Naseem Hamed (Arabic: نسيم حامد; born 12 February 1974), nicknamed Prince Naseem and Naz, is a British former skilled boxer who competed from 1992 to 2002.[2] He held a number of featherweight world championships, together with the WBO title from 1995 to 2000; the IBF title in 1997; and the WBC title from 1999 to 2000. He additionally reigned as lineal champion from 1998 to 2001; IBO champion from 2002 to 2003; and held the European bantamweight title from 1994 to 1995. Hamed is ranked the most effective British featherweight of all time by BoxRec.[3] In 2015, he was inducted into the Worldwide Boxing Corridor of Fame.
Hamed was identified for his unconventional boxing antics and spectacular ring entrances which included coming into the ring on a flying carpet, a raise, and a palanquin, in addition to re-enacting the video of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and carrying a Halloween masks. He was additionally identified for his entrance somersault excessive rope into the ring, his extremely athletic and hard-hitting southpaw boxing fashion, and formidable one-punch knockout energy, having completed his profession with a knockout-to-win ratio of 84{ae90547d17d4d74b17007ee836a04674fd006933c139011dc78eb03c100070a7}.[4][5] Along with his cocky persona and high-profile bouts he was a distinguished determine in Nineties British popular culture, whereas Sean Ingle in The Guardian writes, “in his prime, Hamed was a world famous person“.[6] A headliner on either side of the Atlantic, Dan Rafael of ESPN writes, “one of many greatest stars within the sport, the man bought out arenas earlier than his opponent was even named.”[7]
As of October 2020, BoxRec ranks Hamed because the nineteenth best European pound-for-pound boxer of all time[8] and the seventh best British fighter of all time.[9] In 2016, ESPN ranked Hamed at quantity 22 on its record of the highest 25 fighters, pound for pound, of the final 25 years.[10] World Boxing, a sister publication of The Ring journal, ranked Hamed the eleventh best British boxer of all-time, and Gareth A. Davies of The Telegraph ranked him tenth.[11] The Ring additionally ranked Hamed the forty sixth best puncher of all-time.[7]
Skilled profession
Early years
Hamed began boxing professionally at flyweight in 1992. He quickly started rising by means of the ranks as he knocked out a collection of opponents within the opening rounds. Age 20 he received the European bantamweight title, comprehensively beating the beleaguered Vincenzo Belcastro over twelve rounds. After one defence he received the WBC Worldwide tremendous bantamweight title in 1994, overwhelming Freddy Cruz in Sheffield, whom he severely punished and stopped in six rounds. Hamed’s recognition grew, his unorthodox fashion successful a big fan base and his boxing antics producing a big group of detractors.[12] After signing for Frank Warren, Hamed, using extra spectacular entrances, knocked out higher opposition in Enrique Angeles and Juan Polo Pérez, each inside two rounds.
World featherweight champion
Hamed vs. Robinson
Later in 1995, after controversially being named the WBO #1 featherweight contender (regardless of by no means having boxed at that weight), Hamed moved as much as face Wales’ defending WBO champion Steve Robinson. After dominating the bout and scoring a knockdown in spherical 5, Hamed received the title when the referee stopped the battle in spherical 8 after Robinson was caught with a left hook that dropped him spectacularly. The battle was held in entrance of Robinson’s residence crowd on the rugby floor, Cardiff Arms Park, with rain pouring down on the fighters and the ring.[13] This was additionally the primary bout the place Hamed badly injured his hand, an issue that may proceed for the remainder of his profession.
Hamed vs. Medina
Hamed’s subsequent defence was in Dublin in opposition to former two-time world featherweight title holder Manuel Medina. After knocking Medina down closely in spherical 2, Hamed struggled to complete the battle till lastly knocking Medina down twice within the tenth spherical. Lastly, on the finish of spherical 11, Medina’s nook withdrew him from the battle on the recommendation of the ringside physician. Hamed revealed in his post-fight interview that he had fought with a heavy chilly. Medina would go on to have many extra robust title fights, remarkably successful variations of the featherweight world title one other 3 times. Hamed’s subsequent opponent was the 27–0 Remigio Molina of Argentina, who was stopped in two rounds.
Hamed vs. Johnson
Hamed with the WBO featherweight title at a WWF occasion, 1997
In February 1997, Hamed defeated long-time IBF champion Tom “Increase Increase” Johnson in eight rounds in a unification bout on the London Enviornment. After being always surprised and staggered from spherical 3 onwards, Johnson was lastly dropped by an enormous uppercut, then saved from additional punishment by the referee. Hamed’s first defence of each the WBO & IBF titles was a first-round KO of veteran British boxer and European champion Billy Hardy. Earlier than the bout Hamed had appropriately predicted he would win in spherical 1. The following defence was a straightforward two-round win in opposition to a massively outclassed Juan Gerardo Cabrera. Resulting from boxing politics involving the IBF’s obligatory challenger, Hamed was quickly pressured to relinquish the IBF title.
Hamed vs. Badillo
In Hamed’s hometown of Sheffield in October 1997, he produced probably the greatest performances of his profession in defending his WBO title in opposition to Jose Badillo, whose nook entered the ring to cease the battle throughout spherical 7. Hamed’s standing as one of many greatest attracts within the sport was evident with a stellar undercard that included Joe Calzaghe vs. Chris Eubank for the world tremendous middleweight title.[14]
Hamed vs. Kelley
In late 1997 Hamed made his closely hyped U.S. debut. His ceremonious arrival on the British Airways Concorde was lined by a number of media shops. There, he and former WBC title holder Kevin Kelley fought in a extremely entertaining bout at New York’s Madison Sq. Backyard. Previous to the battle, Kelley instructed Hamed, “I’m gonna smoke your boots”. This battle marks one thing of a watershed in Hamed’s profession, as he was pressured, for the primary time, to desert his hands-down fashion of combating all through the whole course of the bout, given the calibre of Kelley. Nonetheless, regardless of struggling three knockdowns himself, Hamed put Kelley down for a 3rd and remaining time to win by a fourth-round knockout. This was his first of many fights on HBO.[15]
Different title defences
In 1998, Hamed loved victories over former three-time WBA title holder and then-lineal champion Wilfredo Vazquez (TKO 7), former WBC bantamweight title holder Wayne McCullough (W 12), and future IBF title holder Paul Ingle (TKO 11; no relation to Hamed’s then-former coach Brendan Ingle).
Hamed vs. Soto
In October 1999 at Joe Louis Enviornment, Detroit, Michigan, United States, Hamed defeated WBC featherweight champion Cesar Soto of Mexico over 12 rounds, including the WBC title to his assortment and unified the WBC & WBO titles. Hamed quickly selected to relinquish his WBC title as a consequence of his dedication to being WBO champion.
Had Vazquez not been stripped by the WBA of his belt (the WBA didn’t need their featherweight title unified with the WBO), Hamed would have had the excellence of successful all 4 world titles in a division, one thing solely Riddick Bowe had achieved by that time, at heavyweight.
Moreover, this battle marked the primary event through which Hamed would have somebody apart from his regular coach, Brendan Ingle, in his nook. Emanuel Steward was Hamed’s coach for this bout.[16]
Hamed vs. Bungu
In March 2000 at Olympia, Kensington, London, Hamed knocked out former undefeated long-reigning IBF tremendous bantamweight title holder, Vuyani Bungu of South Africa. The battle was ended with a single straight left hand, in one among Hamed’s most spectacular performances and largest victories.
Hamed vs. Sanchez
Hamed fought in August 2000 in opposition to Augie Sanchez at Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States. Sanchez is understood for being the final American to defeat Floyd Mayweather as an beginner boxer.[17]
Hamed efficiently retained his WBO title for the fifteenth and remaining time in opposition to Sanchez through a devastating fourth-round knockout. Hamed broke his hand badly within the bout, and following surgical procedure he spent half a 12 months out of the gymnasium, gaining 35 kilos in weight. Fairly than face the unknown EBU Champion & WBO obligatory challenger István Kovács, Hamed relinquished his WBO title to pave the best way for a Superfight with Marco Antonio Barrera.
Hamed vs. Barrera
It’s true Hamed regarded terrible that night time. His physique, drained from shedding two stones in eight weeks, amateurishly tossing round like a marionette – head flying a technique, legs flopping the opposite – as Barrera labored him over. However to evaluate Hamed on that efficiency is like judging Laurence Olivier on Inchon. Bear in mind he defended the WBO world title 15 instances and in addition held the WBC and IBF belts. His document of 36‑1, with 31 knockouts, stands with the easiest.
—Sean Ingle in The Guardian on Hamed’s document.[6]
Eight weeks previous to the battle, which befell on the MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment in Las Vegas on 7 April 2001, Marco Antonio Barrera ready to battle. Barrera had moved up a weight division. On the finish of coaching camp he was in the most effective form of his life. Based on Sky Sports activities, Barrera had “educated like a monk” in Huge Bear, California, whereas Hamed educated in Bing Crosby’s previous home.[18] Emanuel Steward had arrived to supervise the final two weeks of Hamed’s coaching, together with sparring, and was anxious instantly.[12] He had seen Barrera look razor sharp just a few months earlier than in a stoppage win in Las Vegas, and watched Hamed not take his sparring with younger Mexicans critically.[12] The battle was additionally for the Worldwide Boxing Group World featherweight title.
Barrera handed Naseem Hamed his first and solely loss for the lineal featherweight championship by a twelve-round determination. Earlier than the battle, Hamed was a 3 to 1 betting favorite in Las Vegas.[19] Hamed couldn’t hit Barrera together with his trademark lefts as Barrera circled to his left and labored each head and physique. Barrera was not a fan of Hamed’s antics and responded to Hamed’s punches throughout clinches. On one event early within the battle, Hamed grabbed Barrera they usually each fell to the bottom the place Barrera threw a proper jab, resulting in a warning from referee Joe Cortez. Within the twelfth and remaining spherical Barrera trapped Hamed in a full-nelson and compelled his head into the turnbuckle, leading to a degree deducted by referee Joe Cortez. In the end, Barrera threw extra, tougher punches and extra spectacular combos than Hamed all through the course of the battle. Barrera was awarded the victory through a unanimous determination, with the scorecards studying 115–112, 115–112, 116–111 and received the lineal and IBO featherweight titles.[20] The battle drew 310,000 pay-per-view buys on HBO.[21] It was the highest-grossing featherweight bout ever in the US.[22]
Ultimate battle vs. Calvo
On 18 Might 2002 at London Enviornment, Docklands, London, Hamed returned to the ring for what turned out to be his remaining boxing match, in opposition to the European champion Manuel Calvo (33 wins, 4 losses, 1 draw) for the IBO World featherweight title.[23] Hamed was booed by the ten,000 followers as he received unconvincingly on factors after 12 rounds trying sluggish and uninterested. The judges scored the battle 120-110 and 119-109 (twice).[24] In a post-fight interview with Ian Darke, Hamed assured a fast return to the ring, which finally by no means occurred. Hamed was simply 28 years previous when he stopped combating.[25] For years, Hamed didn’t affirm whether or not he had retired or not; there have been talks of a number of fights within the UK and within the US, together with Hamed’s brother and supervisor, Riath, chatting with HBO a couple of potential battle with Michael Brodie.
In an interview for BBC Radio Sportsweek, Hamed stated that his retirement was largely as a consequence of continual issues together with his arms, together with a number of fractures in addition to surgical procedure.[26]
Legacy
Hamed was solely 21 when he turned the world champion by beating Steve Robinson in September 1995; two days later, Oasis launched their album (What is the Story) Morning Glory? I at all times thought there was a neat symmetry between the 2 occasions. For whereas Hamed rode sidecar to the Cool Britannia period somewhat than sitting within the driver’s seat, his angle was a cosy match for the instances: cocky and swaggering, impervious to self-doubt.
—Sean Ingle in The Guardian on Hamed’s prominence in Nineties UK popular culture.[6]
Hamed’s boxing profession was seen by many consultants within the sport as one among huge potential. Frank Warren, the boxing promoter, as soon as stated of Hamed: “I believe at one stage he was essentially the most thrilling fighter that I might ever been concerned with. At one stage, within the early a part of his profession, he may have gone on to turn into one of many nice fighters. However that disappeared when he did not battle as commonly as he ought to have performed, when he was chopping corners on his coaching. It simply did not work out for him from that time on.”[40]
Furthermore, commentators have identified that Hamed’s means ought to have propelled him to achievements that may have given him legendary standing, however that his famous dislike of the lengthy laborious coaching camps and lengthy intervals away from his household hindered this.[41]
As widespread decrease weight fighters like Oscar De La Hoya and Kostya Tszyu moved into the mid-weight courses and the Mexican champion Julio César Chávez declined, Hamed and Arturo Gatti stuffed the void. Hamed’s boxing antics made him the brand new poster-boy for lighter-weight boxers and his charisma attracted numerous followers. In 2002 the UK public voted Hamed’s victory over Kevin Kelley on the record of the 100 Biggest Sporting Moments.[42]
British boxing pundit Steve Bunce acknowledged on 15 March 2008 version of BBC panel present Combating Speak that Hamed was the best British boxer of all time. World Boxing, a sister publication of The Ring journal, ranked Hamed the eleventh best British boxer of all-time, whereas Gareth A. Davies, boxing correspondent of The Telegraph ranked him tenth.[11] The Ring additionally ranked Hamed the forty sixth best puncher of all-time.[7]
Hamed was a part of the 2015 class for the Worldwide Boxing Corridor of Fame.[43] In 2016, ESPN ranked Hamed at quantity 22 on its record of the highest 25 pound-for-pound fighters of the final 25 years.[10]
Cultural affect
Of Yemeni descent, Hamed featured in a 1995 Yemen postage stamp
Hamed is taken into account one of the crucial profitable and influential British fighters. UK sports activities commentator Steve Bunce referred to as him the “most influential fighter of my 35 years within the British boxing enterprise”. Based on boxing coach Emanuel Steward, Hamed “opened the door” for British fighters in addition to for boxers from decrease weight divisions to earn important prize cash; his earnings have been unprecedented for a featherweight. Based on his boxing coach nephew SugarHill Steward, Hamed’s “aptitude and ability and confidence” impressed “a technology” and “gave fighters over right here an enormous alternative, the boldness to crack the American market.” HBO government Lou DiBella in contrast his affect to that of Muhammad Ali, arguing that Hamed “modified boxing” and “redefined the fighter as a showman and an entertainer”.[44]
Hamed was an inspiration for quite a lot of future fight sport world champions from Britain and Eire,[44] together with British boxers similar to Amir Khan,[45] Kell Brook,[46] James DeGale,[47] and Tyson Fury,[48] in addition to Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor.[49] Hamed additionally impressed top-ranked fighters similar to Irish boxer Michael Conlan, and British boxing trainers who’ve educated world champions, similar to Javan Steward, who educated Fury, and Ben Davison, who educated Fury, Josh Taylor and Billy Joe Saunders.[44]
Hamed was referenced by hip-hop artist Nas within the music “You Will not See Me Tonight”, with the lyrics “I can not overlook how I met you, you thought I used to be a boxer/ Prince Naseem, however I am a mobster, Nas from Queens”. Hamed himself recorded a music with hip hop group Kaliphz referred to as “Stroll Like a Champion”, which reached quantity 23 within the UK Singles Chart in 1996.[50]
Hamed had a licensed sports activities combating sport, Prince Naseem Boxing, printed by Codemasters for the PlayStation console in 2000.[51] A conveyable model of the sport was additionally launched for the Recreation Boy Shade, developed by Virtucraft, which later in 2002 developed a Mike Tyson based mostly follow-up, Mike Tyson Boxing, for the Recreation Boy Advance.[52]
Hamed additionally impressed a personality referred to as Prince Naseem in Squaresoft’s combating sport Ehrgeiz, launched in 1998. Whereas referred to as “Prince Naseem” within the authentic Japanese model, the character’s identify was modified to “Prince Doza” within the Western variations.[53]
Within the Japanese manga collection Hajime no Ippo, the fictional American boxing champion Bryan Hawk is predicated on Naseem Hamed.[54]
Within the Tamil film Sarpatta Parambarai (2021), the boxing fashion of fictional character Dancing Rose, performed by Shabeer Kallarakkal, is predicated on Naseem Hamed.[55]
Skilled boxing document
| 37 fights | 36 wins | 1 loss |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 31 | 0 |
| By determination | 5 | 1 |
| No. | End result | Document | Opponent | Kind | Spherical, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | Win | 36–1 |  Manuel Calvo | UD | 12 | 18 Might 2002 |  London Enviornment, London, England | Gained vacant IBO featherweight title |
| 36 | Loss | 35–1 |  Marco Antonio Barrera | UD | 12 | 7 Apr 2001 |  MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment, Paradise, Nevada, US | For vacant IBO featherweight title |
| 35 | Win | 35–0 | Augie Sanchez | TKO | 4 (12), 2:34 | 19 Aug 2000 | Foxwoods Resort On line casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, US | Retained WBO featherweight title |
| 34 | Win | 34–0 |  Vuyani Bungu | TKO | 4 (12), 1:38 | 11 Mar 2000 | London Olympia, London, England | Retained WBO featherweight title |
| 33 | Win | 33–0 | César Soto | UD | 12 | 22 Oct 1999 | Joe Louis Enviornment, Detroit, Michigan, US | Retained WBO featherweight title; Gained WBC featherweight title |
| 32 | Win | 32–0 | Paul Ingle | TKO | 11 (12), 0:45 | 10 Apr 1999 | MEN Enviornment, Manchester, England | Retained WBO featherweight title |
| 31 | Win | 31–0 | Wayne McCullough | UD | 12 | 31 Oct 1998 | Bally’s Park Place, Atlantic Metropolis, New Jersey, US | Retained WBO featherweight title |
| 30 | Win | 30–0 |  Wilfredo Vázquez | TKO | 7 (12), 2:29 | 18 Apr 1998 | NYNEX Enviornment, Manchester, England | Retained WBO featherweight title |
| 29 | Win | 29–0 | Kevin Kelley | KO | 4 (12), 2:27 | 19 Dec 1997 | Madison Sq. Backyard, New York Metropolis, New York, US | Retained WBO featherweight title |
| 28 | Win | 28–0 | Jose Badillo | TKO | 7 (12), 1:37 | 11 Oct 1997 | Sheffield Enviornment, Sheffield, England | Retained WBO featherweight title |
| 27 | Win | 27–0 |  Juan Gerardo Cabrera | TKO | 2 (12), 2:17 | 19 Jul 1997 | Wembley Enviornment, London, England | Retained IBF and WBO featherweight titles |
| 26 | Win | 26–0 | Billy Hardy | TKO | 1 (12), 1:33 | 3 Might 1997 | NYNEX Enviornment, Manchester, England | Retained IBF and WBO featherweight titles |
| 25 | Win | 25–0 | Tom Johnson | TKO | 8 (12), 2:27 | 8 Feb 1997 | London Enviornment, London, England | Retained WBO featherweight title; Gained IBF featherweight title |
| 24 | Win | 24–0 | Remigio Molina | TKO | 2 (12) | 9 Nov 1996 | NYNEX Enviornment, Manchester, England | Retained WBO featherweight title |
| 23 | Win | 23–0 | Manuel Medina | RTD | 11 (12), 3:00 | 31 Aug 1996 |  Level Theatre, Dublin, Eire | Retained WBO featherweight title |
| 22 | Win | 22–0 | Daniel Alicea | TKO | 2 (12), 2:46 | 8 Jun 1996 | Telewest Enviornment, Newcastle, England | Retained WBO featherweight title |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 |  Mentioned Lawal | KO | 1 (12), 0:35 | 16 Mar 1996 | Exhibition and Convention Centre, Glasgow, Scotland | Retained WBO featherweight title |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | Steve Robinson | TKO | 8 (12), 1:40 | 30 Sep 1995 | Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff, Wales | Gained WBO featherweight title |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 |  Juan Polo Perez | KO | 2 (12), 2:00 | 1 Jul 1995 | Royal Albert Corridor, London, England | Retained WBC Worldwide super-bantamweight title |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Enrique Angeles | KO | 2 (12) | 6 Might 1995 | Royal Bathtub and West Showground, Shepton Mallet, England | Retained WBC Worldwide super-bantamweight title |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Sergio Rafael Liendo | KO | 2 (12), 1:06 | 4 Mar 1995 | Discussion board, Livingston, Scotland | Retained WBC Worldwide super-bantamweight title |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Armando Castro | KO | 4 (12), 2:11 | 21 Jan 1995 | Exhibition and Convention Centre, Glasgow, Scotland | Retained WBC Worldwide super-bantamweight title |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 |  Laureano Ramírez | TKO | 3 (12), 2:40 | 19 Nov 1994 | Nationwide Ice Rink, Cardiff, Wales | Retained WBC Worldwide super-bantamweight title |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Freddy Cruz | TKO | 6 (12), 2:03 | 12 Oct 1994 | Ponds Forge, Sheffield, England | Gained vacant WBC Worldwide super-bantamweight title |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 |  Antonio Picardi | TKO | 3 (12), 1:26 | 17 Aug 1994 | Hillsborough Leisure Centre, Sheffield, England | Retained European bantamweight title |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Vincenzo Belcastro | UD | 12 | 11 Might 1994 | Ponds Forge, Sheffield, England | Gained European bantamweight title |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 |  John Miceli | KO | 1 (10), 2:50 | 9 Apr 1994 | Leisure Centre, Mansfield, England | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Peter Buckley | TKO | 4 (8), 1:47 | 29 Jan 1994 | Nationwide Ice Rink, Cardiff, Wales | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Chris Clarkson | KO | 2 (8), 1:50 | 24 Sep 1993 | Nationwide Basketball Enviornment, Dublin, Eire | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Kevin Jenkins | TKO | 3 (6), 1:58 | 26 Might 1993 | Leisure Centre, Mansfield, England, England | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Alan Ley | KO | 2 (6) | 24 Feb 1993 | Wembley Convention Centre, London, England | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Peter Buckley | PTS | 6 | 12 Nov 1992 | Everton Park Sports activities Centre, Liverpool, England | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Des Gargano | KO | 4 (6) | 7 Oct 1992 | Crowtree Leisure Centre, Sunderland, England | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Miguel Matthews | TKO | 3 (6), 1:05 | 14 Jul 1992 | Grosvenor Home Lodge, London, England | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Andrew Bloomer | TKO | 2 (6), 0:46 | 23 Might 1992 | Nationwide Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Shaun Norman | KO | 2 (6), 0:55 | 25 Apr 1992 | G-Mex Centre, Manchester, England | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Ricky Beard | KO | 2 (6), 2:36 | 14 Feb 1992 | Leisure Centre, Mansfield, England |
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media associated to Naseem Hamed. |
- Boxing document for Naseem Hamed from BoxRec (registration required)
- Naseem Hamed profile at BBC
