Good Altitude

Inside a bright red barn in the mountains of Big Bear Lake, Calif., 7,500 feet above sea level, WBC heavyweight champ Hasim (Rock) Rahman faces perhaps his toughest opponent to date: altitude. "Man, it's hell up here," says Rahman (41-5-2 with 33 KOs), who'll defend his title against Oleg Maskaev (32--5 with 25 KOs) on Aug. 12 in Las Vegas. "But when I come back down, I feel like Superman." For the last five weeks Rahman has made camp in the thin air, training seven days a week, two to three hours a day. "Training at this altitude enhances a fighter's performance level," says Rahman's trainer Thel Torrance. "You go six rounds here, you can go 10 anywhere else."

Rahman trains with rap music blaring and has a considerable staff, including "hype man" Brandon (Church) Johnson, who comes to sessions in plaid pants and a top hat and shouts things like "King Hasim! King Hasim! The man that don't play will leave his opponent DOA!" as Rahman works out.

Rahman also has four sparring partners, each an accomplished heavyweight with specific attributes: Rod Willis (size and strength), Chris Arreola (durability), Travis Kauffman (quickness and hand speed) and Eric Kirkland (elusiveness). "I want him to have to shift his thinking," says Torrance. "Try and mix it up so he doesn't get comfortable."

Here's Rahman's mountainside workout, which he begins by jumping rope for 20 minutes and doing 50 push-ups to get into "fight mode."

STRETCHING

The 15-minute session is vital for the 6-foot, 240- pound Rahman. "He's so solid you have to make sure all his muscles are loose before he puts on gloves," says strength and conditioning coach Mario Francis (above). The key, says Francis, is "pressure." To apply it, he pulls on Rahman's legs to stretch his lower back and uses a bar to stretch his arms.

SHADOWBOXING

For 10 minutes without rest he feigns punches, in front of a mirror, while dodging and feinting and shuffling his feet. Rahman visualizes his opponent while Torrance critiques his form. The exercise works the shoulders and helps reinforce fundamental boxing technique. "My least favorite part of training," says Rahman. "Boring."

SPARRING

In eight three-minute rounds, he faces a fresh partner every two rounds, forcing him to maintain his intensity. Even for the nonboxer, sparring is a full-body workout that improves reflexes and conditioning. Torrance occasionally makes rounds four minutes long, to build stamina and confidence. (A mere three-minute round will feel easy.)