Prince Naseem Hamed hints about return to Boxing - Yawn!

johnswan1 · Post by **johnswan1** » 04 Nov 2005, 04:37

PRINCE Naseem Hamed today sensationally claimed he could return to the ring in the next few months.

Despite weight increase and boxing inactivity since May 2002, the Sheffield superstar hinted he's poised to launch an unlikely come-back.
"I've been boxing since I was seven years of age," said the 31-year-old. "I simply needed a break.
"I've got two beautiful sons and a wife, and wanted to spend some time with them. Now, though, I've had my break. I miss boxing and I believe boxing misses me, too."
"In the New Year you could witness something special."
Naz also named the man he feels is heir to the Hamed throne.
Australian super-featherweight Bilal Dibb, 20, will appear on Ricky Hatton's undercard in Sheffield on November 26.
"This kid is the second coming of Naseem Hamed," Naz said.
"He's an awesome fighter. He's been watching lots of my videos, and has a tremendous amount of style, charisma and flair. I urge everyone to watch this kid because I have no doubts he can go all the way."
Naz will be rooting for IBF light-welterweight champion Hatton in his unification battle with WBA titleholder Carlos Maussa at the Hallam FM Arena.
"Hatton is a great fighter," the ex WBO, IBF and WBC featherweight king declared.
"In beating Kostya Tszyu he managed to achieve something I never did in my career. He beat a legend, an all-time great.
"I believe Hatton is good enough to go on and match my 15 world title defences."
Throughout the course of Hamed's 10-year career, featherweight Naz was a big star in the USA and he is tipping Hatton to be Britain's next breakout star.

Raff The Frenchman · Post by **Raff The Frenchman** » 04 Nov 2005, 05:35

yup Hamed should return to the rings...at middleweight

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » 04 Nov 2005, 05:52

In beating Kostya Tszyu he managed to achieve something I never did in my career. He beat a legend, an all-time great

??Sounds very humble for Naz, fair play to him.

Wish he'd just quit it with the comeback stories though

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 04 Nov 2005, 07:47

To be honest I don't think anyone really cares anymore... if he did come back I very much doubt he'd be able to get down to 126...
Also Tsyu was not an 'all time great'... a good fighter, very good perhaps, but hardly an arron Pryor or Alexis Arguello... :x

WildWaylon · Post by **WildWaylon** » 04 Nov 2005, 12:21

I agreed with you earlier Silkov but this time I have to go the other way - Tszyu is, in the opinion of most, me included an all time great, a genuine legend of boxing - He met a legend in the making, Ricky Hatton and his reign as champ ended - Watch out for the New Years Honours List, I will put money on Rickys name appearing - Why, not just because Ricky got the IBF belt but because against the odds he beat the legendry Tszyu - Many of us thought he might just do it but most thought Tszyu was just too good for him - Tszyu was up for the fight, he proved that in his previous bout, but the legend apparrent was at his very best that night and won - Tszyu has been seen by the president of Russia and the prime minister of Australia, why because of his greatness.

johnswan1 · Post by **johnswan1** » 04 Nov 2005, 12:25

wildwaylon wrote:Tszyu has been seen by the president of Russia and the prime minister of Australia, why because of his greatness.

Well come on, it wouldn't be too difficult to stand out in either of those countries. I know that Tszyu was excellent but talking about him meeting the president of Russia and the prime minister of Australia is like praising Kevin McBride for appearing on the Late Late Show with Pat Kenny.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 04 Nov 2005, 13:23

wildwaylon wrote:I agreed with you earlier Silkov but this time I have to go the other way - Tszyu is, in the opinion of most, me included an all time great, a genuine legend of boxing - He met a legend in the making, Ricky Hatton and his reign as champ ended - Watch out for the New Years Honours List, I will put money on Rickys name appearing - Why, not just because Ricky got the IBF belt but because against the odds he beat the legendry Tszyu - Many of us thought he might just do it but most thought Tszyu was just too good for him - Tszyu was up for the fight, he proved that in his previous bout, but the legend apparrent was at his very best that night and won - Tszyu has been seen by the president of Russia and the prime minister of Australia, why because of his greatness.

I like Tsyu, but the fact remains that his body of work is that of a good fighter, a good champion, but certainly not a great champion. Meeting presidents does not make you a great champion, the only way to be a great champion is in the ring and Tsyu's title reign was too plagued by inactivity and mediocre opposition for him to be regarded as an all time great. It is also ludicruos to call Ricky Hatton a 'legend'.... who has he beaten to acheive this?...... no one. If Hatton fought and beat Mayweather, and Cotto and then moved up to 147 and beat Judah then you could start talking about him as a 'great' perhaps, but as yet he is nowhere near greatness.
If you want to see a 'legend' or 'great' in the making then look at Floyd Mayweather, he is the only 140 fighter close to acheiving such status and its still early days, but his ring accomplishments already far outstrip those of Tsyu and Hatton by a long way imo...

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 04 Nov 2005, 15:22

I wonder how low hamed could get his weight, with his punching power he could compete with the best at 130-135 imo

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 04 Nov 2005, 16:31

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:I wonder how low hamed could get his weight, with his punching power he could compete with the best at 130-135 imo

I don't think he will... he's only 5 feet 3 and really his lack of height and style means that he wouldn't do as well in the higher weights imo. I really don't see a comeback being successful on a world stage... he could beat some domestic opposition but it would take an enormous amount of work for him to really get back to the world class stage and I can't imagine him having that kind of hunger and dedication anymore...

ILikeBeer · Post by **ILikeBeer** » 05 Nov 2005, 07:27

If Naz ever does come back, he'll be a bloody Cruiserweight.