Your views on Prince Naseem Hamed?

[Controversial]

Often talked about in the British forum but haven't seen too many in this part of the forum. So how do you rate Hamed? An overrated clown who got owned as soon as he stepped up in class or a good (if not great) fighter. Where would you rank him if you had to.

[stevedoc]

Naz remaineds me of Tyson in many ways chilling power both were very young when they hit their peaks and neither were the same once they left/lost their trainers .for me naz wasted his talents but was still a very good world champ the undisputed no1 at his time . naz started as typical ingle boxer hit and not be hit then he started bombing people out And changed his style to a puncher . naz would of given any featherweight problems with his power he just stop training and forgot what made him special his reflexes and became to one dimensioned ....he could of lasted longer if he listened to ingle and should of But he was a very good fighter that should of been a great

[Broomhall]

Probably one of the better British champs post war, but like many Brits had the advantage of the WBO being around to build confidence and get experience of fighting at "world" level and all the circus that goes with title fights like press conferences, weigh ins and ring walks.

That aside a thunderous puncher and with more discipline could have had an even better career.

I dont know if true, but he came across as a bit of an a@*hole though and I dont know of many people who were sad to see him lose.

[palooka]

I have to say it was a shame to see his downfall as a boxer (though a major success as a businessman/landlord). I met him at an amateur show in Edlington, Doncaster in around 1990 and he was sound, he was used to people asking about him but was polite. The celebrity and wealth altered him; he was an excellent amateur and could box very well, when he won the European Title he was brilliant. Hamed had a cruel and arrogant streak but many top boxers are the same and maybe it's necessary. Hamed could have been even better, leaving the Ingles was a very big mistake - they were the best trainers and advisers for him and his gym mates could have helped him keep his feet on the ground, maybe?

[The_Sugarman]

A man that will always divide opinion.

Without a doubt one of the most exciting fighters Britain has ever produced but his potential was never truly fulfilled, he could have been so much more.

Getting a spanking from an all time great in Barrera seemed to trigger the majority of people to point the finger at Nas and say he was a conman and overrated but I don't think losing to Barrera should hinder the credit Nas is due, he was still a great talent and did defeat some top opponents in style.

I think his attitude and ego was his downfall more than anything, cutting corners in training because apparently "Allah" had his back.. absolutely ridiculous!

[Rexob]

Great entertainer and an absolute monster of a puncher, his career could of lasted a bit longer but retiring at 27 years of age with £30 odd million in the bank he still had 15 defences which was brilliant to watch while it lasted and we definitely saw the best of him, so he pretty much did what he needed to do apart from beat the very very best! Still a worthy HOF boxer.

[Ambling Alp II]

He has been discussed many times. Too many.

His competition was weak; he doesn't deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. (This is the part where someone will point out some undeserving Hall of Famer and say "Hamed was better than that guy".)
He probably will be voted in one day and the pretty record (it won't be mentioned that it's padded) and WBS titles will be mentioned.
He had good power and some talent but was extremely undisciplined.

[crusader]

He probably will be voted in one day

He was recently voted in.

[Seamus]

Hamed is one of the Class of 2015 to be inducted in June, and it's one of the poorest in memory.

[BoxBuzz]

Seamus...it's the hall of FAME....he deserves it richly.

Find yourself another "hall" if you want to be a purist.


I think he was one of the most naturally gifted athletes to lace on gloves. And IF he would have trained all that talent of his to it's perfection, I think he could have been one of the very best.


But...he was too much ego, not enough sweat. But gifted? Talented? Fast thinking? He was top shelf in those depts. And highly charismatic which does a boxer little harm.

[Seamus]

Well, Buzz, I guess if they can let Aaron Pryor in, they can let anyone in.

[Noxy]

The thing that I remember most about Hamed is how incredibly easy he made boxing look sometimes. Remember the Said Lawal fight? Apart from that, I thought his showboating was OTT although good for a laugh at the time.

[Lenny Cravats]

The thing that I remember most about Hamed is how incredibly easy he made boxing look sometimes. Remember the Said Lawal fight? Apart from that, I thought his showboating was OTT although good for a laugh at the time.

He threw 3 punches in that fight. Incredible stuff.

[Crease]

Naz?

I think that he is overrated by the British boxing fraternity, yet he is underrated by the Americans... The truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

[BoxBuzz]

Well, Buzz, I guess if they can let Aaron Pryor in, they can let anyone in.

Exactly.

[man]

weird personality.

people might overrate his achievements,
and underrate his natural talent.

whatever, that was an entertainer ...

[scorpio83]

BoxBuzz, in the end nobody will be happy if fighters like Riddick Bowe, Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini and Prince Naseem Hamed doesn't deserve the International Boxing Hall of Fame Induction. However, we have to ask boxing fans who they want the voters to elect boxers other than the newly inductees base on oppositions? Journeymen? If voters induct journeymen, then it will be bad business in the hall of fame system. Bowe, Mancini and Hamed deserve that honor because they were as close as popular legends in the past that fought real opposition. That's what best for business for the international boxing hall of fame.

[Ambling Alp II]

Bowe beat a prime Evander Holyfield.
Who was the best Hamed beat?

[palooka]

Named underachieved, he signed pro forms on his 18th birthday in the House Of Commons; Brendan Ingle had told everyone who would listen from when Hamed was 13 years old that he'd be world champion - he could have been amazing.

[Rexob]

Named underachieved, he signed pro forms on his 18th birthday in the House Of Commons; Brendan Ingle had told everyone who would listen from when Hamed was 13 years old that he'd be world champion - he could have been amazing.

He was, watch the Steve Robinson fight again brilliant!

[Ambling Alp II]

How could we forget the win over Steve Robinson?!
Hamed was only 1 of 17 men to ever beat Robinson.

[Seamus]

His best opponent was Barrera, and he clearly lost.

[Rexob]

How could we forget the win over Steve Robinson?!
Hamed was only 1 of 17 men to ever beat Robinson.

Come on! Hamed was a real talent and brought boxing right back to the forefront in the 1990s along with Benn and Eubank. Pure entertainment and big KOs which is what boxing is all about!

[Rexob]

His best opponent was Barrera, and he clearly lost.

I think a 21 year old Hamed would have destroyed Barrera for various reasons.

[Rexob]

It's easy to dish Hamed nowadays but in the 90s he was massive in the UK and well deserved, it WAS a shite ending to his career but he has still left a great legacy.