One of the most talented fighters that I've seen. He dealt with domestic opposition in a way that you'd expect from a 'special' fighter -- a way that many expected from Khan, but something he never delivered. Fast, and one of the most devastating punchers of his weight of all time, really. His downs are mostly due to balance, stemming from his strange style; leaning back and swaying away from punches with your hands down looks great, but it also means that even the slightest touch can put you down on your backside. While this is terrible from a point perspective (think of how much a KD counts with the judges) it usually wasn't an issue, as Hamed never really planned to go to the judges in most matches anyway. He was all about the KO, and this began to creep in more and more throughout his career, ultimately screwing him over in the Barrera fight when he just looked for one big shot. He'd fallen in love with his own power, and when that happens your boxing ability naturally suffers as a result. A pity, because in his early days he could box with surprising grace, even if it was in an utterly unorthodox fashion. I think he had the natural gifts to become a legend of the sport, but he sold himself short.
Naz was a a natural super-bantam, and a tiny featherweight, Mayweather has fought a a guy who fought Bernard Hopkins.
No, don't be mislead. I have been up all night, bored out of my skull. Check my posting times if you wish. I'm a little groggy, my spelling is aweful and I'm missing out the odd word or punctuation here and there which may give my sentances a diferent meaning. However... He WAS a fraud. Lead us to believe he was the greatest thing since slice bread but when put to the test, he couldn't hack it and quit. Barrera destroyed him and it was a reality check Naz couldn't handle. Overrated. He was and is. The consider him a 'Great' is demeaning to the word IMO. He was good, not great. He was schooled. In fact I ask the poster of this forum, someone unbias to watch the fight and give us HIS opinion. Naz's record is a shambles. 10-20-30 years from now people will look at it and ask 'Who the hell are these guys??Oh wait, there's Barrera, and I've heard of that guy Kelly, who the hell are the rest? I never said Alicea was one of his 'Biggest' victories. Where did I say that?? Naz vs Paquiao or a fighter of that stature WOULD have happened if Naz didn't quit. Different era? What are you smoking? You claim I have a semi functioning brain when YOU have an Avatar of Naseem. Of all boxers Naseem. Naz was very special indeed? No YOU are very special indeed. So very special. nutnut
Strange that, he always looked big at weight to me when he fought at FW. He had a lot packed on the chest, shoulders and back, but it looked like his natural build once he had matured as a fighter.
In fact I think you'll find where I said 'His record is a joke' is where you'll find Alicea. He was a joke, don't twist my words to suit your argument.
im pretty sure mayweather offered him a 15 rounder at a catchweight in between feather and super feather.
Why a 15 rounder? Wouldn't it have been illegal to have a bout that was stipulated for that distance, since the 12 round maximum rule came in.
i just remember hearing bout it. i could be wrong but im 70% sure it wouldnt be illegal as it wouldnt be for a title. The title organistions were the ones who adde the 12 round maximum
On his debut, Naz had to fill his shorts with weights to make 114, and he was only 5'4, which is two inches smaller than Manny Pac!. So I always thought Featherweight was the limit, and super-bantam was more his natural weight, but because there wasn't much money to be made there, he moved up. He definetly grew into Featherweight as his body matured, towards the end of his career he was comfortable there though and probablly could have moved up further.
Ok, so you claim Naz was a fraud, overrated, a shambles, not special, got schooled and all the world champs he beat are nobodies. Thanks for your opinion, now :hi:
I think he is a legend of the sport, if you're British. No one is going to forget Naz in a hurry, how people can claim he wasn't "special" is beyond me. When we look at Naz getting towards the Barrera fight (not that fight specifically, just that period), I just wish he had the dicipline to adapt his style, learn to just box, and not dance around, **** about and destroy opponents with one punch KO's. If he had that dicipline, that willingness to learn new skills as his body changed and his opponents got tougher, then Naz could have been a great. Yes, he would have lost a few against the elite, but giving the natural talent he already had, combined with some learned boxing skills (which he never really had), he could have held his own against any featherweight from any era.
But non-title fights are set for maximum of ten rounds, am I right? Doesn't matter anyway; I'm just nitpicking.