The Greatness of Naseem Hamed

[Cuauhtémoc1520]

What is wrong with fighting at a certain time of year? There is nothing wrong with a ****** fighting during a Christian holy week.

I remember George Foreman praying straight after beating Moorer. I am not at all religious but that was a great moment, did you have a problem with that too? Who cares if a guy prays?

Can you tell me what he said that you saw as disrespectful to Christianity?

Again, you seem to forget the hype and talk that was coming from Hammed's camp before the fight. Not only was he disrespectful to Barerra saying things like "Where's Mexico" but the fact that you shouldn't bring religion into a fight because it's an even more touchy subject than race or nationality.

Hammed many times said it was for Islam and even carried the word "Islam" on his trunks. He comes into the ring with a flag that has the inscription "There is no God other than Allah and Mohammed is his messenger".

To say, "Christianity is wrong or will lose" and alot of people took it as that. Even when Barerra was asked about it he said he refused to bring religion into it and didn't want to offend anyone. Then he knelt to his corner, took his rosary in his hand, kissed it, then began to whoop Hammed's ass for being such a loud mouth.

[Clegg]

Again, you seem to forget the hype and talk that was coming from Hammed's camp before the fight.

Again? I don't think we've discussed this before.

I am not saying that Hamed wasn't overhyped or that he was an ATG, and I am not saying that he didn't disrespect Barrera. All I am saying is that there is nothing wrong with praying in boxing and that I have never heard any anti-Christian comments from Hamed. That doesn't mean none exist, but I have yet to see any.

Not only was he disrespectful to Barerra saying things like "Where's Mexico" but the fact that you shouldn't bring religion into a fight because it's an even more touchy subject than race or nationality.

Hammed many times said it was for Islam and even carried the word "Islam" on his trunks. He comes into the ring with a flag that has the inscription "There is no God other than Allah and Mohammed is his messenger".

How is this disrespectful to Christians?

To say, "Christianity is wrong or will lose" and alot of people took it as that. Even when Barerra was asked about it he said he refused to bring religion into it and didn't want to offend anyone. Then he knelt to his corner, took his rosary in his hand, kissed it, then began to whoop Hammed's ass for being such a loud mouth.

I don't think that is what Hamed meant. Tyson was vocal about his faith in Islam, does that mean he was bringing religion into all of his fights? How about when ***ish fighters have a Star of David on their trunks? Or when Christians have a cross?

[Cuauhtémoc1520]

Again? I don't think we've discussed this before.

I am not saying that Hamed wasn't overhyped or that he was an ATG, and I am not saying that he didn't disrespect Barrera. All I am saying is that there is nothing wrong with praying in boxing and that I have never heard any anti-Christian comments from Hamed. That doesn't mean none exist, but I have yet to see any.



How is this disrespectful to Christians?



I don't think that is what Hamed meant. Tyson was vocal about his faith in Islam, does that mean he was bringing religion into all of his fights? How about when ***ish fighters have a Star of David on their trunks? Or when Christians have a cross?

Do you even read my post's? Really............

One thing is to kneel and pray or even where a star of David or a rosary. Another thing is to constantly say "This is for Islam and Allah is the only one and true God".

When you say **** like that, you are indirectly saying that other faiths are false. Now, I don't have any problem with people discussing or even arguing theologies about their faiths, it's just that pro sports is not the place to do it.

Especially in a sport where "fighting" is concerned. He was saying that "Islam won't let me lose" **** like that. If a Christian fighter was to come into the ring and say things like "Jesus is the one and true God and there is no other", I guarantee you, ******s would take major offense to that and turn it into a Islam vs Christianity thing.

My point is there is a difference between being loyal to your faith and alienating other's by the words you chose.

[Clegg]

Do you even read my post's? Really............

Not sure what your problem is. Maybe you just don't like me disagreeing with you? Not like I'm insulting you or anything.

I asked what was disrespectful about fighting during a Christian holy week, you didn't answer. I don't remember asking if you read my post.

One thing is to kneel and pray or even where a star of David or a rosary. Another thing is to constantly say "This is for Islam and Allah is the only one and true God".

So you're saying that Tyson and Holyfield were wrong?

When you say **** like that, you are indirectly saying that other faiths are false. Now, I don't have any problem with people discussing or even arguing theologies about their faiths, it's just that pro sports is not the place to do it.

Especially in a sport where "fighting" is concerned. He was saying that "Islam won't let me lose" **** like that. If a Christian fighter was to come into the ring and say things like "Jesus is the one and true God and there is no other", I guarantee you, ******s would take major offense to that and turn it into a Islam vs Christianity thing.

My point is there is a difference between being loyal to your faith and alienating other's by the words you chose.

I guess we just have different opinions on that, which is fair enough.

[SnoopySmurf]

11-1 at best? Even people who hate Hamed would disagree with that.

No. Only a Naseem nuthugger would.

[Cuauhtémoc1520]

Not sure what your problem is. Maybe you just don't like me disagreeing with you? Not like I'm insulting you or anything.

I asked what was disrespectful about fighting during a Christian holy week, you didn't answer. I don't remember asking if you read my post.



So you're saying that Tyson and Holyfield were wrong?



I guess we just have different opinions on that, which is fair enough.

Im not trying to argue with you either man, I just remember that **** like it was yesterday and Hammed was being a loud mouth and trying to instigate the whole thing which was his style....I get that.

About the fighting during Easter week, I don't think there's anything wrong with that I just heard and it's only speculation from what I have read, is that Hammed wanted to beat Barrera (A Christian) on one of the holiest weeks in Christianity.

I have no proof of that other than word of mouth so who knows. He sure didn't help his cause by the way he was acting leading up to the fight.

[big paulie]

Someone posted a funny Hamed video earlier this morning and I got annoyed with a few of the posts on that thread. I saw Naseem called everything from JOKE to BUM to HEARTLESS. I wanted to do one of my GREATNESS series threads on Naseem but I wasn't really in the mood this morning......but I'm in the mood now.

NASEEM HAMED 36-1-0 (31 KO's)

WBO Featherweight Champion 1995-2000
IBF Featherweight Champion 1997
WBC Featherweight Champion 1999-2000

Please note that Hamed beat every beltholder at 126 in his time , the only reason he didn't hold all those belt and wasn't the undisputed , unified champion was due to WBC/WBA/IBF/WBO politics.

Let's take a closer look at this BUM'S resume. Here's a list of his notable wins , his opponents , their record at the time they fought Naseem and all the titles they held.

TKO11 Medina (52-7-0) IBF/WBC/WBO126 Champion
TKO7 Vazquez (50-7-2) WBA118 , WBA122 , WBA126 Champion
KO4 Kelley (47-1-2) WBC/WBU126 Champion
UD12 Soto (54-7-2) WBC126 Champion
TKO8 Johnson (44-2-2) IBF126 Champion
TKO4 Sanchez (26-1-0)
TKO11 Ingle (21-0-0) IBF126 Champion
UD12 McCullough (22-1-0) WBC118 Champion
TKO2 Molina (27-0-0)
TKO8 Robinson (21-9-1) WBO126 Champion
KO2 Liendo (42-4-3)
TKO6 Cruz (44-6-6)
KO2 Perez (37-12-2) IBF115 Champion
KO4 Castro (43-17-3)
TKO4 Bungu (37-2-0) IBF122 Champion

Not bad for a HEARTLESS JOKE of a fighter. But then again he's still a BUM because his ONE loss was to Hall Of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera right? Because not too many guys lost to Marco......

Its not just the Barrera humiliation, Augie sanchez and Kevin Kelly basically exposed him, those fights proved that Hamed couldnt box but also that he did have tremendous power which ultimately saved him. Some people also had little Wayne Mcoullough a winner v Hamed too. My point has always been that Hamed beat some good fighters but no great fighters therefore cant be considered a grest himself

[joshyp18]

naseem hamed was a deadly fighter in his day and one of my favourite boxers ever yet i also believe he wasted his talent. he had a clause in the contract with mab that would have allowed a rematch to take place yet he never took it. a shame to see such a great fighter quit so early and never redeem his only loss

[STEELHEAD]

With all due respect to the threadstarter, Hamed receives the flak he does because of the way he was maneuvered and the fights he avoided.

It's real easy to throw down a list of names that look solid and say, "look at how many good fighters this guy beat." I've seen people do that with Oscar. But unless you actually remember when he fought those people, who people thought he should fight instead and what the public perception was at the time, it means little. So sure you can list Tom Johnson as a great win for Hamed but we all know Johnson had a foot out the door when he beat him. Same for Cesar Soto and several other names on the list.

Really, I could break it down but I'm not up for it this morning - tired of battling the boxrec warriors. In any case, I will say that Hamed over time has become underrated but that's probably because he was overrated during the time he was fighting.

thank you!!!

[Moon]

difference of opinion.

My remarks were reserved for Naseem Hamed, who has a very distinctive place in boxing history. His name will NEVER be recalled with regularity in discussions of truly Great Fighters, because of the way he left the fight game. The question of his greatness would not be so eaily contested if he'd at least remained at least interested in fighting, after such a one-sided loss to an 3-1 underdog in Barerra. But, Hamed seemed to tuck his tail and walk away to never fight at the top-tier again. For that very compelling reason, Hamed's legacy will be that of a Champion with truly great skills, but not a Great Champion. That was the original post question.