Comments Thread For: Measured Against All Time: Prince Naseem Hamed

[torosboxing75]

Naseem deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Great fighter who's reign is often ignored.

He should be in the Hall of Fame. Great fighter in his time.

[boxingfan1986]

Naz was the reason I started watching Boxing. Used to watch him on Terrestrial TV at first on ITV then he switched over to Sky and Sky Box Office. Watched him on there too. Brilliant boxer. He did have arrogance but he backed it up in the ring. He genuinely made his fights exciting.

[moboxer]

Spot On

Great analysis, excellent series of articles. Spot on regarding Hamed as well.

Might have also been worth giving a bit more attention to Hamed's rise up the ranks: he dismantled some quality opposition at bantam and super-bantam weight and fought like a boxer far beyond his years. For example, winning the European bantamweight title in only his 12th fight against the highly respected Vicenzo Belcastro and smashing two-time world title challenger Freddy Cruz in his 14th victory. He made respectable, high-level pro's look like novices in the ring. But it would also have been interesting to consider in more depth just why he moved up from super bantam when he did, and the champions he could've fought before going to feather (e.g. Barrera pre-Junior Jones).

Would've been fun to include fighter's in the super featherweight division in the assessment of "Who he didn't fight", as well (Hamed always said when he was on the rise that he would become a 3 weight world champ). Arturo Gatti, Azumah Nelson, Acelion Freitas and of course Mayweather were all possibilities.

Interesting to consider that Hamed's fall and the rise of Pacquiao were only separated by a couple of years, too - that would have been an incredible match-up. Probably a bit outside the remit of the article, but I'd love to hear your opinion on some of those mythical match-ups for Hamed, Cliff - if you'd care to share?

[removed]

Hamed is a legend. Massive power in both hands, completely unique style. He also paved the way for smaller fighters to earn big monies like the big guys. Every Mexican fighter should thank him.

[chavmex]

Mexican fighter should be thanking him? For what? Chiquita Gonzalez and Michael Carbajal had their 1 million dollars purse before Hamed wore a pair of gloves?

Julio Cesar Chavez is the opne that open the million dollar dances to the Mexican fighter way before hamed was boxing pro!!!

Please, Hamed was a one hit wonder and Barrera exposed him for what he had.

As far as the BHOF goes, i agree he should be there, because I dont agree with him being the one bringing the little classes into the lime light, i have to agree that he brought lights, music and entreteinment into this as a whole package.....

[Dirk Diggler UK]

Mexican fighter should be thanking him? For what? Chiquita Gonzalez and Michael Carbajal had their 1 million dollars purse before Hamed wore a pair of gloves?

Julio Cesar Chavez is the opne that open the million dollar dances to the Mexican fighter way before hamed was boxing pro!!!

Please, Hamed was a one hit wonder and Barrera exposed him for what he had.

As far as the BHOF goes, i agree he should be there, because I dont agree with him being the one bringing the little classes into the lime light, i have to agree that he brought lights, music and entreteinment into this as a whole package.....

Yeah....a one-off fight. Naz was making 7 figures on the regs. Unheard of for a featherweight.

[richardt]

I was a big fan, considered him one of my 5 favorite fighters at the time but I think he could have cemented a HOF legacy if he had rededicated himself after the Barrera loss. He was not old, not shot, not washed up, one loss and even that was not a KO loss. But with such a huge ego, this was one of the strongest cases for a fighter taking another fighter's soul because Hamed was never the same. He is a mixed bag when it comes to helping/hurting others. He gave houses and money to his family and was known as being hugely generous but then had that car accident where he seriously injured another driver.

[Dirk Diggler UK]

I was a big fan, considered him one of my 5 favorite fighters at the time but I think he could have cemented a HOF legacy if he had rededicated himself after the Barrera loss. He was not old, not shot, not washed up, one loss and even that was not a KO loss. But with such a huge ego, this was one of the strongest cases for a fighter taking another fighter's soul because Hamed was never the same. He is a mixed bag when it comes to helping/hurting others. He gave houses and money to his family and was known as being hugely generous but then had that car accident where he seriously injured another driver.

It really wasn't. Naz was never really the same fighter after he left Brendan Ingle. The Barrera loss was inevitable in hindsight, his head wasn't in the game any more.

[thack]

Naz at one stage was on fire, remember how ordinary he made Steve Rob look among others, the Kelly war was fab.I think he went in to the Barrera fight thinking he could take him out when he pleased and that backfired big time looking so disorganised and sometimes even amateurish against the master.
On his day few fighters were more exciting , just a pity he fizzled out like he did.

[goldenbear]

Calzaghe doesn't Belong in HOF

If you let Calzaghe in Hamed should get in without a blink of an eye in the HOF.