In January 1997, Khalid Rahilou became WBA super-lightweight champion after defeating American fighter Frankie Randall at Nashville by technical knockout in the eleventh round. It was the first time since Alphonse Halimi in 1957 that a French boxer won the WBA title in the USA. Meanwhile, Aouissi continued his downfall by losing his European cruiserweight title against Englishman Johnny Nelson by technical knockout in the seventh round in February 1997.[1]