Hasim Rahman Jr has revealed he could weigh in under 200lb for his fight with Jake Paul, despite having fought as a heavyweight.
Heavyweight star Rahman Jr will step into the ring in his 14th professional fight against YouTube star Paul on August 6 at Madison Square Garden, who was set to meet Tommy Fury before the fight was shelved. The pair will fight at a weight limit of 200lb with a rehydration clause inserted which allows the pair to go up to 215lb on the morning of the bout.
Rahman Jr has yet to weigh below 211lb during his heavyweight career and tipped the scales at 224lb in his previous outing which ended in defeat back in April. However the American star has admitted he has been eating just three 500-calorie a day meals to keep his weight on course for fight night. "I am fuelling myself correctly, I am staying under 500 calories a meal and I am feeling really good in all of my training sessions," Rahman Jr told media during an interview at his open workout.
"I am eating three times a day and I am drinking lots of water and that has been the key. Staying hydrated and staying fuelled up and working out a lot that has been what is bringing the weight down. The weight has not been an issue at all and I am actually on track to hit weight before next Friday. So if I come in under 200lb don't be surprised."
Rahman Jr previously accused his rival of trying to "stack the deck" after it was revealed a rehydration clause prevented Rahman Jr from returning to his normal weight. However Paul has since jumped to swiftly deny the claim, by confirming Rahman Jr can weigh whatever he wants on the night of the showdown.
Paul is more comfortable at the 200lb mark and previously weighed in at 191lb for his victory over Tyron Woodley in their rematch last December. It will likely be the toughest test of his career due to the significant size difference and experience of Rahman Jr, who has had an extensive career in the sport.
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And Rahman Jr believes he is the one who will hand Paul his first defeat before re-entering the professional boxing circuit and challenging for the bridgerweight world title. "I want to fight in big fights and continue to fight in big fights," Rahman Jr explained to Morning Kombat.
"In my mind right now I am only going to be looking at the champions. So whoever I have to fight next to get in there with Oscar Rivas, that is the belt that I have on my mind. That is the belt I want. I want to have the bridgerweight world title so whatever I have to do to fight Oscar Rivas, who fights a week after me and Jake. He fights for the bridgerweight world title. Nothing has changed, but defeating Jake Paul will just increase my popularity."
