New heavyweight champ has Queens ties

The new World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion of the world has Queens ties in the name of his promoter, Dennis Rappaport, a North Shore Towers resident.
Moscow-born boxer Oleg Maskaev, who did some of his training at North Shore Towers in Floral Park, became the latest WBC heavyweight champion after stopping Hasim Rahman in the 12th round at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas early Sunday morning.
Rappaport has always described Maskaev's career as a Cinderella story. Maskaev has been said to be one of the most mismanaged fighters in boxing, which included making his professional debut against a champion with an undefeated record while never receiving formal training.
A point came in Maskaev's career when everyone told him to throw in the towel. However, Rappaport and his team, which includes manager Fred Kesch and trainer Victor Valle, Jr., saw something there and began working with Maskaev, born in Kazakhstan but now living in Staten Island.
Soon the doubters would be proven wrong as Maskaev was on his way to the heavyweight title. Before the fight, Rappaport said that the team tried to motivated Maskaev (33-5, 26 KOs) with chants of &#8220you did it before and you'll do it again.” He used their motivation as inspiration, although against Rahman, 33, Maskaev was once again facing an uphill battle. He started slow and trailed much of the fight until he knocked Rahman (41-6-2) to the canvas three times, ending the former champion's reign with a blistering left hook to the face, just 43 seconds from the final bell.
For Rappaport, it was a great feeling to see a boxer he took a chance on, win the title. &#8220It was exhilarating, it was emotional and it was humbling at the same time,” he said.
Since the match, Rappaport said that he has heard from many people with stories of how Maskaev, 37, has inspired them. &#8220This was a real-life Rocky story,” Rappaport said. &#8220It's just a feel good, inspirational story. I think Oleg showed [that] in life there are options and there are choices.”
In the few days following the fight, Rappaport said that the offers have been steadily coming in for future engagements, ensuring that Maskaev's Cinderella story won't be coming to an end any time soon.