The downfall of Naseem Hamed

[Mimmy]

So, this cocky kid from sheffield appeared on the boxing market back in 1992, for 8 years he ruled the featherweight world with fantastic skill, and a fearsome punch, slick moves and somewhat eyeopening ring entrances. So what happened?

I'm sure we all have to say Hamed love him or hate him he gave value for money and a splendid show in most of his fights. Beating most with ease including the fairytale champion Steve Robinson to give him the featherweight world title. He defended it in good style knocking out the likes of durable Billy Hardy in one round and Kevin Kelley in 4. I think he struggled against Paul Ingle until Ingle ran out of gas in the 11th but a dramtic downfall didnt seem on the cards at that point. A good display and a flying carpet against Bungo, and another defence in the US. Then a points loss to Barrera and a win against his final opponent Calvo. Hamed didnt lose his WBO and WBC titles in the ring, so how did things that were so good go so bad in one loss?

Hamed always wanted to be a legend, did he fulfill that status? Could he have gone on to rule the world? How did things go so wrong?

[Broomhall]

It isnt rocket science and has happened to many young sports stars (and other young celebs and wealthy young people) who dont have people around them who can say NO you need to spend some time on the naughty step to them.

[nfc90210]

Towards the end weren't Naz's hands done in?

[Counter-puncher]

Hubris.

[Rexob]

Loads of cash in the bank and not being arsed to train?

[Taansend]

So, this cocky kid from sheffield appeared on the boxing market back in 1992, for 8 years he ruled the featherweight world

Sorry to nitpick but he didn't move up to 126 until late 95.

And you could argue (well I would anyway) that he was done by the time he fight Wayne McCullough.

His problem was that he stopped listening to - and respecting - Brendon Ingle.

He, like Tyson, stopped using his boxing skills and just thought he could blow anyone away at any time.

I remember before he turned pro there was talk of him winning titles at five weights but in those days he was thought of being a slick boxer with little punch power. Funny how it all turned out.

[mickey1975]

It was hardly a rags-riches-rags story. His wealth has grown and he didn't hang about to get beat loads like Toney and Jones. If 'it' wasn't there, it was a great decision.

[Switch hitter]

As someone once said "the lunatics took over the asylum "

[bripez]

Hamed always wanted to be a legend, did he fulfill that status? Could he have gone on to rule the world? How did things go so wrong?

Once he lost he imploded mentally - Tyson Fury will go the same if he loses.

I am not Amir Khans biggest fan but to me he is more if a legend than Naz, he has come back from defeats (and the Prescott defeat was devastating).

I was a big fan of Naz but he cannot be classed as a legend - all the guys who would be on the list of boxing legends lost fights, but the difference is that they all came back from their defeats.

[stevieb_8006]

As someone once said "the lunatics took over the asylum "

That'd be FW.

I just dunno with Naz, he's viewed as a tragedy by some people but he left the sport utterly stinko rich and with his health intact, so it's hardly a 'downfall'. Danny Williams..... That's a tragedy.

Also, to the original poster, I wouldn't say paul ingle ran out of gas in that fight, if anything he was coming on strong before getting clipped around the temple.

[Mimmy]

As someone once said "the lunatics took over the asylum "

That'd be FW.

I just dunno with Naz, he's viewed as a tragedy by some people but he left the sport utterly stinko rich and with his health intact, so it's hardly a 'downfall'. Danny Williams..... That's a tragedy.

Also, to the original poster, I wouldn't say paul ingle ran out of gas in that fight, if anything he was coming on strong before getting clipped around the temple.

I was there for the Ingle fight, and ill view it again shortly when I come across it in my archive tapes. However thinking about it and it is a long time ago Ingle was always coming forward and I had him in front. But to me back then he just tired out and was caught.

[Bodyshot3]

@Taansend..agreed about Ingle.

Brendan's regime of discipline, old school premises and rigid routines clearly jarred with Hamed and some of the creeps/camp followers around him agitated to have Ingle shoved to one side....they thought it was time to move on. Why should a millionaire superstar have to train in a place like that and be bossed around some kid learning to hit the bags?

I've never read the 'Prince and the Paddy' and the book by Ingle was (I think) viewed at the time as being a somewhat bitter payback....but I suspect Ingle was right all along; Naz's success was always underpinned by putting in the hard grind in a tough, egalitarian gym and listening to a trainer who knew how to construct a winning fight plan.

[Boxerbeetle]

@Taansend..agreed about Ingle.

Brendan's regime of discipline, old school premises and rigid routines clearly jarred with Hamed and some of the creeps/camp followers around him agitated to have Ingle shoved to one side....they thought it was time to move on. Why should a millionaire superstar have to train in a place like that and be bossed around some kid learning to hit the bags?

I've never read the 'Prince and the Paddy' and the book by Ingle was (I think) viewed at the time as being a somewhat bitter payback....but I suspect Ingle was right all along; Naz's success was always underpinned by putting in the hard grind in a tough, egalitarian gym and listening to a trainer who knew how to construct a winning fight plan.

It's a good book mate, worth a read Not written by Brendan though, but definitely very sympathetic to his point of view. I can understand why Naz would have been pissed off with the book - it's written almost as if Brendan should get all the credit for Naz's success, although obviously it does make very good points about the dangers of ignoring sound advice from those with your best interests at heart.

[Wrists]

As someone once said "the lunatics took over the asylum "

That'd be FW.

I just dunno with Naz, he's viewed as a tragedy by some people but he left the sport utterly stinko rich and with his health intact, so it's hardly a 'downfall'. Danny Williams..... That's a tragedy.

Also, to the original poster, I wouldn't say paul ingle ran out of gas in that fight, if anything he was coming on strong before getting clipped around the temple.

I was there for the Ingle fight, and ill view it again shortly when I come across it in my archive tapes. However thinking about it and it is a long time ago Ingle was always coming forward and I had him in front. But to me back then he just tired out and was caught.

Naz pissed the first 6 rounds with 2 knockdowns. He was never behind in this fight

[ajwesty13]

he was offensively great to watch but he didnt have much in the way of a defence, however he probably believed he was unbeatable and become complacent with training and a plan B.. Barrara schooled him for 12 rounds and that was that for his career

[hitman_hatton1]

As someone once said "the lunatics took over the asylum "

That'd be FW.

warren could of made the barrera fight in 95.

naz was mandatory for barrera's title.

and what did the old snake do.

we'll go up in weight and play it safe.

and people criticise eddie hearn.

[Coco]

MAB got done twice by Junior Jones, that's why the fight didn't happen

[hitman_hatton1]

MAB got done twice by Junior Jones, that's why the fight didn't happen

that was 96/97.

naz was wbo mandatory in 95.

[stevieb_8006]

Naz pissed the first 6 rounds with 2 knockdowns. He was never behind in this fight

It was a late surge by ingle in a fight Naz had dominated. Naz looked a bit ruffled (like someone who hasn't trained properly) for a couple of rounds, before he pulled out a peach.

[jessi]

Simple
Sacking Warren and ingle.

[TheGman]

Imo the problem was he left ingle and bunny and his family started having too much input into somethin they didnt know anything about,i remember watchin a documentary before the barrera fight and his brother was saying "naz isnt happy today somebodys gonna get knocked out,i feel sorry for the sparring partners today" then manny steward comes out after the sparring session saying "im not impressed with what i saw today". The video clips of the sparring seen naz gettin roughed up abit. He got too big for his boots believed his own hype and listened to the yes men,similar to mike tyson in the late 80's early 90's. Moral of the story is "if it aint broke dont fix it"

[jessi]

Imo the problem was he left ingle and bunny and his family started having too much input into somethin they didnt know anything about,i remember watchin a documentary before the barrera fight and his brother was saying "naz isnt happy today somebodys gonna get knocked out,i feel sorry for the sparring partners today" then manny steward comes out after the sparring session saying "im not impressed with what i saw today". The video clips of the sparring seen naz gettin roughed up abit. He got too big for his boots believed his own hype and listened to the yes men,similar to mike tyson in the late 80's early 90's. Moral of the story is "if it aint broke dont fix it"

100% agree

[Syntax Error]

I used to be pissed that he retired seemingly with so much to offer, but in hindsight, he did the right thing.

Hamed was drunk on his power & never learnt the basics of boxing.

In fact, I once heard him say during a ringside post-fight interview that" I've mastered my sport!"

Once such a fighter, who didn't do the basics right is so deluded to say such a thing, there's no hope for him & once Barrera taught him that there was more to boxing than clowning & knocking people out, there was no sense in him continuing.

He did come back once of course, but he looked a shadow.

Hamed is now wealthy, fat, forty & happy, so he did the right thing.

[palooka]

Some downfall! He lost one bout to an ATG and retired with his marbles and with a huge property portfolio. He was all in before the age of 30 - he did great and if he'd not disappeared up his own backside he'd have given Barerra a very good fight.

[manno]

I used to be pissed that he retired seemingly with so much to offer, but in hindsight, he did the right thing.

Hamed was drunk on his power & never learnt the basics of boxing.

In fact, I once heard him say during a ringside post-fight interview that" I've mastered my sport!"

Once such a fighter, who didn't do the basics right is so deluded to say such a thing, there's no hope for him & once Barrera taught him that there was more to boxing than clowning & knocking people out, there was no sense in him continuing.

He did come back once of course, but he looked a shadow.

Hamed is now wealthy, fat, forty & happy, so he did the right thing.

He learnt the basics and some he just forgot em