elgigante
09-09-2005, 10:00 AM
http://www.budgetweddingphotography.net/naseem100.jpg
Name:Naseem Hamed
Nickname: ?Prince?
Weight Class : Featherweight
Record: 36-1(31 KO?s)
Notable wins: Tom Johnson, Manuel Medina, Kevin Kelley,Wayne Mccullough,Wilfredo Vazquez
One of the great aspects of boxing is the characters that the game brings us. Over the years fans have enjoyed the antics of Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Mike Tyson among others. One man who not only stood out for his totally unique character but his natural gifts as well was Sheffield England native Naseem Hamed. Hamed possessed a unique combination of a brash tongue and amazing power to back up his words with. His unorthodox style of fighting is something that cannot be duplicated and truly will be remembered in boxing history
After an accomplished amateur career, Naseem Hamed turned pro under the guidance of trainer Brendan Ingle in 1992. Ingle helped to develop Hamed?s unique style of fighting with his hands down. Sometimes it seemed like you were watching a rubber band fight the way that Naseem would bend and twist away from his opponents punches. Hamed would ride his unorthodox style to success very quickly as he won 10 of his first 11 fights by way of KO. This streak set him up for a European title shot against Italian veteran Vincenzo Belcastro. One would think that getting a title shot only 11 fights into a career would rattle a young fighter. This would not be the case with Hamed however as he cruised to an easy decision over Belcastro, continuing on his path toward eventual World Title laurels.
5 more knockout wins would lead Naseem into his first world title challenge against WBO featherweight king Steve Robinson. Not only was Robinson one of the more accomplished fighters that Hamed had faced in this point of his career, but the bout was held in front of a partisan home crowd in Cardiff Wales. Naseem would shrug off this adversity, knocking down Robinson twice en route to a dominant 8th round stoppage and captured the first world title of his career. After this win Hamed began to get noticed as a serious force in boxing circles worldwide. This victory was just the beginning of his conquests
After 4 more successful defenses of his WBO belt, including one where he survived a knockdown from Daniel Alicea and a tough bout against Manuel Medina, Hamed would try to add to his laurels at featherweight against longtime IBF champion Tom ?Boom Boom? Johnson. Johnson had been a top caliber fighter for years at this point and was expected to provide some tough opposition to Naseem for the first time in quite a while. Hamed would walk through Johnson though, beating him up for 7 rounds until he finally put away the American in round number 8. It seemed at this point that nothing could stop Hamed. All that was left for him to do was to make his presence felt on the American scene.
3 more easy title defenses would follow for Naseem after his win over Johnson leading up to his American debut. His opponent for this debut was hard punching American Kevin Kelley. Kelley was not a slouch by any means with a 47-1 record at the time. I remember this bout quite well as it was held at Madison Square Garde, giving Kelley, a native New Yorker, quite the home field advantage. Hamed came out with his usual grandiose entrance, drawing boos from the crowd. He and Kelley got into the trash talking before the bout even began. Once the bout began the fireworks would come fast and furious. Hamed?s trademark style of dropping his hands to his sides often left him vulnerable to knockdowns and the crafty veteran Kelley took advantage of this. He would place Naseem on his backside three times in this four round war. But along with that weakness of getting knocked down, Hamed drew incredible power from his unorthodox style and he showed it by violently knocking out Kelley in the 4th round and announcing to the American boxing scene that he was going to be a player for some time to come.
Hamed did not rest on his laurels after this bout, taking out known featherweight Wilfredo Vazquez in 7 rounds and then pounding Irelands favorite son Wayne Mccullough en route to a 12 round decision. However signs of trouble were beginning to show in Hamed?s camp. Naseem would get away from the unorthodox style which led him to such success, trying to work more behind a jab and keeping his hands up. Against somewhat lesser competition he was able to get away with this but eventually it would come back to haunt him.
In 2001, Hamed would take on featherweight sensation Marco Antonio Barrerra. There were those who thought Barrera might have trouble dealing with Naseem?s power since he was moving up from the 122lb class for this bout. Barrera though would shrug off Naseem?s best shots and dominated him for 12 rounds, punishing him with superior boxing technique en route to a unanimous decision that would lead Hamed to semi retirement after the fight.
Naseem Hamed has fought only once since his loss to Barrera, that being a lackluster 12 round decision win over Manuel Calvo in 2002. He may not ever step in the ring again but he truly deserves to be remembered not only as one of boxings great characters but one of its most special fighters skillwise as well.
info credit:boxrec.com, wilkopedia.org
Name:Naseem Hamed
Nickname: ?Prince?
Weight Class : Featherweight
Record: 36-1(31 KO?s)
Notable wins: Tom Johnson, Manuel Medina, Kevin Kelley,Wayne Mccullough,Wilfredo Vazquez
One of the great aspects of boxing is the characters that the game brings us. Over the years fans have enjoyed the antics of Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Mike Tyson among others. One man who not only stood out for his totally unique character but his natural gifts as well was Sheffield England native Naseem Hamed. Hamed possessed a unique combination of a brash tongue and amazing power to back up his words with. His unorthodox style of fighting is something that cannot be duplicated and truly will be remembered in boxing history
After an accomplished amateur career, Naseem Hamed turned pro under the guidance of trainer Brendan Ingle in 1992. Ingle helped to develop Hamed?s unique style of fighting with his hands down. Sometimes it seemed like you were watching a rubber band fight the way that Naseem would bend and twist away from his opponents punches. Hamed would ride his unorthodox style to success very quickly as he won 10 of his first 11 fights by way of KO. This streak set him up for a European title shot against Italian veteran Vincenzo Belcastro. One would think that getting a title shot only 11 fights into a career would rattle a young fighter. This would not be the case with Hamed however as he cruised to an easy decision over Belcastro, continuing on his path toward eventual World Title laurels.
5 more knockout wins would lead Naseem into his first world title challenge against WBO featherweight king Steve Robinson. Not only was Robinson one of the more accomplished fighters that Hamed had faced in this point of his career, but the bout was held in front of a partisan home crowd in Cardiff Wales. Naseem would shrug off this adversity, knocking down Robinson twice en route to a dominant 8th round stoppage and captured the first world title of his career. After this win Hamed began to get noticed as a serious force in boxing circles worldwide. This victory was just the beginning of his conquests
After 4 more successful defenses of his WBO belt, including one where he survived a knockdown from Daniel Alicea and a tough bout against Manuel Medina, Hamed would try to add to his laurels at featherweight against longtime IBF champion Tom ?Boom Boom? Johnson. Johnson had been a top caliber fighter for years at this point and was expected to provide some tough opposition to Naseem for the first time in quite a while. Hamed would walk through Johnson though, beating him up for 7 rounds until he finally put away the American in round number 8. It seemed at this point that nothing could stop Hamed. All that was left for him to do was to make his presence felt on the American scene.
3 more easy title defenses would follow for Naseem after his win over Johnson leading up to his American debut. His opponent for this debut was hard punching American Kevin Kelley. Kelley was not a slouch by any means with a 47-1 record at the time. I remember this bout quite well as it was held at Madison Square Garde, giving Kelley, a native New Yorker, quite the home field advantage. Hamed came out with his usual grandiose entrance, drawing boos from the crowd. He and Kelley got into the trash talking before the bout even began. Once the bout began the fireworks would come fast and furious. Hamed?s trademark style of dropping his hands to his sides often left him vulnerable to knockdowns and the crafty veteran Kelley took advantage of this. He would place Naseem on his backside three times in this four round war. But along with that weakness of getting knocked down, Hamed drew incredible power from his unorthodox style and he showed it by violently knocking out Kelley in the 4th round and announcing to the American boxing scene that he was going to be a player for some time to come.
Hamed did not rest on his laurels after this bout, taking out known featherweight Wilfredo Vazquez in 7 rounds and then pounding Irelands favorite son Wayne Mccullough en route to a 12 round decision. However signs of trouble were beginning to show in Hamed?s camp. Naseem would get away from the unorthodox style which led him to such success, trying to work more behind a jab and keeping his hands up. Against somewhat lesser competition he was able to get away with this but eventually it would come back to haunt him.
In 2001, Hamed would take on featherweight sensation Marco Antonio Barrerra. There were those who thought Barrera might have trouble dealing with Naseem?s power since he was moving up from the 122lb class for this bout. Barrera though would shrug off Naseem?s best shots and dominated him for 12 rounds, punishing him with superior boxing technique en route to a unanimous decision that would lead Hamed to semi retirement after the fight.
Naseem Hamed has fought only once since his loss to Barrera, that being a lackluster 12 round decision win over Manuel Calvo in 2002. He may not ever step in the ring again but he truly deserves to be remembered not only as one of boxings great characters but one of its most special fighters skillwise as well.
info credit:boxrec.com, wilkopedia.org