How special was Naseem Hamed?

His hands were wrecked after he KO’d Augie Sanchez the year before he fought Barrera. I live in the same city as Nas and not long before the fight he was well overweight, I’ve heard he had to lose 30lb in a month. By that point he was well on a downward slope, not training as he used to, relying on his power to get him out of trouble. It’s not just that he stepped up his competition at the end, his own level was already falling by that time. The Hamed that beat Steve Robinson would have given Barrera a much tougher fight. Yes it's a combination of things like you said. I maintain a younger fresh Naseem beats Barrera by KO

So special that he caused me to fall in love with Boxing before my 10th birthday. Must have watched him knock out Said Lawal about 500 times! I stole my brother's VHS tape of Naz's highlight reel, and when DVD players became a thing, I went out and bought a more recent one. The only other fighters I have actually paid for on the screen is Joe Calzaghe and Muhammad Ali.

Incorrect he was contemplating retirement before Barrera, the issues were his hands kept breaking, he was struggling to train and ultimately wasnt able to sustain the style that brought him success in the first place. Naseem was a special fighter, extremely athletic, p4p one of the hardest punchers and most importantly had an extremely pleasing style. Naseem would have beaten Barrera had they fought earlier in their careers. His hands were wrecked after he KO’d Augie Sanchez the year before he fought Barrera. I live in the same city as Nas and not long before the fight he was well overweight, I’ve heard he had to lose 30lb in a month. By that point he was well on a downward slope, not training as he used to, relying on his power to get him out of trouble. It’s not just that he stepped up his competition at the end, his own level was already falling by that time. The Hamed that beat Steve Robinson would have given Barrera a much tougher fight.

That fight should be shown to all aspiring boxers. Barrera put on a masterclass. I'm not taking away anything from Hamed because he tried. He just could not overcome the discipline and boxing fundamentals of Barerra. Yeah it was a brilliantly disciplined performance. He never got carried away with his success, he just kept to the game-plan and kept picking Naz off. George Groves actually watched that fight right before he fought DeGale, knowing he would also have to box to a game-plan that night.

Yeah very true, Barrera done an absolute job on him physically and mentally. That fight should be shown to all aspiring boxers. Barrera put on a masterclass. I'm not taking away anything from Hamed because he tried. He just could not overcome the discipline and boxing fundamentals of Barerra.

Naseem Hamed was extremely unorthodox with freakish power and tons of charisma. He could have achieved more after the Barrera debacle but I would say he had a successful career nonetheless. Yeah definitely, had a hugely successful career. I just wish he’d have remained more focused and stayed around for a few more years I would’ve loved to have seen him mixing it in the Pac/JMM/Barrera/Morales golden era.

how special was he? hhhmm well he could have qualified for the special olympics easy, thats how special

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5biML1-tZEc Randomly watched this today... Crazy how guys like Donald Trump and Daniel Day Lewis actually took an interest in Naz’s US debut. What an great fight as well. Despite essentially cleaning out 126, I always felt Naz could have achieved so much more. Anyone else agree? Naseem Hamed was extremely unorthodox with freakish power and tons of charisma. He could have achieved more after the Barrera debacle but I would say he had a successful career nonetheless.

Yes, he was skilled, powerful, and entertaining. He had more in his tank when he retired but that loss to Barerra seemed to have wrecked his mindset for the sport. Incorrect he was contemplating retirement before Barrera, the issues were his hands kept breaking, he was struggling to train and ultimately wasnt able to sustain the style that brought him success in the first place. Naseem was a special fighter, extremely athletic, p4p one of the hardest punchers and most importantly had an extremely pleasing style. Naseem would have beaten Barrera had they fought earlier in their careers.

Naz was "hit and not get hit" when he started out, very much in the Herol Graham mould, but once his power kicked in he fell love with it. In addition, he wasn't the most disciplined guy. I think he left a fair bit on the table in terms of maximising his potential.

Naz was one of the most entertaining fighters of all time, he had literally everything we like to see in a prizefighter. However while he was wildly unorthodox, a master at ko'ing less than world class opponents and fairly elusive, we started to see his real level when he made his american debut. KK was definitely passed his best when he met Naz and still had a lot of success, it certainly took a lot of the luster and when he finally met Barrera, well he came up very short. Though from what I can gather, it wasn't actually the Barrera fight that finished Naz, at least not directly. He said by this point, his hands were in absolute pieces and I guess that, coupled with the realisation that God was indeed willing to see him lose, culminated in losing all motivation to fight. Good post... I think the Barrera fight destroyed him mentally. He destroyed his air of invincibility.

What everybody said. Naz was a true showman and an entertainer. He was more than just a boxer. That’s what’s missing in today’s boxing. These dudes think Spence and Mikey garcia are superstar PPV materials lol but they dont have any spark in their personalities. Naz is a promoter’s wet dream.. he was a true superstar material. Guy had alot of charisma. Yeah this is what I meant by “special”, Naz was able to generate such a buzz wherever he fought.

Yeah I agree. He had the curse of power. He got away with a lot of bad habits because of his quickness and power. When he fought Barerra all those flaws showed up. Yeah very true, Barrera done an absolute job on him physically and mentally.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5biML1-tZEc Randomly watched this today... Crazy how guys like Donald Trump and Daniel Day Lewis actually took an interest in Naz’s US debut. What an great fight as well. Despite essentially cleaning out 126, I always felt Naz could have achieved so much more. Anyone else agree? Yeah I agree. He had the curse of power. He got away with a lot of bad habits because of his quickness and power. When he fought Barerra all those flaws showed up.

What everybody said. Naz was a true showman and an entertainer. He was more than just a boxer. That’s what’s missing in today’s boxing. These dudes think Spence and Mikey garcia are superstar PPV materials lol but they dont have any spark in their personalities. Naz is a promoter’s wet dream.. he was a true superstar material. Guy had alot of charisma.

He was probably one of the most exciting fighters you would see. He had it all and he would always push for the knockout. He had insane reflexes and power. He was a fantastic fighter but I wouldn't say he was PAC level. Barrera really taught him lesson and the sweet science of boxing. Was a shame he gave it up after that. Well, I don't think anyone thinks he's on.Pac s level. But I rremember when he was being downed by Kelly and getting nailed by barrera time after time I used to think how come he's gone downhill so much since he beat Steve robinson? But reality he probably hadn't gone backwards it's just he stepped up competition and he was more flawed than him koing everyone suggested. Like wilder

He was probably one of the most exciting fighters you would see. He had it all and he would always push for the knockout. He had insane reflexes and power. He was a fantastic fighter but I wouldn't say he was PAC level. Barrera really taught him lesson and the sweet science of boxing. Was a shame he gave it up after that.

He was my fave at the time. I thought he was something special but he kept going down so realised he had flaws. Even though still unique in his own way

Some of best wins were over guys past it, Vazquez and Tom Johnson and you could say Barrera exposed him but he was one of the most entertaining fighters of that ERA.

I heard it from lamps lol, talking bout making millions of dollars and such