Hasim Rahman comeback fight in New York is cancelled

Former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman's return to the ring has been cancelled. The 53-year-old boxer was scheduled to compete in a six-round bout on August 18 in Rochester, New York.

Rahman was set to face 42-year-old heavyweight Robert Simms. The cancellation also affects the entire fight card that was planned for the Rochester event.

This scheduled appearance was intended to end a period of inactivity lasting more than 12 years. Rahman had previously expressed his intention to break the record held by George Foreman for the oldest heavyweight champion in history.

Foreman set the current benchmark in 1994 when he defeated Michael Moorer to win the IBF and WBA belts at the age of 45. That victory followed a previous title challenge where Foreman lost a unanimous decision to Tommy Morrison.

Rahman is one of the few fighters to have held heavyweight titles twice. He famously upset Lennox Lewis with a fifth-round stoppage in 2001 to take the belts, though he lost them in a fourth-round finish during their rematch.

He later regained the WBC title and successfully defended it during a 2006 draw against James Toney. His recent attempt to return to professional boxing has now been halted.