If Hamed was American..

[Mensa07]

..would it even be a question over him getting into the HOF? Stats-wise he must stacks up? He was the MAN for what, like 5 years, won all the belts at feather (ok, technically I think Vasquez was stripped but whatever).

Barrera & Morales, yes those fights could have happened back in the 90's... but Naz was the featherweight king while they were still fighting at 122 then. If they really wanted a crack why did it take them like 5 years to move up?

Anyway, I find it hard to believe the fact he's not american isn't playing against him. I was reading on the Current Scene the other day (ok, not exactly the holy grail of boxing knowledge I know), but people were debating whether Chad Dawson is HOF-worthy. Just makes me shake my head, sometimes think american fighters get an automatic boost in rep jsu by being american, while fighters like Naz can achieve so much more but dont get a look in. Its like that glass ceiling that women talk about career-wise.

ok, rant over. cheers.

[DG.]

..would it even be a question over him getting into the HOF? Stats-wise he must stacks up? He was the MAN for what, like 5 years, won all the belts at feather (ok, technically I think Vasquez was stripped but whatever).

Barrera & Morales, yes those fights could have happened back in the 90's... but Naz was the featherweight king while they were still fighting at 122 then. If they really wanted a crack why did it take them like 5 years to move up?

Anyway, I find it hard to believe the fact he's not american isn't playing against him. I was reading on the Current Scene the other day (ok, not exactly the holy grail of boxing knowledge I know), but people were debating whether Chad Dawson is HOF-worthy. Just makes me shake my head, sometimes think american fighters get an automatic boost in rep jsu by being american, while fighters like Naz can achieve so much more but dont get a look in. Its like that glass ceiling that women talk about career-wise.

ok, rant over. cheers.

How long has Hamed been retired? did he ever officially retire?

He will get in the HOF.

Barry Mcguigan did and wtf did he ever do?

[Mensa07]

he was eligible last year I think, and I just read a piece on BS about why the writer won't be voting for him this year..

[Old bones Ian]

Lennox Lewis is now retired for 5 years, so he should get a vote into the HOF.

[Poncey]

Hasn' the voting already happened for next year?

[jamesmcdonnell]

Hamed will get in, without a shadow of a doubt. They LOVED him in the states.

[THEBUTCH]

He'll get in sooner or later.

Interesting point though, if Hamed was American he would have been put in fights with guys of the stature of Barrera sooner, probably quite a bit sooner, and IMO would have lost (Pacman, Morales, Marquez(well JMM was flat out ducked to be honest) etc) so his legacy would not be as strong as it currently is.

[Mensa07]

dunno, the Barrera fight was pretty much made in 96 wasn't it? but then he lost to Junior Jones.

[Old bones Ian]

Think its got to be in for the end of October.

Alot of boxers from the far east seem to get overlooked, Myung-Woo Yuh former 108lb champ , 17 defences, lost his title in defense 18, but won the rematch . He then retired after making 1 defense. Beat all the boxers he met, like Lennox Lewis.

[stujones]

If Hamed was American then he wouldn't be the HoF cause he would have fought and lost to Marquez earlier.

[Old bones Ian]

Have to say if Hamed was an american, he would of been a cocky, show off, disrespectful, loud mouth...........

[banjo]

if Hamed was American he'd be better than he was because Americans know how to build fighters.

That said though, I actually think Naz had a decent career and he was one of the fighters along with DLH and Lennox that actually kept me hooked on the sport.

[Coco]

Have to say if Hamed was an american, he would of been a cocky, show off, disrespectful, loud mouth...........

Was he different as a Brit!

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

If Hamed was American then he wouldn't be the HoF cause he would have fought and lost to Marquez earlier.

Marquez is overrated, Hamed would get through that mediocre straight up defense of his. It works fine against Manny 'captain straight lines' Pacquaio but Hamed would time something wrong an angle and wreck his crackable chin. Marquez screwed this fight up himself losing to what his face, then he lost to Chris John in his prime (and most ringsiders had John winning before I hear robbery)

[Mensa07]

Marquez is a case in point. He'll be a first-balloter, and for what? A draw with Pac and a W over the 2007 Barrera?

You think a british fighter with a career made of those 2 results, and losses to Chris John & Freddie Norwood, would be a first ballot HOF'er?

[Autobarn]

If Hamed was American then he wouldn't be the HoF cause he would have fought and lost to Marquez earlier.

Marquez is overrated, Hamed would get through that mediocre straight up defense of his. It works fine against Manny 'captain straight lines' Pacquaio but Hamed would time something wrong an angle and wreck his crackable chin. Marquez screwed this fight up himself losing to what his face, then he lost to Chris John in his prime (and most ringsiders had John winning before I hear robbery)

JMM's not overrated. He's had his flops, for sure. Like you say, vs Norwood and John. I think he was a late bloomer

But his fights with Casamayor, Pac, Barrera, and below that level, guys like Polo, Gainer, Medina, Jandaeng, Jaca, all show just what a fantastic talent and gutsy warrior he is.


Re Naz & the HOF - Naz does have an accomplished career, with wins over many good fighters (Bungu, Vazquez, Medina, Johnson, Ingle, McCullough, Robinson). Certainly, world class Brits AND international names in there.

"Fame"-wise, he is relevant because he made featherweight the big money division that gets attention. But his ego ruined him as a boxer, and he flpped so badly vs Barrera, that he won't join MAB, JMM, Morales & Pac in the HOF.

[Autobarn]

Marquez is a case in point. He'll be a first-balloter, and for what? A draw with Pac and a W over the 2007 Barrera?

You think a british fighter with a career made of those 2 results, and losses to Chris John & Freddie Norwood, would be a first ballot HOF'er?

JMM should have got at least 1 decision vs Pac, an absolute monster at 126-130. He stopped Casamayor, beat Barrera in a classic, even though Barrera practically knocked him out when he was on the floor. Chris John is hardly a mug, and there are many (not me) who feel JMM was robbed. Polo, Jaca, Jandaeng, Medina were rugged guys who can fight. Marquez is brilliant, has had to wait a long time for the biggest fights and he may have more big wins in store.

Marquez has a massive heart, and boxes at a higher level than any of our best Brits. And this is respecting the accomplishments of Lennox & Calzaghe.

[THEBUTCH]

Trying to undervalue JMM becuase of his rare losses is a joke. Being a hall of famer or good enough material to beat Hamed has more to do with how good his capabilities are rather than the very oaccasional set back. Fighters have off nights, sometimes they just get beaten fair and square when you least expect it. I fail to see any circumstance that you can overlook all JMM's wins and zoom in on a few defeats. Crazy

[hitman_hatton1]

if bazza gets in then so should naz.

still say naz fell short of greatness.

i'd put him in the very good bracket.

marquez would have counter punched his head off.

[hitman_hatton1]

Chris John is hardly a mug, and there are many (not me) who feel JMM was robbed.

i thought he was completely robbed. :x

scored it 8-3-1 even for marquez.

[Carbo]

Marquez is an absolute stone wall, cast iron, deserved certainty for the HOF. Anyone who argues otherwise is watching the wrong sport.

Hamed should also get in, although I don't rank him as high as Marquez. Hamed basically unified the featherweight division, one of the most prestigious, and so-called classic weight divisions. He fought all the best while he was there, and was stopped from unifying by getting rid of certain belts he'd won, and sanctioning bodies stripping others before he fought them.

He was also one of the biggest ever punchers in the division's history.

Against him is the fact he quit virtually straight after Barrera, that he didn't fight Marquez when he could've, and that he didn't stay at the top for long enough to face Morales or Barrera. In fact, all these points are to do with his short peak. The other point is that although featherweight was a murderer's row shortly after his reign, it wasn't super hot when he was there. Still, it was strong enough.

On balance, looking at some of the chaps who've made it recently, McGuigan being the highest profile, Hamed's wins over Ingle, Medina, Vasquez, a past it Johnson and a over the peak Kelly, along with his domination of the division and dominant style should get him there easy.

If, say, Gatti or one of the Klitschko's make it and Hamed doesn't, I'd be beside myself.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Marquez is an absolute stone wall, cast iron, deserved certainty for the HOF. Anyone who argues otherwise is watching the wrong sport.

Hamed should also get in, although I don't rank him as high as Marquez. Hamed basically unified the featherweight division, one of the most prestigious, and so-called classic weight divisions. He fought all the best while he was there, and was stopped from unifying by getting rid of certain belts he'd won, and sanctioning bodies stripping others before he fought them.

He was also one of the biggest ever punchers in the division's history.

Against him is the fact he quit virtually straight after Barrera, that he didn't fight Marquez when he could've, and that he didn't stay at the top for long enough to face Morales or Barrera. In fact, all these points are to do with his short peak. The other point is that although featherweight was a murderer's row shortly after his reign, it wasn't super hot when he was there. Still, it was strong enough.

On balance, looking at some of the chaps who've made it recently, McGuigan being the highest profile, Hamed's wins over Ingle, Medina, Vasquez, a past it Johnson and a over the peak Kelly, along with his domination of the division and dominant style should get him there easy.

If, say, Gatti or one of the Klitschko's make it and Hamed doesn't, I'd be beside myself.

Many American sports writers who get to vote on the ballot, are much enamoured of Hamed, and realise that he brought unprecedented glamour, excitement and explosiveness to the 'little men.'

His achievements easily outweight Bazza's, whose only really impressive wins were Juan LaPorte and a long in the tooth Pedroza, and he was every bit as popular, and even more exciting and dynamic.

As for Gatti - will almost certainly make it in, and I expect Vitali Klit to make it given his comeback after four years out.

Anyone who doesn't rate Marquez is an absolute numpty - he's the only man to have fought Pacman twice and come through 24 whole rounds! He also for me won both fights.

[DG.]

if bazza gets in then so should naz.

If Bazza got in so should I!

[Carbo]

Marquez is an absolute stone wall, cast iron, deserved certainty for the HOF. Anyone who argues otherwise is watching the wrong sport.

Hamed should also get in, although I don't rank him as high as Marquez. Hamed basically unified the featherweight division, one of the most prestigious, and so-called classic weight divisions. He fought all the best while he was there, and was stopped from unifying by getting rid of certain belts he'd won, and sanctioning bodies stripping others before he fought them.

He was also one of the biggest ever punchers in the division's history.

Against him is the fact he quit virtually straight after Barrera, that he didn't fight Marquez when he could've, and that he didn't stay at the top for long enough to face Morales or Barrera. In fact, all these points are to do with his short peak. The other point is that although featherweight was a murderer's row shortly after his reign, it wasn't super hot when he was there. Still, it was strong enough.

On balance, looking at some of the chaps who've made it recently, McGuigan being the highest profile, Hamed's wins over Ingle, Medina, Vasquez, a past it Johnson and a over the peak Kelly, along with his domination of the division and dominant style should get him there easy.

If, say, Gatti or one of the Klitschko's make it and Hamed doesn't, I'd be beside myself.

Many American sports writers who get to vote on the ballot, are much enamoured of Hamed, and realise that he brought unprecedented glamour, excitement and explosiveness to the 'little men.'

His achievements easily outweight Bazza's, whose only really impressive wins were Juan LaPorte and a long in the tooth Pedroza, and he was every bit as popular, and even more exciting and dynamic.

As for Gatti - will almost certainly make it in, and I expect Vitali Klit to make it given his comeback after four years out.

Anyone who doesn't rate Marquez is an absolute numpty - he's the only man to have fought Pacman twice and come through 24 whole rounds! He also for me won both fights.

Agree with you on Marquez; can't comment on the Hamed-US hack menage-a-cent.

Gatti getting in is little better than Randall Tex Cobb. OK, a bit better, much better, but d'y'know whadda mean?

[jamesmcdonnell]

Marquez is an absolute stone wall, cast iron, deserved certainty for the HOF. Anyone who argues otherwise is watching the wrong sport.

Hamed should also get in, although I don't rank him as high as Marquez. Hamed basically unified the featherweight division, one of the most prestigious, and so-called classic weight divisions. He fought all the best while he was there, and was stopped from unifying by getting rid of certain belts he'd won, and sanctioning bodies stripping others before he fought them.

He was also one of the biggest ever punchers in the division's history.

Against him is the fact he quit virtually straight after Barrera, that he didn't fight Marquez when he could've, and that he didn't stay at the top for long enough to face Morales or Barrera. In fact, all these points are to do with his short peak. The other point is that although featherweight was a murderer's row shortly after his reign, it wasn't super hot when he was there. Still, it was strong enough.

On balance, looking at some of the chaps who've made it recently, McGuigan being the highest profile, Hamed's wins over Ingle, Medina, Vasquez, a past it Johnson and a over the peak Kelly, along with his domination of the division and dominant style should get him there easy.

If, say, Gatti or one of the Klitschko's make it and Hamed doesn't, I'd be beside myself.

Many American sports writers who get to vote on the ballot, are much enamoured of Hamed, and realise that he brought unprecedented glamour, excitement and explosiveness to the 'little men.'

His achievements easily outweight Bazza's, whose only really impressive wins were Juan LaPorte and a long in the tooth Pedroza, and he was every bit as popular, and even more exciting and dynamic.

As for Gatti - will almost certainly make it in, and I expect Vitali Klit to make it given his comeback after four years out.

Anyone who doesn't rate Marquez is an absolute numpty - he's the only man to have fought Pacman twice and come through 24 whole rounds! He also for me won both fights.

Agree with you on Marquez; can't comment on the Hamed-US hack menage-a-cent.

Gatti getting in is little better than Randall Tex Cobb. OK, a bit better, much better, but d'y'know whadda mean?

Gatti was a fair bit better than Cobb I feel - he was decent at the lower weights, with some good wins, Cobb was just a big lump with a lot of heart - Gatti did have some boxing ability, but he was far less effective at the higher weights later in his career.