Naseem Hamed

[Coco]

Hamed peaked very soon, relied too much on his power and therefore umderachieved.
Nevertheless he was still one of the best and most successful to come from these shores.
Watching him against Sanchez late on in his career was telling, getting caught, having some problems and then knocking him cold.
He did have a superb jab and barely took a punch in his early world championship reign.

[coghaugen11]

One of the most exciting fighters ever. I absolutely loved watching him fight. Pure entertainment.

Last 10 years the fighters fiddle their way through fights, tickling eachother today by comparison to Benn, Toney, Tyson, McClellan, Barkley, Hearns, Bowe, Holyfield, and Watson and Eubank.

Eubanks was a master at fiddling his way thru fights.

Amongst the six title fights a year, sure - on his last legs half the time. You can't have a near-life ending war like the first Benn-Eubank, second Eubank-Watson / Thompson fights every six weeks.

[AntonioMartin]

if you were a rebellious young lad or shallow-minded bloke. Most people just thought he was an idiot.

I was both...and most people still think that of me as well, lol!

[Switch hitter]

Stopped listen to Brendan and listened to those around him and it went down hill pretty fast. As his former Promoter said the lunatics have took over the asylum.

[Jason Calara]

I think and believe that the pacman has the advantage in the intangible areas.
Hard working, humble, hungry.
But it was freddie roach who really develop the pacma
Prime naz and prime pacman, i will go with the pacman bigtime.
A lot made a big mistake thinking pacman is easy to beat. Examples: Oscar, Hatton, etc.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Pacquiao is by far the more accomplished fighter. At the lower end of the weights he spanned he was deadly, lightning fast, great work rate, fantastic combination puncher, and explosive.

Hed have been a nightmare for Hamed I don't think he could have bamboozled pacman at all.

[littlepug]

I think Hamed was pretty much untrainable after winning world title, there’s some good interviews on YouTube with Brendon and Dom Ingle talking about Naz and his ways, apparently walked in the gym after beating Robinson and told Brendon that he was no longer doing his roadwork, started telling him how he wanted to be trained and did the same with Steward when they worked together.

[tonyevs]

The best version of Hamed would not have won a round against Pacman at featherweight.

[mickey1975]

The best version of Hamed would not have won a round against Pacman at featherweight.

He would.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I think Hamed was pretty much untrainable after winning world title, there’s some good interviews on YouTube with Brendon and Dom Ingle talking about Naz and his ways, apparently walked in the gym after beating Robinson and told Brendon that he was no longer doing his roadwork, started telling him how he wanted to be trained and did the same with Steward when they worked together.

Yeah I recall Steward's exasperation in a documentary which showed him training him before the Barrera fight (I think it was that fight) saying how Naz wasn't preparing properly.

Let's face it, Hamed was an arrogant bellend. He thought that it was all about his talent, rather than the hard work and the skills that Ingle taught him.

[littlepug]

I think Hamed was pretty much untrainable after winning world title, there’s some good interviews on YouTube with Brendon and Dom Ingle talking about Naz and his ways, apparently walked in the gym after beating Robinson and told Brendon that he was no longer doing his roadwork, started telling him how he wanted to be trained and did the same with Steward when they worked together.

Yeah I recall Steward's exasperation in a documentary which showed him training him before the Barrera fight (I think it was that fight) saying how Naz wasn't preparing properly.

Let's face it, Hamed was an arrogant bellend. He thought that it was all about his talent, rather than the hard work and the skills that Ingle taught him.

Yeah they don’t come any more arrogant than him, was at an amateur show once on a balcony watching the fights about 91 and it was elbow to elbow, I got a tap on the back and turned round to see Naz stood there saying “shift kid I wanna see the fight” I think he’d just gone pro and was already acting the big I am

[jamesmcdonnell]

If he'd not had such a massive ego, he'd have achieved more.

Though having said that, his overarching self belief is part of what made him what he was as a fighter, so perhaps not.

[Muttley]

Great for british boxing , but was a better entertainer than he was boxer, has the step up in class shown , although when i see him now i dont think great entertainer , i think big headed cocky pratt,,, then again i,ve nevr met him so he migh tv be a nice guy

he was an incredibly hard puncher

[Muttley]

Floyd Sr sums up Naz in 2001, post Barrera:

'He can't fight. The money he made is unbelievable for a guy who can just punch. He don't even throw two punches at a time. He can't even throw combinations. If he catches you with one punch, he might throw another, but they're single punches at a time.
'It was a circus, a comedy act. I can teach Naseem--but what can I do if this man don't want to learn?
'He'll never beat Barrera. He can't beat this guy, and the next time, it will be all over.'

Judging by loud mouth Hamed's sheepish retirement, he shared Floyd Sr's view.

It was common knowledge within the trade that Naz suffered terrible hand trouble. I was ringside for Naz's last fight against Calvo in 2002 and was standing right next to Barry Hearn when Naz came down the steps. Naz all but whispered to Hearn that his 'hands were fucked' don't think anyone else was in ear shot at the time.

[Noxy]

Remember his rap song - that’s soooo 90s

[Onamastus]

Floyd Sr sums up Naz in 2001, post Barrera:

'He can't fight. The money he made is unbelievable for a guy who can just punch. He don't even throw two punches at a time. He can't even throw combinations. If he catches you with one punch, he might throw another, but they're single punches at a time.
'It was a circus, a comedy act. I can teach Naseem--but what can I do if this man don't want to learn?
'He'll never beat Barrera. He can't beat this guy, and the next time, it will be all over.'

Judging by loud mouth Hamed's sheepish retirement, he shared Floyd Sr's view.

It was common knowledge within the trade that Naz suffered terrible hand trouble. I was ringside for Naz's last fight against Calvo in 2002 and was standing right next to Barry Hearn when Naz came down the steps. Naz all but whispered to Hearn that his 'hands were fucked' don't think anyone else was in ear shot at the time.

Well he still scheduled a fight for later that year (which was appatently nixed by political unrest, so perhaps a Mid East event) and then was training in 2003 for a fight with Michael Brodie, adamant he wanted to fight Barrera and Morales.

[tonyevs]

There are 1001 excuses/reasons given why just about any boxer did not achieve everything they, or those close to them, believed they could achieve. And all we are left with is what they actually achieved.

As most up and coming boxers they look sensational against the lesser opponents; Ultimately Hamed, whatever excuses/reasons given, looked more vulnerable the higher level of opponent he faced until he lost. There was no way he was gonna successfully compete against the top guys at and around his weight.

[skanksta]

I bought an official "NAZ" cagoule/training top thing @ the Carbrera fight @ Wembley.
Loved it ! Loved Naz !
What a waste of talent.

[littlepug]

Yeah I recall Steward's exasperation in a documentary which showed him training him before the Barrera fight (I think it was that fight) saying how Naz wasn't preparing properly.

Let's face it, Hamed was an arrogant bellend. He thought that it was all about his talent, rather than the hard work and the skills that Ingle taught him.

Yeah they don’t come any more arrogant than him, was at an amateur show once on a balcony watching the fights about 91 and it was elbow to elbow, I got a tap on the back and turned round to see Naz stood there saying “shift kid I wanna see the fight” I think he’d just gone pro and was already acting the big I am

Did you let him in?

Nah! I just turned back round and carried on watching the fight so he got the fella next to me to move, I was a boxer myself so had too much pride to let a guy the same age as me boss me about!

[coneye]

Should off jobbed him , he was chinny anyway .

[Counter-puncher]

Yeah they don’t come any more arrogant than him, was at an amateur show once on a balcony watching the fights about 91 and it was elbow to elbow, I got a tap on the back and turned round to see Naz stood there saying “shift kid I wanna see the fight” I think he’d just gone pro and was already acting the big I am

Did you let him in?

Nah! I just turned back round and carried on watching the fight so he got the fella next to me to move, I was a boxer myself so had too much pride to let a guy the same age as me boss me about!

that was your moment like Holyfield with Tyson and the pool cue mate.

If you’d ever fought him your mental ascendancy would have been established and you’d have battered him, maybe

[littlepug]

Did you let him in?

Nah! I just turned back round and carried on watching the fight so he got the fella next to me to move, I was a boxer myself so had too much pride to let a guy the same age as me boss me about!

that was your moment like Holyfield with Tyson and the pool cue mate.

If you’d ever fought him your mental ascendancy would have been established and you’d have battered him, maybe

Absolutely!!! Although I fear the little fcuker may have had me outta there quicker than he did to Billy Hardy

[Lenny Cravats]

Total bell end. Arrogant beyond belief. Disrespectful little gobshite.... and one of the most entertaining fighters we've ever produced. It wasn't even like boxing, it was pure theatre. Everyone knew who he was, and I can't think of a more recognizable fighter from the lower weight classes.
He didn't have the following in terms of supporters that Hatton did, but I'm pretty sure he had a wider appeal.

[Jimmy2020]

He didn't have the following in terms of supporters that Hatton did, but I'm pretty sure he had a wider appeal.

Definitely. Naz was huge news for a while.

[Roco]

I think Hamed was pretty much untrainable after winning world title, there’s some good interviews on YouTube with Brendon and Dom Ingle talking about Naz and his ways, apparently walked in the gym after beating Robinson and told Brendon that he was no longer doing his roadwork, started telling him how he wanted to be trained and did the same with Steward when they worked together.

Yeah I recall Steward's exasperation in a documentary which showed him training him before the Barrera fight (I think it was that fight) saying how Naz wasn't preparing properly.

Let's face it, Hamed was an arrogant bellend. He thought that it was all about his talent, rather than the hard work and the skills that Ingle taught him.

Yeah they don’t come any more arrogant than him, was at an amateur show once on a balcony watching the fights about 91 and it was elbow to elbow, I got a tap on the back and turned round to see Naz stood there saying “shift kid I wanna see the fight” I think he’d just gone pro and was already acting the big I am

Where was that, Cutlers Hall?