Prince Naseem Tears Into Johnny Nelson, Accuses Him of ‘Clout Chasing’
Posted: 23 Apr 2026, 03:35
Prince Naseem Tears Into Johnny Nelson, Accuses Him of ‘Clout Chasing’
Prince Naseem Hamed accused Johnny Nelson of “clout chasing” as he questioned both his motives and his career.
The Sheffield icon did not hold back when addressing Nelson, claiming the longtime pundit has been using his name for attention rather than offering genuine analysis.
“Johnny wants publicity off my name. What’s that word they use? Clickbait or something. Living vicariously through someone else. Clout chasing. He’s constantly,” Hamed said.
The comments went further, with Hamed suggesting the situation had deeper roots stretching back to their time around the same gym.
“And it’s got nothing to do what he feels about Brendan. But you know what? I always realized afterwards when I analyzed Johnny, there was only ever one snake in that gym.”
Personal attack
Hamed dismissed any suggestion that Nelson had previously supported him before turning directly to Nelson’s past.
Speaking during an exchange with Simon Jordan on talkSPORT, Hamed reacted to a suggestion that Nelson had once spoken highly of him.
“But he loved you. I remember doing a front with him one day where he spoke so highly—”
Hamed cut in immediately.
“No, no. Let me tell you about Johnny. Johnny was fright—as then he was so frightened of his own shadow, Johnny.”
The former featherweight champion then claimed he personally pushed for Nelson to be given opportunities when others would not.
Ingle Gym
Nelson and Hamed both trained at Sheffield’s world-famous Ingle Gym during its peak in the 1990s, but Nelson struggled early in his career before eventually becoming a WBO cruiserweight champion, often labeled “boring” by fans and media.
Hamed then went further, claiming Nelson’s career only progressed because of his own intervention.
“It’s unbelievable of over-achiever in boxing what Johnny did because, firstly, Johnny needs to realize the truth about him and his career. And that is, without me coming from the same gym as him and opening the doors, I begged allegedly.”
Hamed said he requested Nelson be placed on his own undercards after multiple opponents withdrew.
“I said, ‘Frank, please put him on my undercard. There’s been 13 opponents that have pulled out. He can’t get a fight.’”
According to Hamed, the response he received at the time was far from encouraging.
“allegedly said to me, ‘Listen, Naz. If he was fighting in my own backyard, I’d draw the curtains.’ That’s his exact words.”
Career questioned
Hamed closed by taking aim at Nelson’s identity in the sport, questioning whether the former cruiserweight ever lived up to the billing attached to him.
“Johnny Nelson was supposed to be called—he was supposed to be the entertainer. That was his ring—that was his fight name. Who did he ever entertain?”
The remarks mark a rare public outburst from Hamed, who has largely stayed out of the spotlight in recent years.
Nelson, who is now a prominent voice in British boxing coverage, has not yet responded.
Whether he responds now becomes the next step, with Hamed’s comments dragging a past gym relationship back into the open.
Prince Naseem Hamed accused Johnny Nelson of “clout chasing” as he questioned both his motives and his career.
The Sheffield icon did not hold back when addressing Nelson, claiming the longtime pundit has been using his name for attention rather than offering genuine analysis.
“Johnny wants publicity off my name. What’s that word they use? Clickbait or something. Living vicariously through someone else. Clout chasing. He’s constantly,” Hamed said.
The comments went further, with Hamed suggesting the situation had deeper roots stretching back to their time around the same gym.
“And it’s got nothing to do what he feels about Brendan. But you know what? I always realized afterwards when I analyzed Johnny, there was only ever one snake in that gym.”
Personal attack
Hamed dismissed any suggestion that Nelson had previously supported him before turning directly to Nelson’s past.
Speaking during an exchange with Simon Jordan on talkSPORT, Hamed reacted to a suggestion that Nelson had once spoken highly of him.
“But he loved you. I remember doing a front with him one day where he spoke so highly—”
Hamed cut in immediately.
“No, no. Let me tell you about Johnny. Johnny was fright—as then he was so frightened of his own shadow, Johnny.”
The former featherweight champion then claimed he personally pushed for Nelson to be given opportunities when others would not.
Ingle Gym
Nelson and Hamed both trained at Sheffield’s world-famous Ingle Gym during its peak in the 1990s, but Nelson struggled early in his career before eventually becoming a WBO cruiserweight champion, often labeled “boring” by fans and media.
Hamed then went further, claiming Nelson’s career only progressed because of his own intervention.
“It’s unbelievable of over-achiever in boxing what Johnny did because, firstly, Johnny needs to realize the truth about him and his career. And that is, without me coming from the same gym as him and opening the doors, I begged allegedly.”
Hamed said he requested Nelson be placed on his own undercards after multiple opponents withdrew.
“I said, ‘Frank, please put him on my undercard. There’s been 13 opponents that have pulled out. He can’t get a fight.’”
According to Hamed, the response he received at the time was far from encouraging.
“allegedly said to me, ‘Listen, Naz. If he was fighting in my own backyard, I’d draw the curtains.’ That’s his exact words.”
Career questioned
Hamed closed by taking aim at Nelson’s identity in the sport, questioning whether the former cruiserweight ever lived up to the billing attached to him.
“Johnny Nelson was supposed to be called—he was supposed to be the entertainer. That was his ring—that was his fight name. Who did he ever entertain?”
The remarks mark a rare public outburst from Hamed, who has largely stayed out of the spotlight in recent years.
Nelson, who is now a prominent voice in British boxing coverage, has not yet responded.
Whether he responds now becomes the next step, with Hamed’s comments dragging a past gym relationship back into the open.