hameds influence
hameds influence
How much influence do you think prince naseem had on the 90s kids lacing up for the first time ? can remember a lot of the teenagers seemed genuinely excited by his arrival in the 90s and have heard his name dropped by a lot of current boxers citing him as an influence, couldn't stand him myself but theres no denying he had real star power.
Re: hameds influence
littlepug wrote:How much influence do you think prince naseem had on the 90s kids lacing up for the first time ? can remember a lot of the teenagers seemed genuinely excited by his arrival in the 90s and have heard his name dropped by a lot of current boxers citing him as an influence, couldn't stand him myself but theres no denying he had real star power.
I Remember reading some article in the 90s about a journo going to Sheffield and watching a young lad dancing around the ring and doing Ali type moves while shadow boxing. He asks the kid who he is trying to copy, thinking he was going to say Ali and the kid reply's "Naseem Hamed of course".
Re: hameds influence
He was perhaps the most self confident boxer I have ever seen, even fought with an unshakable belief he could end it at any point, we saw his weaknesses exploited by Barrera but the party was all but over by then anyway.
Re: hameds influence
I think a good deal of the British Arab and Asian fighters now active were inspired by Naz....Kid Galahad, who I think is of Yemeni origin like Naz, being the most obvious example. Pretty sure the Yafai brothers have namechecked Hamed and Khan as well. Good for UK boxing because there is a talent in these communities and sport is good at getting people together.
More generally, I think Naz updated British boxing as well. Other fighters understood that putting on a show and being flamboyant could build a fanbase and getting the media talking about their careers.
Guys like Froch and Groves (despite their shared loathing of each other) both talk to the media in a way that is very confident and quotable. When Froch came through he had a certain confidence and swagger that was Naz's calling card and he did not want or need his promoter to do all the talking for him; 'I am going to say things exactly as I see them and it is my career.' Carl was quite testy for much of hs career.
Before Naz there really were not so many British fighters prepared to be outspoken, sometimes cheeky and confident. He did break the mould and that made him very nteresting. Conteh and Honeyghan had some of that chutzpah but Naz took it to another level.
More generally, I think Naz updated British boxing as well. Other fighters understood that putting on a show and being flamboyant could build a fanbase and getting the media talking about their careers.
Guys like Froch and Groves (despite their shared loathing of each other) both talk to the media in a way that is very confident and quotable. When Froch came through he had a certain confidence and swagger that was Naz's calling card and he did not want or need his promoter to do all the talking for him; 'I am going to say things exactly as I see them and it is my career.' Carl was quite testy for much of hs career.
Before Naz there really were not so many British fighters prepared to be outspoken, sometimes cheeky and confident. He did break the mould and that made him very nteresting. Conteh and Honeyghan had some of that chutzpah but Naz took it to another level.
-
Counter-puncher
- Heavyweight

- Posts: 39141
- Joined: 20 May 2008, 11:41
Re: hameds influence
Big purses for little guys, theres a big part of his legacy in recent boxing history.
Re: hameds influence
His Adidas deal was worth about 10 million, was doing adverts with Michael Jackson at one point !
Re: hameds influence
It's a real shame how he allowed his skills to deteriorate. If you watch the Belcastro, Cruz or Robinson bouts he is so coordinated, smooth and has his mind on defence and counter. Hamed's bout with Tom Johnson was on yesterday and he just looked awful, swinging for the fences and keeping his chin high in the air. It was a good thing for him that Barerra beat him, he'd have ended up eating himself. It's a real shame as well seeing a cheeky and cocky young lad turn into a self aggrandising and unpleasant man.
(Excellent Lee Haskins names Hamed as a big influence and boxes in a similar style).
(Excellent Lee Haskins names Hamed as a big influence and boxes in a similar style).
Re: hameds influence
palooka wrote:It's a real shame how he allowed his skills to deteriorate. If you watch the Belcastro, Cruz or Robinson bouts he is so coordinated, smooth and has his mind on defence and counter. Hamed's bout with Tom Johnson was on yesterday and he just looked awful, swinging for the fences and keeping his chin high in the air. It was a good thing for him that Barerra beat him, he'd have ended up eating himself. It's a real shame as well seeing a cheeky and cocky young lad turn into a self aggrandising and unpleasant man.
(Excellent Lee Haskins names Hamed as a big influence and boxes in a similar style).
That Belcastro fight he was only 18 and made Belcastro look shi.t totally dominated him great to watch but took the piss a bit much.
Re: hameds influence
Yeah, he showboated in the last especially but Belcastro was an excellent opponent. I preferred the earlier Hamed, the later one was a sloppy power puncher.Rexob wrote:palooka wrote:It's a real shame how he allowed his skills to deteriorate. If you watch the Belcastro, Cruz or Robinson bouts he is so coordinated, smooth and has his mind on defence and counter. Hamed's bout with Tom Johnson was on yesterday and he just looked awful, swinging for the fences and keeping his chin high in the air. It was a good thing for him that Barerra beat him, he'd have ended up eating himself. It's a real shame as well seeing a cheeky and cocky young lad turn into a self aggrandising and unpleasant man.
(Excellent Lee Haskins names Hamed as a big influence and boxes in a similar style).
That Belcastro fight he was only 18 and made Belcastro look shi.t totally dominated him great to watch but took the piss a bit much.
-
Syntax Error
- Heavyweight

- Posts: 9011
- Joined: 22 Apr 2005, 08:00
Re: hameds influence
Too true.palooka wrote:Yeah, he showboated in the last especially but Belcastro was an excellent opponent. I preferred the earlier Hamed, the later one was a sloppy power puncher.Rexob wrote:palooka wrote:It's a real shame how he allowed his skills to deteriorate. If you watch the Belcastro, Cruz or Robinson bouts he is so coordinated, smooth and has his mind on defence and counter. Hamed's bout with Tom Johnson was on yesterday and he just looked awful, swinging for the fences and keeping his chin high in the air. It was a good thing for him that Barerra beat him, he'd have ended up eating himself. It's a real shame as well seeing a cheeky and cocky young lad turn into a self aggrandising and unpleasant man.
(Excellent Lee Haskins names Hamed as a big influence and boxes in a similar style).
That Belcastro fight he was only 18 and made Belcastro look shi.t totally dominated him great to watch but took the piss a bit much.
Hamed got drunk on his power.
He often said his power was a gift from Allah & I always thought he just said that for effect, but I'm now thinking that he actually believed it.
Re: hameds influence
palooka wrote:It's a real shame how he allowed his skills to deteriorate. If you watch the Belcastro, Cruz or Robinson bouts he is so coordinated, smooth and has his mind on defence and counter. Hamed's bout with Tom Johnson was on yesterday and he just looked awful, swinging for the fences and keeping his chin high in the air. It was a good thing for him that Barerra beat him, he'd have ended up eating himself. It's a real shame as well seeing a cheeky and cocky young lad turn into a self aggrandising and unpleasant man.
(Excellent Lee Haskins names Hamed as a big influence and boxes in a similar style).
Lee Haskins does actually resemble Hamed in style, if not exactly in ability/ genetics. I reckon Naseem's Mam must have been a little stocky thing, because his Dad always seemed a bit wiry tbh. I don't know that it makes any difference - what is for sure is that he had a bigger natural advantage than 99% of lads that walk into gyms. He had some very useful tools for a boxer already in-built.
Re: hameds influence
James's legs were astonishing for a featherweight, he'd drive his body into his opponents direction and then choose a punch to throw.magwitch wrote:palooka wrote:It's a real shame how he allowed his skills to deteriorate. If you watch the Belcastro, Cruz or Robinson bouts he is so coordinated, smooth and has his mind on defence and counter. Hamed's bout with Tom Johnson was on yesterday and he just looked awful, swinging for the fences and keeping his chin high in the air. It was a good thing for him that Barerra beat him, he'd have ended up eating himself. It's a real shame as well seeing a cheeky and cocky young lad turn into a self aggrandising and unpleasant man.
(Excellent Lee Haskins names Hamed as a big influence and boxes in a similar style).
Lee Haskins does actually resemble Hamed in style, if not exactly in ability/ genetics. I reckon Naseem's Mam must have been a little stocky thing, because his Dad always seemed a bit wiry tbh. I don't know that it makes any difference - what is for sure is that he had a bigger natural advantage than 99% of lads that walk into gyms. He had some very useful tools for a boxer already in-built.