now you see him, now you don’t, which was mirrored in his slippery defensive model. As a toddler he resembled Dickens’ Suave Dodger, working the streets looking for sustenance, however it hadn’t at all times been that manner.

“I lived subsequent to a park and my dad would take me down there,” stated Raheem. “We might stroll the canine. I loved life and at all times had fun. Down the road at Ninth and Tioga was a horse steady. I’d go down there, deal with them and trip them.

“It was nice, however sooner or later my dad didn’t come house for nearly three days. My mom didn’t perceive it. At some point he got here house after which they each disappeared. They got here again and so they have been on crack cocaine. After that we misplaced every thing.”

For a spell the 10-year-old Zahir grew to become the only supplier for his 5 brothers and sisters, in addition to himself. He vividly recalled the second he realised how essential issues had change into.

“I seemed within the fridge and the one factor in there was baking soda. Acquired so hungry I went to see if I may make some cash to purchase meals. I went to a grocery retailer and requested a girl if I may carry her groceries for her. She gave me some meals and a few cash, after which stated she would name the cops and get me some assist. I ran. Zoom!

“I went to a different retailer and acquired some groceries and went house to my brothers and sisters. I assumed wow! I’ve received to try this once more. I did it for a very long time, till I used to be about 12 or 13, after which we moved to a shelter.”

Simply down the road from the shelter was the Athletic Rec Heart that housed North Philly’s ABC Boxing Health club, the place coach and mentor Fred Jenkins presided over a flock of younger males looking for their manner.

“When my life turned the wrong way up, Fred was the particular person I ran to. He was within the gymnasium day-after-day. I’d practice all day. Even when I simply sat there and watched, I needed to be on the gymnasium. I didn’t wish to be house. Rising up on the Rec Heart I noticed Fred save so many lives. He had a lot respect within the neighborhood it was unbelievable.”

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Raheem’s lengthy and busy beginner profession climaxed in 1996 when he fought his strategy to a berth on america’ Olympic boxing crew. He was accompanied by Philly’s David Reid one other Rec Heart fighter. Reid took light-middleweight (super-welterweight) gold with a come from behind knockout, however bantamweight Raheem was stopped within the first spherical of his second bout.

“It was the load, man,” stated Zahir. “I used to be killing myself making an attempt to make weight. It was 90 levels in Atlanta and I had a sweatshirt on. I wasn’t consuming nothing. It was horrible.”

The Rec Heart put up a big poster alongside one wall, welcoming house the gymnasium’s Olympic heroes. There’s {a photograph} of Raheem and Reid standing in entrance of it, arms raised within the acquainted number-one signal. The expressions on their faces, nevertheless, couldn’t have been extra dissimilar. David was smiling the best way anyone would who was closing in on a multi million-dollar deal. Zahir seemed like man whose canine had simply died.

His disappointment was comprehensible and he admitted he envied all of the media consideration Reid was receiving. Even so, there didn’t appear to be any animosity between the very long time stablemates. It was not private, it was enterprise, and within the boxing business a one-punch knockout to win an Olympic gold medal is value significantly greater than getting stopped within the second bout of the Atlanta Video games.

The distinction was apparent from the beginning. Reid signed with America Presents and turned professional on HBO. Raheem’s debut was off TV, a fourth-round stoppage of Cliff Watford at Ballys in Atlantic Metropolis, November 16, 1996.

By then Raheem had a three-year contract with High Rank. Bob Arum’s matchmakers saved Zahir busy combating on undercards in numerous casinos: Foxwoods and Mohegan Solar in Connecticut, Trump Taj Mahal and Ballys in Atlantic Metropolis, with aspect journeys to Biloxi, Grand Rapids and Reno. The opposition, nevertheless, by no means appeared to rise above fair-to-middling.

For a lot of his profession Raheem was trapped in a sweaty purgatory of meaningless fights, an unproven commodity ready for an opportunity to show him self on the high stage. He escaped briefly and though he acquitted himself nicely in two of his main fights, his efficiency within the third was virtually unwatchable.

There’s little question a major a part of Raheem’s downside was his defensive model. He wasn’t a runner [i]per se[i], however knew tips on how to management distance, make his rivals miss, duck, spin away and clinch. His jab was switchblade fast and didn’t even need to land to throw off his opponent’s timing. Those who did join chipped away on the different man’s confidence, establishing straight rights and counter hooks that got here in spurts.

Perhaps if these offensive surges had come extra continuously Raheem would have been an even bigger attraction, however the survival abilities demonstrated when he was the only assist of his siblings are absolutely linked to his boxing model. For Zahir it was at all times about survival. He realized tips on how to keep alive as a abandoned youngster and took those self same instincts into the ring with him. It’s who he’s.

Lastly, after virtually eight years on the street, Raheem received his first break, a match with unbeaten Rocky Juarez on HBO, July 17, 2004. The Fundamental Occasions promotion, held on the Reliant Heart in Juarez’s hometown of Houston, was an IBF featherweight eliminator. Preventing the home fighter in his hometown was dangerous sufficient, however when the Texas boxing fee is concerned the inexplicable is to be anticipated.

“That was the form of combat I needed,” Raheem stated. “I advised my promoter, Tony Holden, I’d take the combat however make them change the judges. He stated, ‘Nicely, I don’t suppose we will do this.’ I additionally advised him I couldn’t make featherweight. I used to be 126 kilos after I was 15!”

Zahir had not fought as featherweight since March 2002, and was settling in properly at light-weight when the Juarez combat introduced itself. He had two selections, make 126 kilos or go house. Someway he made it, however his troubles have been removed from over.

“What I went by way of in that combat was despicable,” stated Raheem.

After a precarious begin, Raheem began to come back on. He boxed well, landed cleanly and was clearly within the combat when referee Robert Gonzalez penalised the Philadelphian for holding behind the top within the fourth spherical. Gonzalez, who by no means issued a warning, did the identical within the sixth and tenth rounds.

“That referee made it look like Raheem was combating two folks,” stated HBO’s Larry Service provider.

When Juarez was given a unanimous determination, Corridor of Fame referee Mills Lane was so indignant he wrote a letter to Richard Cole, head of the Texas boxing fee, which learn:

[I have reviewed the tape of the fight between Juarez and Raheem. From the first round through the end of the fight, Robert Gonzales interfered with Raheem’s legitimate fight tactics and strategy. Mr. Gonzalez’s conduct as a referee was despicable. He was blatant in his ongoing attempt to interfere with the flow of the fight. From my view, points should not have been deducted from Raheem. Juarez, on many occasions, held on to Raheem’s glove, and as a result, his head would come into direct contact with the face of Raheem. Raheem’s response to control the head of Juarez was a natural and legitimate technique. Ali often used this technique. Juarez punched on the break several times and was never warned.

In short this was the worst performance by any referee that I have witnessed. Raheem should not be penalized for suffering a loss because of a referee’s conduct. In closing, I would urge the commissioners office to rule this fight a “no contest.”]

The outrage was warranted, however as typical nothing modified. Formally Juarez will at all times be the winner.

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Following a win over Jose Quintana in February 2005, Raheem signed to combat Erik Morales on September 10 on the Staples Heart in Los Angeles. This was it, a make or break combat.

“I lived in a home in Las Vegas away from the casinos,” Raheem stated. “I didn’t do nothing however quick, practice and pray. I educated for nearly three months. I made sacrifices I’d by no means made earlier than in my life. Once I learn that I used to be only a journeyman, I made up my thoughts to win. They weren’t going to brainwash me. There was nothing anyone may do about it. I used to be going to win that combat.”

Morales was coming off an in depth, exhilarating combat with Manny Pacquiao on March 19, successful a unanimous determination by triple scores of 115-113. High Rank had already determined it will promote a rematch to maximise curiosity put Pacquiao and Morales on the identical card in opposition to opponents they figured to beat.

Pacquiao held up his finish when referee Lew Moret stopped the combat after Manny knocked down Hector Velazquez twice within the sixth spherical. Raheem was nowhere close to as accommodating. He boxed fantastically, befuddling Morales and punishing him with jabs and flashy counters. Morales by no means gave up however seemed decidedly unsteady because the combat drew to an in depth.

Raheem received a unanimous 12-round determination by scores of 118-110, 116-112 and 115-113. It was the best efficiency of his profession and chosen as The Ring journal’s Upset of the Yr.

What ought to have been a joyous event shortly changed into a downer. One minute Raheem was being carried across the ring sporting a crown, his proper hand raised in victory, the subsequent he was trying on the bitter puss of the person who managed his profession.

“Initially I used to be very excited,” stated Zahir, “however I may inform by the look on Bob Arum’s face that he was upset. I used to be considering, [i]Rattling! I received however they’re mad at me.[i] I didn’t perceive it.”

Naturally, it was about cash. Regardless of Zahir’s victory, Pacquiao and Raheem wouldn’t be as massive of an attraction as a Morales-Pacquiao rematch. High Rank determined to disregard Morales’ loss to Raheem and made the second Pacquiao rematch.

Raheem solely shot at a title got here in opposition to Acelino Freitas for the vacant WBO light-weight belt, April 29, 2006, at Foxwoods. It was an ugly mess of a boxing match. Raheem grabbed, clinched and threw Freitas to the canvas thrice. Each boxers appeared reluctant to launch a sustained assault, and after 12 ugly rounds two of the three judges voted for Freitas.

A pair of wins and a no-contest later Zahir was in South Africa, the place Ali Funeka knocked him out within the fourth spherical on July 8, 2008. It was the bottom level of Raheem’s profession.

“I received knocked out earlier than I received into the ring,” stated Raheem. “I used to be imagined to be there three weeks earlier than the combat, however it was solely eight days. I had jet lag. I used to be sleeping on a regular basis. I simply couldn’t regulate in time.”

The losses to Freitas and Funeka satisfied Raheem he wanted to step away from boxing, which he did for greater than two years. In want of cash he struck a cope with promoter Brian Halquist and launched a comeback April 22, 2010.

Raheem received six in a row, the final a 10-round unanimous determination over Bayan Jargal to win the vacant NABO tremendous light-weight title on January 13, 2014. By the point he beat Jargal, going out with a win and minor belt was ok for Zahir, who exited completely with a document of 35-3, 21 wins inside the space.

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Zahir and his household presently reside Snellville, Georgia, a 35-minute drive east of Atlanta. He makes the journey two occasions most days, working on the gymnasium he co-owns along with his associate.

“Seven or eight years in the past it was deserted property that was boarded up,” Raheem stated. “We cleaned it out [and turned it into a gym]. There’s a mixture of purchasers. We’ve numerous white and blue-collar purchasers and fairly just a few amateurs. One of many amateurs is Chad “Candyman” Pitts. He’s 17 now and I’ve been coaching him since he was round eight years outdated.”

Zahir is aware of there had been circumstances past his management that hindered his profession, however eight years after his closing combat he understands he was additionally culpable.

“Lots of points in my profession have been my fault for not understanding the enterprise,” stated Raheem. “Additionally my lack of self-discipline. I’d get together between fights. If I’d been constant and never get together in any respect, I’d have been a a lot better fighter and have much less weight issues.”

Raheem was born in Philadelphia and realized to field in considered one of metropolis’s legendary gyms. Certain he “took it on the street” apart from was one bout, however he’ll at all times be a Philadelphia fighter. His return to town for the PABHOF banquet was met with applause and multiple “who’s that?”

That was the “Z-Man,” the boy who used to hold across the gymnasium and by no means needed to go house.