Hasim Rahman, who knocked out Lennox Lewis, loses his comeback fight at 53

The former two-time heavyweight champion, trained for his return by Belfast's Wayne McCullough, was outpointed over six rounds by 40-year-old Phillip Triantafillo in Indiana.

Hasim Rahman, the American who took Lennox Lewis's heavyweight titles with one right hand in 2001, lost his first fight in more than 12 years on Thursday night, US time, beaten on points over six rounds by club fighter Phillip Triantafillo in Indiana.

Rahman, 53 according to Boxing News, lost a unanimous decision to Triantafillo, a 40-year-old who is now 5-4. Reports of the cards differ slightly: Boxing News carried scores of 59-55, 59-55 and 58-56, while FightNews gave 59-55, 58-56 and 58-56. Rahman falls to 50-10-2.

The comeback had been billed as "Making History". Rahman's stated aim was to break George Foreman's record and become the oldest world heavyweight champion.

FightNews reported that Rahman was trained for the return by former WBC bantamweight champion Wayne McCullough, Belfast's "Pocket Rocket", and had shed more than 50lb. It was not enough. "Triantafillo was busy from round one to the final bell," the site reported, often backing Rahman up and landing to head and body while Rahman "just didn't have the gas" to keep the pace.

For British fans, Rahman's name is tied to one night. In April 2001 in Brakpan, South Africa, he knocked Lewis out in the fifth round to win the WBC and IBF titles, one of the great heavyweight upsets. Lewis took them back in the rematch that November, knocking Rahman out in the fourth round in Las Vegas.

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