Naseem Hamed "I took boxing to a standard that can't really be reached"

Prince was immense. Entertainment and hype wise he's never been touched since. Also responsible for introducing the featherweights to big money.

 

Hamed had a huge positive influence on the business and popularity of boxing. No doubt about it. Just look at the viewing figures he got on mainstream TV in the early days, look at the sponsorship deals and commercial tie-ins. Look at the hype! He made a big contribution to the sport.

 

wish someone would come out with HALF the entertainment and buzz that Naz did.

 

Often copied, never duplicated. :deal

Only Uzzy came close to it in recent memories but that's it.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJPesST-skg[/ame]

Show.

 

It might not of been 8-4 but Barrera beats Naz regardless. The Kevin Kelley fight was a prime Naz and he was exposed in that fight.

 

Just to put it into perspective...

A hype-machine like Khan (that's backed by the powerful Golden Boy Promotions) and a Mexican legend like JMM (that's been fighting for ages with an avid fan-base behind him) both can barely attract 5,000 people in Las Vegas. Yet Naz, in his first ever fight on US soil, packed the house with 17,000 people in Madison Square Garden during an era where nobody cared about featherweights. :deal

 

Naseem vs Kelley is one of my all time favourite fights. Great atmosphere, great fight. It was also the match that apparently inspired and influenced Malignaggi.

 

I still watch Barrera schooling him to cheer me up

 

:--(

 

Hamed is one of the guys who entertained the most with his skillset and ego, no doubts about it. Camacho and Jorge Paez also had the showmanship to put a lot of headlights on boxing.

 

Hamed-Kelly was one of the most exciting fights on the 90s

 

Couldn't stand the man actually,especially the way he disrespected opponents who were clearly inferior to him.
He was riddled with bad habits which he got away with until he started to fight top fighters and a proper and well rounded fighter like Barrera exposed him.
The only special thing about Hamed was his incredible power,all the rest the posing and the posturing was just a side show.

 

Was a good interview,still full of himself.i watched the Kelly fight again, was awesome,the brashness of him entering the ring,getting right into Kelly's face before the bell,good memories.naz got found out that night,I watched the Barrera fight straight after,schooled.money and fame ruined naz,splitting with trainer,all the hangers on,classic pitfalls really.an exciting fighter.:happy

 

Found out?

Despite everything,he still KO'd one of the top Featherweights of the 90s in that fight

 

True but the push they gave Hamed in New York was big. They knew he was coming!!!