He would always be a stylistic problem for B level and below boxers because he was so awkward, like Augustus Burton. Good IQ boxers would always beat him. Manny would beat him up worse than Barrera did.
I’d put him in that freak athlete league, if he carried on fighting on at world level he’d have probably lost a few more to fighters he would have beat in his prime. It’s that same story that when the speed and reflex’s go they just aren’t the same as the technicians that can adapt their style later in there career. One thing he did still have was his power, which could have bailed him out of virtually any fight at any moment, so if he had the hunger still, something that may have made his fall from grace look a bit more elegant than another freak athlete’s like Jones Jr for example. As for Barrera I think he’d push him close in his prime, Hamed clearly lost, but still had enough left to take 4 rounds off him. Seeing the way Barrera handled him you’d have to favour him, but he’s a live underdog
He was 27 when Barrera beat him which should be still slap bang in his physical prime unlike Jones who was 35 and had 50 pro fights when he fell off the cliff. I’ll concede hand problems contributed to his shortened career and primes do not always fit a set schedule. I think Hamed lost half a step because he got too arrogant and lazy and thought his power could bail him out in any fight. He’d looked sloppy against Kevin Kelly, Manual Medina, Augie Sanchez and Cesar Soto previously. Hell even Daniel Alecia had him on the floor. He just wasn’t as good as all that, but still a dangerous and world class fighter. It’s just that genuine stars like Barrera, Pacquiao, Morales etc were flat out better fighters and a level above (no shame in that) imo.
Naz would have sparked Morales as the latter loved to scrap. Anyway, who are Naz's top 3 wins and how good were those guys?
They say the Badillo fight was his most impressive, but that guy seemed made for him. On paper it’s Johnson Kelley, and Vasquez (Wilfredo very disappointing in that fight) but for me, his best was against Bungu, who may have been to small and shot at the time, but had been an enduring champion at JF and a good craftsman, yet Hamed made him look like a stumbling fool before taking him out with one shot. If there is one thing that has to be said about naz is that it isn’t so much about he beat, as hoe he beat them.
Vazquez was 37 or 38 when they fought. And he had been knocked out a few times by the time he'd fought hamed
No way. Morales had GREAT skills and was a smart fighter. He would not have fallen into the same stupid trap that Hamed managed to draw inferior and far more stupid fighters that Erik into. It took prime Hamed 11 rounds to stop Paul Ingle but he's going to stop EM? Seriously?
Hamed won 2 outright and 2 more could have gone either way. Barrera dominated the other 8. All I did during that fight was laugh my ass off.