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He didn't mentally fold in that fight, he took barrera far too lightly and, up to his usual tricks didn't train. i think the story was that he began in the gym 3 weeks before the fight and messed around most of the time. He was such a natural talent, with such a killer punch, that he got a terrific swelled head, and his ego was even more swollen.
When he'd be asked a question about a coming fight he'd flex his bicep and kiss it. This is one guy who TRULY believed that no matter what, nor whom, he'd never be "beat" (as he used to say).
Barrera came fully prepared, and won 116-112 all 3 cards if I recall. That was not a beatdown, it was just a messy fight because Barrera, instead of getting into the trenches as Hamed thought, and where he could easily have KO'd him, Barrera stood off and boxed him, often making Hamed have to punch from a distance and miss, and look foolish. Also when Hamed was off balance would be able to come in and hit him with nice combinations.
It was Hamed's ego which couldn't take the loss, he wasn't hurt, but embarrassed, and although he later had another fight which he won, had lost interest and didn't bother turning up to the gym again. He had loads of money and enjoyed tempting the press with occasional reports of comebacks, which never materialized.
That was the only fight he ever lost.
When he'd be asked a question about a coming fight he'd flex his bicep and kiss it. This is one guy who TRULY believed that no matter what, nor whom, he'd never be "beat" (as he used to say).
Barrera came fully prepared, and won 116-112 all 3 cards if I recall. That was not a beatdown, it was just a messy fight because Barrera, instead of getting into the trenches as Hamed thought, and where he could easily have KO'd him, Barrera stood off and boxed him, often making Hamed have to punch from a distance and miss, and look foolish. Also when Hamed was off balance would be able to come in and hit him with nice combinations.
It was Hamed's ego which couldn't take the loss, he wasn't hurt, but embarrassed, and although he later had another fight which he won, had lost interest and didn't bother turning up to the gym again. He had loads of money and enjoyed tempting the press with occasional reports of comebacks, which never materialized.
That was the only fight he ever lost.
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