What Might Have Been: Prince Naseem Hamed

Over the last 30 years or so Britain has produced some of the finest boxers on the planet. Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn, Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton and Lennox Lewis have all gone on to have tremendous success on a global level. However one who is regularly forgotten about when this discussion takes place was perhaps the most talented of them all. That man is Prince Naseem Hamed.

Now it may seem odd putting someone who was a two time world champion in a series of articles such as this, but Hamed could and should have achieved so much more.

The Prince was a huge breath of fresh air when he burst onto the scene in the early 1990’s. A cocky young teenage southpaw with bags of ability and someone the fans couldn’t help but admire, but who secretly they wouldn’t mind getting knocked out either. Everything about Hamed oozed confidence. From his walk to the ring to his front somersault over the top rope to enter, fans knew that when they went to watch him, he’d put on one hell of a show. For someone only nine stone at his absolute heaviest Hamed had a phenomenal knockout rate of 84% and is one of the quickest and most devastating punchers of the modern age.

A product of Brendan Ingle’s Wincobank Gym in Sheffield, (which has also honed the talents of fighters like Herol Graham and more recently Kell Brook), Hamed turned pro two days after his 18th birthday stopping Ricky Beard in two rounds his first fight. Hamed would go on to outclass several other British fighters including two fights against the now legendary journeyman Peter Buckley. His twelfth fight saw him win his first title winning the European bantamweight title with a unanimous points decision over Italy’s Vincenzo Balcastro. He would defend it once against another Italian Antonio Picardi before vacating it in search of a more prestigious title.

A sixth round stoppage of Freddy Cruz in October 1994 saw Hamed crowned WBC International Super Bantamweight champion, a title he would defend five times, all inside the distance.

In 1995 Hamed faced his first big test when he challenged WBO Featherweight champion Steve Robinson in the champion’s hometown at Cardiff Arms Park. Robinson had defended his title seven times previously and was considered a big threat to the youngster’s undefeated record. They shouldn’t have worried.

Hamed completely dominated the fight, proving himself to be far too quick for the veteran Robinson. Crushing body blows landed at will and bar the occasional one flush punch the champion was unable to respond. A sweet left hook to the chin of Robinson causing him to fall to the canvas in the eighth round was enough for the referee to stop the fight and see the Prince become the King.

Hamed would become one of the most successful Featherweight boxers in decades defending his title fourteen times before being eventually dethroned in April 2001. His reign saw him defeat a number of highly rated fighters including the tough Billy Hardy from Sunderland, but his greatest test was to come in December 1997, and saw him finally recognised across the pond.

Kevin Kelley was a reigning Featherweight champion and certainly not someone Hamed could take lightly. In 50 professional fights he had won 47 and lost just once. Hamed made his US debut at Madison Square Garden in New York in what would be a watershed moment in the 23 year old’s career. For the first time Hamed was forced to respect the ability of his opponent and abandon his normal arrogant style and box to the very best of his ability. A quick counter punch from Kelley on the chin of Hamed saw him knocked down for only the second time in his career but more drama was to follow.

Hamed made a quick recovery but was knocked down again in the second round as Kelley smelt blood and a big, big statement about both fighter’s careers was being made. Hamed again got up quickly and within twenty seconds the tables had turned with Kelley momentarily hitting the deck. The pace of the fight was lightning fast from the first bell and both fighters were leaving nothing in the dressing room. Another knockdown from Hamed saw the Brit now in the ascendency and the American’s confidence shattered.

The fourth saw Kelley come out swinging wildly, an uncharacteristic trait for the American, and Hamed took advantage with a straight left which sent the challenger to the deck for a third time. Kelley yet again responded with a right hook to the side of the head forcing Hamed to touch the floor with his right glove. The two men would trade vicious blows before Kelley was floored for a fourth and final time by a left from Hamed which saw the referee wave the fight off, rather harshly in many people’s eyes. Hamed may have been able to celebrate a huge victory but in doing so his defensive weaknesses were exposed for the first time in his career by the veteran Kelley. If you have time to watch this fight, do it, it’s really, really good.

Hamed would defend the belt another six times before a Vegas bout with the Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera. Despite Barrera’s very strong record the Brit was still comfortable favourite at 8-1 on with some bookmakers to retain his title. Eight weeks prior to the fight Hamed was a shocking 40 pounds overweight and despite rigorous training from then on he was still two pounds over by the end of his camp. Legendary trainer Emanuel Steward was brought in and was immediately concerned for the champion after hearing how Barrera had “trained like a monk” ahead of the fight and was razor sharp in his last stoppage win a few months before.

Hamed’s lack of fitness was evident even before the fight started with him unable to perform his trademark front somersault over the top rope. Barrera caught Hamed flush in round one which rocked the champion and the challenger was able to dictate the rest of the fight, not allowing Hamed to execute his normally deadly left hand punches and was able to stay on top and not revert to defensive tactics. As the rounds went by Hamed became more and more frustrated but ultimately was not able to break the Mexican’s momentum and as the bell rang for the end of the fight he knew that his four year IBO Featherweight Title reign was over. The referee confirmed what everyone already knew by announcing Barrera champion by unanimous decision (111-116, 112-115, 112-115).

Hamed would not fight for over a year, earning a comfortable points victory over the Spaniard Manuel Calvo to regain his IBO Featherweight title which had since been vacated. It seemed as though the fans that had once roared the Brit on to domination of the Featherweight division had turned against him and had finally had enough of his arrogant ways, booing him throughout the fight. Hamed’s performance was lethargic and frankly boring. He retired from boxing soon after at the age of just 28.

His reasoning was chronic problems with his hands which included multiple fractures from over the years. Many boxing experts as well as fans have been sceptical about his decision and the reasons behind it, citing his arrogant nature being his ultimate downfall. His defeat to Marco Antonio Barrera should have been the catalyst for a changed Prince Naseem, one that could learn from his mistakes and move on, however what we got was a lame excuse and a career only half fulfilled.

Had Hamed carried on it could well have seen one of the dream matches of the last twenty years. A match against a man who was rapidly becoming the next big star, winning the WBC Featherweight title in 1998. Someone who could have greatly benefitted from a glamour bout with the reinvigorated Hamed. Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Imagine, in 2002 Mayweather was 25 years old but not yet the global superstar he would go on to become. Hamed would have been an ideal opponent as a win would have further cemented his position as no.1 Featherweight in the world just before moving on to the Lightweight division. Hamed would have been in a no lose situation. Had he won it would have re-established him as the no.1 Featherweight however had he lost he would have had another shot at the title as Mayweather relinquished the belt to pursue the Lightweight crown instead. Hamed’s raw power and speed would have been a huge test for the American who had not completely perfected his defensive skills. It had all the hallmarks of a potential classic fight.

Prince Naseem Hamed was a sensational talent, one that the British boxing scene and in particular the British Featherweight scene was after. His arrogance and showmanship was something not seen to that degree since Muhammad Ali but it was also to be his greatest downfall and what stopped him achieving further success than he did. At his best he was untouchable but at his worst he was shown to have huge flaws both mentally and physically. His vulnerable defence was highlighted in his victory over Kevin Kelley and his arrogance and overconfidence was exploited emphatically by Marco Antonio Barrera. Is it fair to say Hamed got what he deserved? Probably. Is it fair that the fans were robbed of potentially ten more years of one of the finest British boxing talents of all time? Not in the slightest. Retiring at the age of just 28, Prince Naseem Hamed is one of sports greatest examples of what could have been.