Rafael feels IBHOF voters are ill-informed on Prince Naseem Hamed and biased

Q. Most writers feel Hamed was a protected fighter who rarely left England and got smashed when he fought a top opponent in Barrera. Dan Rafael: 1st off, he fought several times in America so that is just wrong. Besides where does it say a guy has to fight in America? Nowhere. Second, he fought all four reigning titleholders and beat them easily and should have had all the belts at the same time except for politics prevented it. He was the lineal champion for 3 years and made like 15 title defenses, scored massive knockouts (maybe best featherweight puncher ever) and changed the economics of the smaller divisions. That counts for something. He MADE boxing fans AND was a top-notch champion for many years. Q. Outside of the loss to Barrera, no matter how lopsided, and his brash style outside of the ring, what is the main knock against Hamed? Do most writers not vote for him because they didn't "like" him? Dan Rafael: That is my feeling. A lot of writers are just clueless on his career and all he accomplished and hold one defeat -- to an all-time great, by the way -- against him. In his prime, Naz was DOMINANT and fought most everyone. http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/49797 Makes a decent case.

Comments (14)

Phil_Ivey

I think people are bitter at how his career ended. It was so anti-climatic how he went out for such a charismatic and exciting fighter.

12y ago

Duckweather_Jr

"The Prince Reigns On" (Naseem Hamed Documentary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5BRy-c-9Tg

12y ago

IronDanHamza

I think he should be inducted.

12y ago

soul_survivor

Naz is a first ballot HOFer and an ATG, how many featherweights in the modern era of multiple championships have gone on to beat every other champion in their division, most by KO reign supreme as THE CHAMPION for a number of years? His only loss to a great fighter in Barrera and that too a close fight (people forget that). I think it's because Naz was the first fighter since Ali to really bring Islam to the fore in boxing and by this stage, the US media and the British too, knew the effects that could have on a new generation of fan so they tried to neuter him and the moment he loss, the shunned him. Naz should have been in the HOF in his first year of eligibility.

12y ago

Duckweather_Jr

This ring entrance alone should put Naseem in the Hall (first ballot).

12y ago

ShamrockXpress

The IBHOF favours american fighters. If Nas, Benn and Eubank were American they would have already been inducted.

12y ago

samir191

You think US writers cared about religion that much? I doubt it tbh, they're quite tolerant of the various religions over there. I think it's more ignorance regarding his pre-Barrera/Kelly career. There is, or was, pre-internet, a commonly held belief that you're unproven until you come to the US. A lot of semi-casual boxing fans still hold this belief, the better read fan understands it's the opponents that matter not the venue. I'd say Nas was like a British version of Broner to many of the IBHOF voters, someone they never believed in and were waiting and hoping for to get beat just so they could say he was never good in the first place. Hamed was of course, significantly more proven than Broner but that's lost on most of them (Rafael and one or two others excepted) and the fighter he lost to over 12 was an atg in Barrera, not a Maidana. Thats my opinion bro, i vividly remember Larry Merchant admonishing Naz in his post fight interview after the Bungu fight for shouting 'Allah Hu Akbar' in the mic pre fight, and this was pre 9/11, i dont believe HBO or even showtime would tolerate that now

12y ago

IMDAZED

I can't say I disagree. Plus Hamed had several tough opponents during his title reign like Soto, Vasquez, etc. And a lot of exciting ones too and almost always somehow found a way to pull it out with a spectacular KO. Damn, bring back Naseem.

12y ago

Duckweather_Jr

America is not at all tolerant to Muslims. Blame 9/11 and Elie Sechbak for the IBHOF slight.

12y ago

tyotfo

Most boxing fans are the same... they have no clue how good he was.. He lost to Barrera.. who people rank as an ATG? i actually remember the scores being fairly close after the point deduction.. but yeah Barrera won clean.. I think Hamed would have had an easier fight stylistically with Morales or Pac. Lets not forget Hamed was at that stage not training properly and lost his love of boxing.. even Manuel Steward said this.. Just look at the way Naz has blown up since he retired.. its pretty clear he isn't that dedicated to ANY training whatsoever LOL.. But yeah people have short memories.. or are new fans.. who just remember his last meaningful fight and forget all the other stuff.. If Gatti is in.. Hamed should be already in Great natural talent and destructive puncher who got schooled at elite level.

12y ago

Weebler_I

Simple: Naz was too vocal about his religion You think US writers cared about religion that much? I doubt it tbh, they're quite tolerant of the various religions over there. I think it's more ignorance regarding his pre-Barrera/Kelly career. There is, or was, pre-internet, a commonly held belief that you're unproven until you come to the US. A lot of semi-casual boxing fans still hold this belief, the better read fan understands it's the opponents that matter not the venue. I'd say Nas was like a British version of Broner to many of the IBHOF voters, someone they never believed in and were waiting and hoping for to get beat just so they could say he was never good in the first place. Hamed was of course, significantly more proven than Broner but that's lost on most of them (Rafael and one or two others excepted) and the fighter he lost to over 12 was an atg in Barrera, not a Maidana.

12y ago

samir191

Simple: Naz was too vocal about his religion

12y ago

Hougigo

Gatti made it, why not Prince?

12y ago

Sugar_Adam_Ali

Prince is def a hall of famer,,,,,, not Atg but def a hall of famer

12y ago