Hasim Rahman Jr has admitted his dad's public criticism about his work-rate ahead of his fight with Jake Paul was accurate.
The YouTube star was stunned when Rahman Jr's dad, the former world heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman, openly admitted at their pre-fight press conference that he felt his son hadn't been preparing properly throughout his career. But having now ended up with the opportunity of a lifetime despite losing his last fight, he insists that will change.
"Flat out, I'm going to give you an honest answer," Rahman Sr told reporters at a press conference in New York last week when asked about his son's past performances. "I don't know if my son will like it but I'll just tell the truth because that's what I do. My son has really underperformed and underprepared for pretty much all of his fights, but he will be ready for this one."
Forcing an increase in work-rate will be Rahman Jr's massive weight cut to make the 200lb cruiserweight limit for the first time as a professional. He will have to weigh in at a career-lowest the day before the fight, and then under 214lb the following morning in order to be paid his full purse.
And he expects to put in the camp of his life after taking the fight on short notice when Tommy Fury pulled out. It will be his first pay-per-view headliner, and also his first bout at the historic Madison Square Garden when the pair meet on August 6.
"The biggest thing he tells me every day is to stay focused," Rahman Jr told Morning Kombat ahead of his fight. "As long as I stay focused, everything else can take care of itself. I keep giving him 100 per cent every day in the gym and that's something that took us a long time to do. I wasn't giving him 100 before, I wasn't giving him it before consistently like this.
Do you think Hasim Rahman Jr will beat Jake Paul when they fight next month? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
"I was giving him 100 before but not consistently like I am now and not on this level. I'm pushing myself to the limit every single day and I'm doing everything that they ask me to do. I haven't asked any questions and I have given every single ounce of my energy to this victory, so I believe that me doing that is going to afford me a victory on August 6.
"That's what he said at the conference, he said that I've been under-prepared for my fights. There are a lot of fights that I've won by first round knockout where I could have been in better shape or ended the fight in even more emphatic fashion. With that being said, having an honest person in your corner is the best thing because I know when it comes down to it, he's going to let me know what's going on. He'll let me know what I need to do and if I listen I will come out on top."
