On This Day: Naseem Hamed beats Kevin Kelley in barnburner

[Ruthless-RKO]

ON this day 18 years ago, featherweights Naseem Hamed and Kevin Kelley produced a slugfest of the ages. Sheffield’s Hamed, then unbeaten and at his sizzling peak, was on a mission to conquer America. This fight was his first bout in the US.

Kelley, a former WBC 126-pound champion, was experienced and he resented Hamed coming to his “house” of Madison Square Garden to fight him on his New York turf. The two southpaws duked it out in a fight that was so good, HBO commentator Larry Merchant called it “a featherweight version of Hagler-Hearns.”

Hamed, then aged 23 and sporting a 28-0 (26) record, had won significant fights prior to his US debut, including his brilliant September 1995 stoppage win over Steve Robinson to win the WBO featherweight crown. But the defence against Kelley, who was 47-1-2 (32), marked a considerable step up in class for the cocksure “Prince.” Kelley, beaten only by incredibly tough Mexican Alejandro Gonzalez (in a war that saw both men hit the canvas before Kelley was pulled out by his corner at the conclusion of the 10th-round of a great action fight) was fast, powerful and mentally and physically strong. “The Flushing Flash” was certain he would take Hamed’s title.

http://www.boxingnewsonline.net/on-this ... arnburner/

[Noxy]

It was on the same bill as Jones vs McKinney as well. The punters got their money's worth that night, and then some

[littlepug]

ON this day 18 years ago, featherweights Naseem Hamed and Kevin Kelley produced a slugfest of the ages. Sheffield’s Hamed, then unbeaten and at his sizzling peak, was on a mission to conquer America. This fight was his first bout in the US.

Kelley, a former WBC 126-pound champion, was experienced and he resented Hamed coming to his “house” of Madison Square Garden to fight him on his New York turf. The two southpaws duked it out in a fight that was so good, HBO commentator Larry Merchant called it “a featherweight version of Hagler-Hearns.”

Hamed, then aged 23 and sporting a 28-0 (26) record, had won significant fights prior to his US debut, including his brilliant September 1995 stoppage win over Steve Robinson to win the WBO featherweight crown. But the defence against Kelley, who was 47-1-2 (32), marked a considerable step up in class for the cocksure “Prince.” Kelley, beaten only by incredibly tough Mexican Alejandro Gonzalez (in a war that saw both men hit the canvas before Kelley was pulled out by his corner at the conclusion of the 10th-round of a great action fight) was fast, powerful and mentally and physically strong. “The Flushing Flash” was certain he would take Hamed’s title.

http://www.boxingnewsonline.net/on-this ... arnburner/

Pretty sure he had fought in the states at least twice before

[littlepug]

ON this day 18 years ago, featherweights Naseem Hamed and Kevin Kelley produced a slugfest of the ages. Sheffield’s Hamed, then unbeaten and at his sizzling peak, was on a mission to conquer America. This fight was his first bout in the US.

Kelley, a former WBC 126-pound champion, was experienced and he resented Hamed coming to his “house” of Madison Square Garden to fight him on his New York turf. The two southpaws duked it out in a fight that was so good, HBO commentator Larry Merchant called it “a featherweight version of Hagler-Hearns.”

Hamed, then aged 23 and sporting a 28-0 (26) record, had won significant fights prior to his US debut, including his brilliant September 1995 stoppage win over Steve Robinson to win the WBO featherweight crown. But the defence against Kelley, who was 47-1-2 (32), marked a considerable step up in class for the cocksure “Prince.” Kelley, beaten only by incredibly tough Mexican Alejandro Gonzalez (in a war that saw both men hit the canvas before Kelley was pulled out by his corner at the conclusion of the 10th-round of a great action fight) was fast, powerful and mentally and physically strong. “The Flushing Flash” was certain he would take Hamed’s title.

http://www.boxingnewsonline.net/on-this ... arnburner/

Pretty sure he had fought in the states at least twice before

Sorry ruthless my mistake, must be getting old

[Counter-puncher]

I remember the buildup Kelley seemed shaken by Hameds confidence that he was going to knock him spark out

[Noxy]

I remember the buildup Kelley seemed shaken by Hameds confidence that he was going to knock him spark out

Funny, I thought the opposite. It struck me as the first time Naz met someone as mouthy as him.

[Counter-puncher]

I remember the buildup Kelley seemed shaken by Hameds confidence that he was going to knock him spark out

Funny, I thought the opposite. It struck me as the first time Naz met someone as mouthy as him.

Ha, well the result says I was right! Joke. I am just thinking of one interview I saw I just thought Kelleysbface showed disconcertment.

[magwitch]

It was a tremendous fight that was. It was a brilliant win for Hamed - how could it not have been (after the start)?
I was a teenager, with a clock radio under my bed, which I sometimes used to set and hit the “snooze” button for these American fights as I couldn’t fight sleep

What I noticed years later seeing the footage was what a good fight Kelley had. At that time Hamed was knocking them over like 9-pins with impunity. Kelley was as sharp as a switchblade razor and 100% behind himself. Not unreminiscent in attitude to the smashing James Douglas went about sticking on Tyson!

A great fight for sure. I was not a fan of Hamed, but in my mind there were no losers in the ring that night.

[orbtastic]

This fight ended up with me being under observation for a year by my neighbour for a Environmental Health noise complaint. I won. Bellend.

[magwitch]

This fight ended up with me being under observation for a year by my neighbour for a Environmental Health noise complaint. I won. Bellend.

[IKSRTFO]

I remember the buildup Kelley seemed shaken by Hameds confidence that he was going to knock him spark out

Funny, I thought the opposite. It struck me as the first time Naz met someone as mouthy as him.

Ha, well the result says I was right! Joke. I am just thinking of one interview I saw I just thought Kelleysbface showed disconcertment.

I didn't see that. Kelly looked like any fighter would.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ69MyiNOe4

[Syntax Error]

The fight was amateurish & reckless, but massively entertaining.

Both of them abandoned the basics & there was no pretence about showcasing their skills; this was just 2 guys hanging their chins out to dry & inviting the other to take potshots & the winner was the one that was still standing after it all.

[Bodyshot3]

That was the type of fight which reminded me why I always watched Naz despite not really liking him that much....he was the villain you could not take your eyes off and he invariably put on a show.

He was just a wee, gobby lad from Sheffield but his swagger and willingness to bring it was exceptional...so many British fighters got lost when they travelled to the US, but Hamed embraced the MSG and just went out there bombing. That was a huge, refreshing change from the norm.

[Bricks]

ON this day 18 years ago, featherweights Naseem Hamed and Kevin Kelley produced a slugfest of the ages. Sheffield’s Hamed, then unbeaten and at his sizzling peak, was on a mission to conquer America. This fight was his first bout in the US.

Kelley, a former WBC 126-pound champion, was experienced and he resented Hamed coming to his “house” of Madison Square Garden to fight him on his New York turf. The two southpaws duked it out in a fight that was so good, HBO commentator Larry Merchant called it “a featherweight version of Hagler-Hearns.”

Hamed, then aged 23 and sporting a 28-0 (26) record, had won significant fights prior to his US debut, including his brilliant September 1995 stoppage win over Steve Robinson to win the WBO featherweight crown. But the defence against Kelley, who was 47-1-2 (32), marked a considerable step up in class for the cocksure “Prince.” Kelley, beaten only by incredibly tough Mexican Alejandro Gonzalez (in a war that saw both men hit the canvas before Kelley was pulled out by his corner at the conclusion of the 10th-round of a great action fight) was fast, powerful and mentally and physically strong. “The Flushing Flash” was certain he would take Hamed’s title.

http://www.boxingnewsonline.net/on-this ... arnburner/

I always saw it as a B level fight......Kelley was a good notch below the real top men of the 126-130 divisions or thereabouts such as barerra, morales, tapia, ayala, corrales,marquez,mayweather etc......but like bellew-haye , two good talkers. I don't think he was even a step up for naz from a tom Johnson. It was a competitive fight because this Naz had slipped a lot from the Johnson days and Kelly just had more the style to trouble nazz's defensive deficiencies rather than Johnson whose world title reign was far superior to Kelley

I also wondered why Naz was seen as so unique. In the ring as a feather yeah he was spectacular and he kind of represented Asian youth of the mid 90s who were talking and following brit Jamaican culture ALI G style........but was he really that unique in New York......they had had Hector Camacho snr and Naz seemed to copy the ring entrances, the leopard skin, the fast punching southpaw moves (to an extent)of Camacho as well as the short bad boy antics...hell he even copied the little hair curl at the front........

I think this fight was hype and a B level fight that's overhyped over the years just my opinion

[BoxBuzz]

Watching it again makes me think Kelly lost this because he got into Naz's game.

Had he been smarter, I think it very easily could have ended differently.

I think a lot of his opponents just underestimated what a devastating puncher he was, and allowed their annoyance of his antics to affect them in a way that they just forgot their training, and just wanted to put him out.

Except MAB.