Why was Barrera able to beat Naseem Hamed so easily?

[Dip_Slide]

A lot of reasons, Barrera was very determined for the fight, he studied all Hamed's tendencies and came up with a very disciplined game plan that Hamed couldn't adjust to, Hamed viewed Barrera as a face first slugger that he's gonna be able to time, counter and use his speed and power against. Barrera fought a very technically sound fight and Hamed didn't know how to deal with that.

Hamed was probably my favorite fighter at the time and I was extremely disappointed in the fact that he didn't try to get back in there with Barrera to try to avenge that humiliating loss, instead he opted to completely retire from the sport after the only loss he ever had as a pro.

[bojangles1987]

It's one thing to talk about various problems Hamed had that affected the fight. I could understand that.

What is ridiculous is that people act like Marco Antonio Barrera, one of the great fighters of all time, needed Hamed to be at his worst in order to beat him. I understand why Hamed has this overblown mythic reputation where people think that at his best he was somehow untouchable, but that reputation is divorced from reality. Barrera was better. Plain and simple. He proved so in the ring and throughout the rest of his incredible career.

[Willy Wanker]

Barrera's heart and desire was greater than Hamed's skill.

Hamed was out fought, not out classed.

It is interesting that this was Hamed's biggest fight (i believe) in terms of venue and profile etc and he failed to live up to his reputation.

Not just heart and desire, Barrera's skill was also greater than Hamed's skill.

[SunSpace]

Ya'll must've forgot about Naseem!

*A hologram of the Prince breaks into a dance routine while avoiding every single shot from his opponent, then knocks him out cold*

A real X-Man;

Ya'll must've not been around! lol

I was, as a kid.

Dude was sick.

[LetOutTheCage]

Hand problems happen all the damn time. Great fighters still find a way. Floyd had hand problems most of his career. He also managed a close fight with Castillo with an actual injured shoulder. Ward still schooled Froch with a broken hand. I'd react the same way if either of those fighters lost fights for those reasons.

The main part of your original post I took issue with was the "lazy" and "unmotivated" part. If you get lazy or are unmotivated, that's on you. I'll never take that as justification for losing a fight.

Do you think Naz was in his prime condition leading up to the fight?

Yeah some fighters can adapt but some great fighters simply cant. Naz was far more reliant on his punching power than the likes of Ward or Mayweather. Naz was an aggressive fighter who relied on excellent reflexes and power. He would often lunge forward with very little concern about his own defence. The examples you gave are two defensive-oriented fighters.Take away power away from someone known as a power puncher and an aggressive one at that and of course there not going to be as good.

I agree that attitude was 100% Naz's fault but it's still something that needs to be considered when looking at why he lost.

You cant say someone with hand problems and one eye out the door is in prime condition and you cant say that it was all down to Barrera neutralizing Naz because there wasn't much of a Naz for him to neutralize.

[therealpugilist]

Honestly i dont give a ****..it was a boxing match and the better man won...even Lampley lost him **** in that fight going all anti religious and Foreman had to shut him down

yea I remember that...thank god george and roy kept them in line....lampley was a pompous butt hole at times

[SunSpace]

yea I remember that...thank god george and roy kept them in line....lampley was a pompous butt hole at times

That was messed up; As a kid, I remember Lampley saying something along the lines of, "Where is his God now?! Allah can't protect him now!"

As great as Lampley is as a commentator (my favorite ever), he should've been fired for discriminating like that on air.

[therealpugilist]

That was messed up; As a kid, I remember Lampley saying something along the lines of, "Where is his God now?! Allah can't protect him now!"

As great as Lampley is as a commentator (my favorite ever), he should've been fired for discriminating like that on air.

he wasnt going to get fired when the U.S. was trying to peg ******s as the new "terroists" even though we all know Christians destroyed turtle island(north america),its indigenous people, and have murdered, ****d, and stole more than any group on U.S. soil. Still do today but the media wants to peg ******s as the bad guy. AL queda and ISIS are the last thing americans need to worry about when you have home grown terroist groups

[b00g13man]

Do you think Naz was in his prime condition leading up to the fight?

Yeah some fighters can adapt but some great fighters simply cant. Naz was far more reliant on his punching power than the likes of Ward or Mayweather. Naz was an aggressive fighter who relied on excellent reflexes and power. He would often lunge forward with very little concern about his own defence. The examples you gave are two defensive-oriented fighters.Take away power away from someone known as a power puncher and an aggressive one at that and of course there not going to be as good.

I agree that attitude was 100% Naz's fault but it's still something that needs to be considered when looking at why he lost.

You cant say someone with hand problems and one eye out the door is in prime condition and you cant say that it was all down to Barrera neutralizing Naz because there wasn't much of a Naz for him to neutralize.

Is anyone ever really in prime condition for fights? Boxers go in with injuries more often than not.

[therealpugilist]

Is anyone ever really in prime condition for fights? Boxers go in with injuries more often than not.

good point!!!!

even in wrestling (folk style/high school) you hardly come in top condition each match. All the training and matches take their toll.

My last month of my first year, My left leg was ****** up. We wrapped it and I'd keep it moving. Missed one state-wide tourney, I said **** it I dont want to miss any other chance to win medals. I ended up making it to state and coming 3rd in my region.

Some people pull out with injuries, others dont...its just not cool to make excuses when you lost. If you made the decision to compete, its too late to make excuses. If you lost, you lost.