Breaking news: Naz to return this summer

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 06 Apr 2004, 08:38

By Steve Bunce
06 April 2004

Naseem Hamed will end a two-year exile from the ring and fight again this summer.

Hamed, 30, last fought in May 2002 when he attracted a crowd of 12,000 for a dull fight against Spain's Manuel Calvo, and all plans to fight in November of that year were postponed when he was booed from the ring.

The Sheffield fighter has instructed his advisors to put together a camp in May with specific requirements for sparring partners that will help the former featherweight World Champion to prepare fully for a return in July or August.

It was 10 years ago this Friday that Hamed first fought in a main event on ITV, attracting an audience of over six million. He lost his unbeaten record in 2001 to Mexico's Marco Antonio Barrera in Las Vegas, and has made £35m from his 37 fights.

It is thought that Hamed will meet Manchester's Michael Brodie in November if Brodie can beat Korea's Injin Chi on Saturday at the MEN Arena for the World Boxing Council featherweight title.

Hamed was one of British boxing's biggest stars during the Nineties and often attracted record viewing figures on Sky but it is unknown yet which broadcaster in Britain will screen his future fights.

During the last two months there have been increased rumours that ITV, once the sport's most successful broadcaster, is keen to return and if that is the case, Hamed would be ideal for them.

When Hamed last fought he was promoted by Barry Hearn and the boxer's brother Riath, and in theory the duo would once again be in charge of his career. But there is a possibility that an American promoter with links to the Cable broadcaster HBO could also be involved.

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 06 Apr 2004, 08:42

yer right, theres more chance of tyson winning the straw weight title than that happening

Hardhitters11 · Post by **Hardhitters11** » 06 Apr 2004, 08:42

If this is true it would be great although I fear he is already past his best and his lack of activity would hinder him from reaching the very top....In saying that there is nobody who is that impressive at the weight...By that I mean no real superstar now that Barrera has been beaten...JMM is good but nothing special and with Manny the bandwagon has got rolling far to quickly ala Mayorga and I see him getting dethoroned in the same manner....Harrison is someone I would see Hamed beating as is Brodie...

HH

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 06 Apr 2004, 08:48

Here's the link: http://sport.independent.co.uk/general/ ... ory=508807

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 06 Apr 2004, 08:50

bennie wrote:Here's the link: http://sport.independent.co.uk/general/ ... ory=508807

looks like bunce hasnt got anything better to write about, he hasnt even got any interview qoates of anyone, theres always a story on Hamed returning every few months

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 06 Apr 2004, 08:54

Well, if Bunce is going to write wholly unsubstantiated stories, he's setting himself up for complete ridicule.
I wouldn't be surprised if there was something behind this.

J · Post by J » 06 Apr 2004, 09:05

when was it published Bennie April 1st...that would ironic hahaha

personally I dont buy it, I dont think Hamed has the drive in the same way Tyson doesnt to get back in shape.
Its very difficult to have a break at something and come back and know you arent gonna be as good as you were. Thats demoralising and to a point can take the fun factor out of it as well.
We arent talking bout a man who had a break at the age of 24 and comes back in his prime say 27-28. He is getting old for a small guy to box and has had a long time inactive. I just cant see it myself.

Priff · Post by **Priff** » 06 Apr 2004, 09:30

There's no reason to suspect this story is made up, and given that Nas has been making the 'sounds' of a comeback for a couple of years, I can believe he is ready for a comeback.

The question is, which version of Nas is coming back. The original, raw, reflex reliant, pure excitment Nas, or the post Ingle, half way between 2 styles Nas. I think most of us suspect the latter.

At the moment, I just don't care if he comes back or not... But if he were to come back, I have a suspicion in the back of my mind that on fight night, when he enters the ring, a tingle will go up my spine and the hairs on the back of my neck will be stood right up. (..and it won't be my medication kicking in

).

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 06 Apr 2004, 09:34

Well, surely John Shepherd must know whether it's on the level or not...

ArtOfWar · Post by **ArtOfWar** » 06 Apr 2004, 09:46

I hope he does come back, it will be great for boxing. But I will believe it when I see it.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 06 Apr 2004, 10:46

Don't know about the Bunce story, but I've always thought Naz will make a comeback. He might leave it too late, but I can't see an ego that size allowing him to walk away from the limelight.
Can't see Brodie winning this weekend either.

Post by **John** » 06 Apr 2004, 11:09

Naz has been back in training for several weeks, we will make an announcement about who/when/where he is fighting soon.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 06 Apr 2004, 11:15

JohnShep wrote:Naz has been back in training for several weeks, we will make an announcement about who/when/where he is fighting soon.

Stop press.

Priff · Post by **Priff** » 06 Apr 2004, 11:21

JohnShep wrote:Naz has been back in training for several weeks, we will make an announcement about who/when/where he is fighting soon.

Holy Smokes.
Make sure you tell us (your loyal boxrec following) first

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 06 Apr 2004, 11:22

I must say this has taken me very much by surprise, I really didn't think he wanted any part of the fight scene any more. Just shows what I bloody know about it....

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 06 Apr 2004, 11:52

I hope he's serious I really do, and I hope he's serious about tackling the best not just coming back to beat Brodie/Harrison and retiring.

British boxing needs a showman again.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 06 Apr 2004, 12:02

If he comes back after a 2 year layoff and manages to take out Brodie and Harrison, I for one will be bloody impressed, both men are very tough propositions when you haven't fought for 2 1/2 years which is how long it will be before he gets in the ring.

J · Post by J » 06 Apr 2004, 12:16

jamesmcdonnell wrote:If he comes back after a 2 year layoff and manages to take out Brodie and Harrison, I for one will be bloody impressed, both men are very tough propositions when you haven't fought for 2 1/2 years which is how long it will be before he gets in the ring.

if does that I may have to eat humble pie for the rest of my life.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 06 Apr 2004, 12:20

I just want to see Naz talking about beating the best, which was always the way with him. It would be sad to see him come back with ambitions only stretching as far as Brodie & Harrison.

One of Naz's big selling points was his super-confidence, without that I'm not sure how much I would want to see him back in the ring.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 06 Apr 2004, 12:21

Naz should do Brodie a favour and announce he's next up if he wins Sat night.
Obviously he's let him down before, but just the chance of all that cash waiting for him if he beats Chi will give him a huge lift for the big fight.

It must be hard dragging himself though a 3rd fight for title, after coming so close twice before. Although Chi must be feeling pretty hard done by to.

Loftgroov · Post by **Loftgroov** » 06 Apr 2004, 12:32

Kilburn wrote:I just want to see Naz talking about beating the best, which was always the way with him. It would be sad to see him come back with ambitions only stretching as far as Brodie & Harrison.

One of Naz's big selling points was his super-confidence, without that I'm not sure how much I would want to see him back in the ring.

Kilburn - The problem is, the myth was exposed...

When Naz was talking about "knockin 'em allll aaaat baaaaaby!" ...you believed he just might, because until that point ...he had!

Naz can't really get away with such comments any longer. As soon as he left Ingle, he managed to screw himself over.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 06 Apr 2004, 12:32

Naz is a fighter who's style is based around his reflexes, after over two years away from the ring his reflexes will have slowed down even further. Can Naz even make Featherweight and still be strong after all this time?

If and it's a big if, Naz has recaptured his hunger, gets a good trainer whom Naz listens to and trains long and hard with plenty of top quality sparring maybe he can get back to being 90% of the fighter he was in his prime. Brodie and Harrison would then be competative matches IMO.

But I still think we've seen the best of Naz during his Super-Bantam and early Featherweight days.

If he comes back I fear it won't be the same, you can't turn the clock back.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 06 Apr 2004, 12:37

Naz can come back successfully in my opinion. He fancies the Brodie challenge - a man he chinned in one round in his last amateur bout, and was hardly 'shot' when he first dropped off the scene, which is what you have to look at to gauge how successfully a fighter can come back or not.
So many fighters are 'shot' when they first walk away, then announce a return to the ring and expect to recapture their peak form. That's impossible. But Naz bust his hand early in the Calvo fight, which made it the distance fight it was. He still looked sharp in front of a non-boxing crowd just there to see a knockout.
Given a couple of warm-ups, Naz will be back up there.

Loftgroov · Post by **Loftgroov** » 06 Apr 2004, 12:39

KOJOE90 wrote:
But I still think we've seen the best of Naz during his Super-Bantam and early Featherweight days.

If he comes back I fear it won't be the same, you can't turn the clock back.

Good comment. I agree.

You may see Naz again, but it won't be that Naz you remember from before...

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 06 Apr 2004, 13:31

I don't think we'll see him again at all.