Zahir Raheem facts for kids

Zahir Raheem (born November 7, 1976) is an American boxer. He is known by his cool nickname, "King Raheem." Throughout his professional boxing career, he has won 35 fights and lost only 3. Out of his wins, 21 were by knockout, which means he ended the fight early!

Zahir Raheem's Boxing Journey

Starting as an Amateur Boxer

Before becoming a professional, Zahir Raheem had an amazing amateur boxing career. He won 213 fights and lost only 4. He was also very good in international competitions, winning 15 out of 16 matches. His skills earned him a spot on the United States Olympic team in 1996.

Turning Professional: The Early Years

Zahir Raheem officially became a professional boxer on November 16, 1996. His very first professional fight was a win by knockout in the fourth round against Clifford Watford. Even though he wasn't as famous as some other Olympians from his year, Zahir worked hard. He slowly moved up the boxing ranks.

The Big Surprise Against Erik Morales

One of Zahir Raheem's most famous fights was on September 10, 2005. He fought against a legendary Mexican boxer named Erik Morales. Most people thought Morales would easily win this fight. They even thought it was just a warm-up for Morales's next big match.

But Zahir Raheem surprised everyone! He used his excellent footwork and body movements to control the fight. He didn't let Morales get comfortable or find his usual rhythm. Zahir won the fight by a unanimous decision, meaning all the judges agreed he was the winner. This victory was such a big surprise that Ring Magazine called it the "Upset of the Year" for 2005. This win showed everyone that Zahir Raheem was a serious contender in the lightweight division.

Challenging for a World Title

On April 29, 2006, Zahir Raheem had his first chance to win a world title. He fought against Acelino Freitas for the WBO Lightweight title. It was a very close fight, but Zahir lost by a split decision. This means some judges thought he won, but more thought Freitas won.

Later Career Fights

Later in his career, on July 5, 2008, Zahir Raheem fought a boxer from South Africa named Ali Funeka. In this match, Raheem was knocked out. He continued to fight and win, showing his determination.

Amateur Highlights: Olympic Trials

Zahir Raheem won the Bantamweight Olympic Trials in 1996. He beat several tough boxers to earn his spot on the Olympic team:

• He won against Rosendo Sanchez by points.
• He won against Teaunce Shepherd by points.
• He won against Steve Carter twice by points. These wins happened at the Olympic Box-Offs in Augusta, Georgia.

1996 Atlanta Olympic Games

At the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, Zahir Raheem competed in the bantamweight division. He won his first match against Jong-Gil Oh from North Korea by points. However, he lost in the second round to Arnaldo Mesa from Cuba.

Professional Boxing Record Summary