Prince Naz

[goldenears]

Watched "the little prince" documentary again last night, one of the best boxing documentaries i've seen for behind the scenes access. I'm sure most have seen it but if not it's about the build up to his only loss to Marco Antonio Barrera.

The thing that struck me were a couple of shots of interview footage where Naz was giving his usual chatter and at the end of a couple of his mad arrogant diatribes he left a pause and then just cracked up laughing.

It made me think that maybe he was just playing the part all the time and underneath it all was actually just a very smart kid who knew how to play the game.

There's no doubt that he made himself a superstar with the mix of his exciting style and his personality but the personality bit was just an 'act'

At the time I loved watching him but always wanted him to lose because of it, but watched every single fight and couldnt wait for him.

Having seen that documentary again I appreciate him much much more as a fighter and a fella. Boxing needs fighters like him. He ran into my favourite fighter of the era in Barrera and never quite recovered in the way great champions do, but it's no shame losing to Marco.

Anyone got any experience of Naz?

[keithmoonhangover]

Watched "the little prince" documentary again last night, one of the best boxing documentaries i've seen for behind the scenes access. I'm sure most have seen it but if not it's about the build up to his only loss to Marco Antonio Barrera.

The thing that struck me were a couple of shots of interview footage where Naz was giving his usual chatter and at the end of a couple of his mad arrogant diatribes he left a pause and then just cracked up laughing.

It made me think that maybe he was just playing the part all the time and underneath it all was actually just a very smart kid who knew how to play the game.

There's no doubt that he made himself a superstar with the mix of his exciting style and his personality but the personality bit was just an 'act'

At the time I loved watching him but always wanted him to lose because of it, but watched every single fight and couldnt wait for him.

Having seen that documentary again I appreciate him much much more as a fighter and a fella. Boxing needs fighters like him. He ran into my favourite fighter of the era in Barrera and never quite recovered in the way great champions do, but it's no shame losing to Marco.

Anyone got any experience of Naz?

I met Naz at the ABA's in Gateshead year ago. I think he'd just won the European title of memory serves. I went to the bar to get served and Naz was ahead of me in the queue. The barman asked Naz what he wanted and Naz said "serve the big man first" - I'm 6' 5". When I spoke to him he was a very genuine unimposing and kind guy.

[nobby_nobbins]

I discovered recently that Naz sparred a grand total of 12 rounds before the Barrera fight. He just thought he had to turn up to win.

[The_Don1]

seems to me that naz was a mix of insecurity and arrogance, clearly he put up a front whenever the cameras were rolling, when he lost to barrera his world caved in thus ensuing the insecurity which he never recovered from, I don't know the guy, but the guy knew how to sell tickets and make a name for himself, I think he acheived what he could do in his career, he was never an all time great, but in his own words he was "bloody good".

[lefty]

Ive heard tales of him being a right bully but i dont know personally.

[goldenears]

I met him a few times and each and every time he was an utter twat.

My oldest brother used to train at the Wincobank Gym, he took me there once with a boxing book we'd just bought.
We got the book signed by quite a few people, Ryan Rhodes, Clifton Mitchell and a few others (Ryan told me to leave the book with him and he'd get Johnny Nelson's in there and call me when I could collect it).
Naz was in the gym to, I asked him if he could sign my book - he told me to eff off. I was quite surprised, asked him if he was being serious and he said, yes. Get the eff out of my gym.

I think I was 13-14 at the time. I was very upset.

I saw him at a show at the Don Valley, he was screaming at someone (one of his hangers-on) to go and park his care and he 'better not scratch it, it's worth blah, blah, blah' he was shouting loudly enough to let everyone in the arena know he was there.

looks like he was a bit of a tool after all. Great for boxing though an entertainer like that. His facade punctured when it was shown he couldn't combat adversity and deal with defeat. Surprising after the roller coaster Kelley fight where he came off the floor a couple of times to wipe him out in one of the most exciting fights i remember from back then. I went to 3 of his fights - a couple at the MEN and they were always value for money.

He pulled off the character really well too, in the same way that Ricky Hatton connected with his "man of the people" thing, Eubank, nuts as he was, had a bit of that too. You've got to back it up in the ring though and both those men did until Naz got beat and Eubank never could really fight again after the Watson tragedy, lost his edge and not surprising really. His fight against Benn was an absolute classic.

Makes me cringe when you see Haye or even worse Groves trying to sound/look like a superstar - you've either got it or you haven't. It's not just about looking good - DeGale and Haye have that going for them, you've got to have a charisma that can't be taught. Those early shots of Naz in the gym as a kid show that he had it in him.

Mad really that a fighter i rooted against at the time now I feel like boxing is missing.

[Emmseegee]

im always among the posts when Naz is being spoke about. lol
Love him or hate him, he was good and although many like to debate about how good he actually was no one can argue that he captured the imagination of not just boxing fans but the general public also.
No-one since has managed to do that, not anyone internationally never mind in britain. His whole character was brilliant and made people want to see him wether they wanted to see him knock someone out or be knocked out it didnt matter because they wanted too see him!

There wont be another Naz in my opinion.

[bennie]

He's one of the greatest British fighters of all time - top 10, maybe even top five.

[Captain Hook]

Try top two, with Lennox Lewis

[ERIC GUY]

Naz was a character, arrogant, as well as being nice as pie, depends on his mood that day, always a cheeky git, I remember filming Hreol Graham warming up for his fight against Cook, and he was in the changing room with Ryan, and giving it the big'un, but I thought he was funny,

[Glyn Leach]

Naz was a character, arrogant, as well as being nice as pie

Hole in one Eric, spot on.

Many good memories of Naz, particularly in his younger days. Comical even if he sometimes didn't mean to be. A very normal fella beneath the flash image and a real boxing fan in the early days, always following Brendan's fighters around the country. Speak as I find, and I found him very genuine up to the point where his career got crazy and his family took over. Beyond that stage I didn't really have much to do with him so can't comment on whether he changed much as a person. Glad to see him back on the scene though, I think it will be good for him.

[bennie]

Try top two, with Lennox Lewis

Try considering the past greats - you know, the ones you know nothing about.

[Scottrf]

Try top two, with Lennox Lewis

Maybe in the modern era.

[Captain Hook]

Try top two, with Lennox Lewis

Try considering the past greats - you know, the ones you know nothing about.

Why do I know nothing about them, because I think Naz is in the top 2?

It's called an opinion Bennie....who's your top two? You know nothing about me pal so wind your neck in.

If Naz was a more likeable chap more people would have him up there.

In terms of achievement, excitement, dominance at the weight, skill, power and statistics.....are there many better?

OK there are other guys he could have taken on and earlier, but as we've argued in other threads you could say that about most fighters.

Are you going to argue someone like Barry McGuigan is better? Howard Winstone? Jimmy Wilde? Nigel Benn?

Do you at least agree Lennox Lewis is in the top 2/3 british fighters of all time or do they have to be dead to get any respect from you?

[Captain Hook]

PS You just said yourself he's possibly top five so how can you moan about me thinking he's top two?!

[Captain Hook]

PPS If you did come up with McGuigan and FitzSimmons, or Honeyghan and Minter, I wouldn't be so bloody rude pal as it would be your opinion.

Getting fed-up of throwaway remarks like that on here!

Anyway..........back to my soup....

[DavidPayne]

I think Hook is the problem. One week, two spats.

Chuck the fkker out.

[Captain Hook]

Yeah true.....I'll get my coat.

Only on Boxrec can you be labelled wrong for stating a preference :)

[whiskey]

What's the difference between a prime Naz and God ?

God didn't walk round Sheffield thinking he was Naz.

[orbtastic]

I've a short documentary about the Nelson/DeLeon "fight" and it features Naz' younger brother quite heavily. Naz is in it too, but doesn't say much. He must be about 15 or 16 but looks about 12.

[Captain Hook]

He was a dick, no doubt about that...but I guarantee he got a lot of people on here into the sport. He was outstanding on his day, awesome fighter.

Shame he didn't have the mental strength to match his arrogance and ability.

[Captain Hook]

I'm merely responding to an arsey, ill-informed comment. It's become something of a habit, especially this week.

Sarajevo....what a place.

[DavidPayne]

A lot like Rhyll before the UN turned up.

[Captain Hook]

And often they were, hunting in packs with pitchforks, searching for the lesser-spotted Antigone or Jiggaman :)

David - begone with you, Tyke...

[DavidPayne]

Have a good weekend chums. One day I'll actually have to endure the halitosis and have a pint with you two yocals.