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Tonight at the spiritual home of boxing, Madison Square Garden, Kali Meehan suffered what he hopes will be a temporary setback to his world heavyweight championship aspirations.

The big Australasian, fighting former champion Hasim Rahman as though he was concealing an injury, displayed none of the defensive skills and lateral movement that featured in his last fight against Lamon Brewster.

Meehan moved gingerly even in attack, failing to establish his jab in the third once it looked as though he'd weathered Rahman's initial storm. The right hand that burst Brewster's eardrum and broke his jaw was reduced to a tentative paw.

With every offensive and defensive weapon normally at his disposal disabled, Meehan had little answer to the aggressive, hard punching American. Rahman, shorter in stature but longer in reach, was able to find Meehan time and again with his hurtful jab. By round two, he was able to come in behind the jab with that vaunted right hand that, even so early, loomed inevitable. It landed flush. Meehan kept Rahman off with his first real scoring punches, but seemed unable to unload with any power.

By the third, Meehan, despite occasionally scoring with single punches, shunned the chance to unload with combinations, even when Rahman slowed. Given the pattern of the fight, it seemed that, by round four, Meehan had a mere puncher's chance. His ring generalship had deserted him - in fact, he never brought it with him to the Garden. He retreated in a straight line from Rahman's rustic rushes, and had no answer to punches that he could see coming.

So the seven consecutive right hands to Meehan's left ear seemed as easy as hitting the side of a barn with a bat. All went unanswered. Then the gutsy Kali started to scrap, desperate to stay in the fight. It swayed the referee, who had moved ominously closer. Five more rights, again with Meehan's left ear as target, as though Rahman was attempting to unsettle his equilibrium, and the big Aussie was reeling in the rigging. Again he fought back with the gameness we've come to expect. At the bell, it was Kali, not the Rock, who was rumbling. But, as the ref motioned the warriors to their corners, Kali hesitated on his heels for a moment. It was enough for his concerned corner to curtail proceedings.

Meehan sent a message to his Aussie fans apologising for his performance. Of course, there was no need. He fought with extreme courage, and I have a feeling the next 24 hours or so will reveal just how much guts he needed to get into the ring with a former world champion and one of the hardest punchers in the division.

Because I'd be very surprised if Meehan went into this fight 100% well.