By Terence Dooley
Naseem Hamed has not fought since 2002 but the former featherweight champion of the world is still a regular feature at boxing shows, especially when Kell Brook is fighting. Brook defeated Michael Jennings via a fifth round, cut-eye stoppage earlier tonight and Hamed, known as 'The Prince', was on hand to cheer for the rising Sheffield star, who trained alongside Hamed at the Ingle's Wincobak gym when Brook, now 22-0 (15), was a budding boxer.
Hamed told Boxingscene that he believes 'Special K' will go go all the way to the top of the welterweight division. “One hundred percent,” said Hamed when asked if he's passing on the torch.
“Kell's a good kid. He's a fantastic fighter and he's hopefully the second coming of 'The Prince'. I know he'll have too much speed and too much power for Michael,” predicted the former champion ahead of the clash.
Naz has dangled the carrot of a comeback every so often yet he laughed off the idea that Kell's success could rekindle his own fire. “There is load of temptation there,” he said when asked if the flame still burns, “but I did it for a good twenty one years so am alright with it. It is Kell's time and I think Kell will become the best in the world, he'll be a world champion within a year.”
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