Naz vs Barrera

[SOUTHPAW]

I have just watch the fight again and i cant belive how undertrained and ill prepered Naz was,he didnt look toned he looked chubby not like the Johnson fight where he looked ripped.I know Naz was slipping by then(he was dont nobody give me that barrera did this or that) and i really do think the Naz that beat Robinson would have beaten Barrera.......such a shame

[thepocketrocket]

Naz had been slipping for a while but I disagree that his conditioning was THAT bad..he still made the weight comfortably and was still the best Featherweight out there...lets not paint Naz as being some Toneyesque lazy git, he came in shape physically

I always wondered what was going on in 'the little prince, the bg fight' yes Naz was arrogant and yes, Naz looked terrible in sparring BUT I believe that he thought he was going to win and win comfortably..hence he played up the arrogant part to annoy the viewer who wanted to see him lose!

Now Barrera counter-punched him to hell, that was always the blueprint to beating him, make him come to you with his wild hooks which my deceased nan could see coming, then bust him up...when he got tired from missing Barrera beat the shit out of him for Six rounds. Robbo was slow and ill conditioned himself that night, but stylewise Robbo could never have beaten him

Lets not denegrate Barreras performance

[SOUTHPAW]

Towards the end of is career he was some Toneyesque lazy git thats why his performances were getting bad saying that Barrera counter-punched him to hell that was always the blueprint,Barrera did in the fight but Naz early on in is career used to draw the counter and knock them out against Barrera he didnt have the timing or conditioning to do this he couldnt even get on is toes like he did against Badillo im not saying Robinson was ever going to beat him but the way naz boxed that night (drew the lead of Robbo) showed what he could have done

[observer1]

Quite. A Loss was coming ever sicne the Prince sacked his coach, and became sloppy with training.

Every next fight, Naz was more ill-prepared than the lost, and his defence was careless and virtually non existant at times. I think someone said "He did everything wrong except lose".

it was only a matter of time he would lose.

But Yes, i agree, Naz would have probably owned Barrera had the fight been a few years earlier, of if Naz actually prepared for his fights like he did when he first began.

[thepocketrocket]

I would love to get a thread from around that time and just see what people thought, I doubt many were expecting a Hamed loss!

I would do a big comment slating that early hamed era as all smoke and mirrors but its been done before, the division was a graveyard, Johnson was there for the taking, he struggled with Badillo and Badillo was garbage, Vasquez had arguably lost to Gennaro Rios and Rios was garbage, Vasquez was shot and there for the taking.

To the poster who said he made Robbo come on to him...well, Robbo was a come forward fighter, that was hardly a tactical masterstroke....Hamed kept away from counter-punchers all his life, he avoided Marquez(who went on to lose to Norwood, another absentee from the list)

I keep hearing what a great result Medina was, but at the time Medina wasnt a winer, he lost to Johnson and went on to lose to Espinosa and Gainer.

The blueprint was there, Kelley(who was sliding, screw this revisionism, no-one thought Kelley would do anything, he hadnt done anything since losing to Gonzo) counter-punched him to death...he only got k'od when he tried to finish him and go to war...MAB wouldnt make that mistake!

Hamed is going to the hall of fame, dont worry, the impact he had on the sport and a weak divison cant be denied, those PPV nights were great...but lets not pretend hes better than he was, or that MAB's great win is somehow tainted

[Twinkle Toes]

All I know is that when on song, Hamed was brilliant, and devastating at the same time - He was off the boil when he fought Barrera, only a Wayne Mcullough fan would suggest differently :p

[Hardhitters11]

I have alway's said that Naz could have beaten any fighter in his day, He just became lazy with his training, Stopped listening to his trainer and changed his style from the day's when he was at his best.

Naz was alway's a very elusive fighter but once he found he had such power he got too arrogant believing that he only had to catch any fighter right once and they was gone.

He was even willing to take punch's himself in order to get his power punch's off, He never did this early in his career.

By the time he fought Barrera I was predicting MAB would win for all the above reason's, Obviously we will never know for sure now as it's all opinion but IMO a top form Naz would have beaten MAB no doubt.

Let me just add that MAB is one of my favourite fighter's of all time.

HH

[banjo]

I have just watch the fight again and i cant belive how undertrained and ill prepered Naz was,he didnt look toned he looked chubby not like the Johnson fight where he looked ripped.I know Naz was slipping by then(he was dont nobody give me that barrera did this or that) and i really do think the Naz that beat Robinson would have beaten Barrera.......such a shame

it is like comparing a Ford Escort with a Ferrari.

Not really, a Ford Escort doesn't fall apart when it goes over a speed bump

Barrera was the Ford Escort - tough, reliable and no matter how much you try to break the bastard it keeps coming back.

Naz was the Ferrari - flash, fast, loud but loses its appeal after a while

[Autobarn]

Barrera was brilliant, Naz was bad - on the night. Naz still had a massive punch, which was what he was banking on for most of his previous fights. Credit to Barrera for making Naz "look lie a Saturday night drunk" (Ian Darke's words).

Barrera had his career low points and came back to score some brilliant wins. He got crushed by Junior Jones, yet found ways to adapt and showed the determination.

Naz got beaten and that was pretty much it for him as a boxer, wasn't it? Shall we save all the might have beens? His arrogance spoiled his boxing, but arrogance was a big part of him. He let it run rampant, couldn't control it, so his defeat happened. He didn't come back and fix things so who cares ultimately?

[SticknMove]

Barrera was brilliant, Naz was bad - on the night. Naz still had a massive punch, which was what he was banking on for most of his previous fights. Credit to Barrera for making Naz "look lie a Saturday night drunk" (Ian Darke's words).

Barrera had his career low points and came back to score some brilliant wins. He got crushed by Junior Jones, yet found ways to adapt and showed the determination.

Naz got beaten and that was pretty much it for him as a boxer, wasn't it? Shall we save all the might have beens? His arrogance spoiled his boxing, but arrogance was a big part of him. He let it run rampant, couldn't control it, so his defeat happened. He didn't come back and fix things so who cares ultimately?

Spot on Autobarn.

I never much cared for Naz and his antics but as a fighter he had something that was special and made him what he was.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

If Hamed had faced the pre-Junior Jones MAB he wins every time, that Barrera liked to brawl far too much. The 1999-2001 version took his game to a whole new level, and he totally battered Morales only to get robbed in that 1. Fleetfooted 1995 Naz may have beaten 2000 Barrera too, he was a different fighter then. Hamed was a truly great fighter at his best, but the greatest fighters are consistant with their performances and greatness, Hamed certainly wasn't

As for avoiding Marquez, Marquez was a nobody then who'd beat noone and would lose to Norwood

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

If Hamed had faced the pre-Junior Jones MAB he wins every time, that Barrera liked to brawl far too much. The 1999-2001 version took his game to a whole new level, and he totally battered Morales only to get robbed in that 1. Fleetfooted 1995 Naz may have beaten 2000 Barrera too, he was a different fighter then. Hamed was a truly great fighter at his best, but the greatest fighters are consistant with their performances and greatness, Hamed certainly wasn't

As for avoiding Marquez, Marquez was a nobody then who'd beat noone and would lose to Norwood

the Marquez of today would have beaten a prime Naz

I don't think so, Prime Naz footwork, unorthodox shots would have found him, Pacquaio is easy to predict and counter, Prime Hamed isn't easy to predict and his shots came from different angles. Marquez doesn't have the best defense and his chin is a weakness, which could mean a KO loss or multiple KDs. Marquez while technically solid can be a little basic and he isn't as complete as Prime Barrera who is far superior puncher, better timing, better defense.

Now Marquez is supposedly an unbeatable great but only 2 years ago he lost to Chris John, and before anyone starts crying robbery most ringsiders had it to John

[stujones]

I would love to get a thread from around that time and just see what people thought, I doubt many were expecting a Hamed loss!

I would do a big comment slating that early hamed era as all smoke and mirrors but its been done before, the division was a graveyard, Johnson was there for the taking, he struggled with Badillo and Badillo was garbage, Vasquez had arguably lost to Gennaro Rios and Rios was garbage, Vasquez was shot and there for the taking.

To the poster who said he made Robbo come on to him...well, Robbo was a come forward fighter, that was hardly a tactical masterstroke....Hamed kept away from counter-punchers all his life, he avoided Marquez(who went on to lose to Norwood, another absentee from the list)

I keep hearing what a great result Medina was, but at the time Medina wasnt a winer, he lost to Johnson and went on to lose to Espinosa and Gainer.

The blueprint was there, Kelley(who was sliding, screw this revisionism, no-one thought Kelley would do anything, he hadnt done anything since losing to Gonzo) counter-punched him to death...he only got k'od when he tried to finish him and go to war...MAB wouldnt make that mistake!

Hamed is going to the hall of fame, dont worry, the impact he had on the sport and a weak divison cant be denied, those PPV nights were great...but lets not pretend hes better than he was, or that MAB's great win is somehow tainted

Agree whole heartedly.

I cannot believe people say that a "prime" Hamed who have beaten Barerra (remember he lost decisively he was "owned" when they fought) - yet a "prime" Hopkins, who gave Joe fits at the age of 43 losing a controvesial decision, would have got smashed by Joe. I've even heard people in the streets say that a "prime" Hopkins would have lost more convincingly, than the 43 year old did!

Talk about rose tinted specticles. People forget that Barrera fought within himself also. Unlike with Hopkins, there was nothing to suggest that Hamed would have beaten Barrera when they did fight. He got outclassed.

[observer1]

I would love to get a thread from around that time and just see what people thought, I doubt many were expecting a Hamed loss!

I would do a big comment slating that early hamed era as all smoke and mirrors but its been done before, the division was a graveyard, Johnson was there for the taking, he struggled with Badillo and Badillo was garbage, Vasquez had arguably lost to Gennaro Rios and Rios was garbage, Vasquez was shot and there for the taking.

To the poster who said he made Robbo come on to him...well, Robbo was a come forward fighter, that was hardly a tactical masterstroke....Hamed kept away from counter-punchers all his life, he avoided Marquez(who went on to lose to Norwood, another absentee from the list)

I keep hearing what a great result Medina was, but at the time Medina wasnt a winer, he lost to Johnson and went on to lose to Espinosa and Gainer.

The blueprint was there, Kelley(who was sliding, screw this revisionism, no-one thought Kelley would do anything, he hadnt done anything since losing to Gonzo) counter-punched him to death...he only got k'od when he tried to finish him and go to war...MAB wouldnt make that mistake!

Hamed is going to the hall of fame, dont worry, the impact he had on the sport and a weak divison cant be denied, those PPV nights were great...but lets not pretend hes better than he was, or that MAB's great win is somehow tainted

Agree whole heartedly.

I cannot believe people say that a "prime" Hamed who have beaten Barerra (remember he lost decisively he was "owned" when they fought) - yet a "prime" Hopkins, who gave Joe fits at the age of 43 losing a controvesial decision, would have got smashed by Joe. I've even heard people in the streets say that a "prime" Hopkins would have lost more convincingly, than the 43 year old did!

Talk about rose tinted specticles. People forget that Barrera fought within himself also. Unlike with Hopkins, there was nothing to suggest that Hamed would have beaten Barrera when they did fight. He got outclassed.

Prime Naz Wins Prime Barrera
Prime Hopkins Wins Prime Calzaghe

[banjo]

We can do this forever

Prime Holmes beats Prime Tyson
Prime Chavez beats Prime DLH
Prime Louis beats Prime Marciano
Prime Hagler beats Prime Leonard
Prime Tyson beats Prime Holyfield

and so on........

Thing is though, we'll never know, ever

[BAMBI]

One of the worst performances from Naz, flat footed, slow, and bored!
He didn't even do his front flip into the ring that night?

[standing8]

I Remember taking Barrera @ 2-1 thinking what a cert,then only putting a tenner on!

[Arbachakov]

A mediocre fight and awful performance in general from Hamed.I doubt he would have won at any stage of his career.

Get the Saldivar Winstone fights if you want to see a proper Brit vs Mexican matchup.

[Goz]

Hamed wasn't out of shape for the MAB fight. If anything I recall him looking quite ripped.

If he hadn't been in shape he might have been stopped.

He retained enough pop to keep MAB honest for the course of the fight - he never went hell for leather trying to force the stoppage because he would have felt that Naz still had something left in there.

[Rocky Balboa]

I'm sure by now the majority of us have seen the documentry on the build-up to the fight. Hamed thought he was king of the hill, that he didn't have a single thing to worry about in facing Barrera. Naseem was more concerned with what his hair looked like than going running lol.

In a stark contrast, Barrera was training in a proper sweatbox gym, sweating his bollocks off! Hamed was living like a King, playing Pool, while Barrwera was training in a shitwhole of a gym, but honing his skills & getting into condition.

That said, IMO, even if Hamed had trained accordingly, I think Barrera would have taken him. Hamed got skooled & was simply never the same again. Mentally, Hamed's career was over whne he lost that fight. I don't believe he has ever recovered from the loss!

[Captain Hook]

I'm sure by now the majority of us have seen the documentry on the build-up to the fight. Hamed thought he was king of the hill, that he didn't have a single thing to worry about in facing Barrera. Naseem was more concerned with what his hair looked like than going running lol.

In a stark contrast, Barrera was training in a proper sweatbox gym, sweating his bollocks off! Hamed was living like a King, playing Pool, while Barrwera was training in a shitwhole of a gym, but honing his skills & getting into condition.

That said, IMO, even if Hamed had trained accordingly, I think Barrera would have taken him. Hamed got skooled & was simply never the same again. Mentally, Hamed's career was over whne he lost that fight. I don't believe he has ever recovered from the loss!

Agree totally with this. His heart wasn't in it....

Take nothing away from Barrera though, he'd achieved plenty before Hamed and has achieved more since.......class