I was only old enough to catch the tail end of his career but **** I remember him being huge. I didnt know about him having bad hands though. I always thought he seemed the type to pack it in after he gets beat and after an uninspiring performence in his last fight he thought '**** this ****' and gave it up.
It was the way he lost that hurt him, tbh i felt the loss was coming for a while i mean he had trouble with Kelley, Augie 'I can't stand up straight' Sanchez troubled him while look like a baby giraffe. Naz started to look beatable and i think his ego was getting bigger and bigger. Look at way he treated MAB before fight making him wait for what 1hour or nearly 2?.
He totally, completely and utterly fell in love with his power. I think more and more he would cut corners in training. Maybe if Ingle was in his corner he would have reminded him not too. I think it was in the Kelly fight where Ingle was saying get back to your jab, get back to your jab. We've all seen the documentary where his life is that of a movie star not the best featherweight in the wrold.
Yeah tbh some of the footage from that doc was cringeworthy and kinda gay as well. As you say fell in love with power and tbh Manny as much as i love the guys work loves a poundnote . Just looking back on Augie fight and Naz was hurt a fair few times in this fight, looks terrible as well.
He believed his own hype, he fell in love with his power, he was surrounded by yes men, he left Ingle who was the only person who would tell him how it is and went to Manny Steward and Suarez, who were both his trainers but trained him seperatley rather than working together. Suarez pretty much left Naz to do what he wanted and train how he wanted and Manny tried to make Naz fight more orthodox. All of the above was the cause. He didnt comeback because he didnt need too.
His head had gone a long time before he finally packed in. I remember winning a good few quid backing him to beat Calvo on points. He wasn't good enough to touch even a shadow of Naz but I knew Naz wouldn't get him out of there. He was already visibly on the slide by the Kelley fight, IMO. Also, although he had a tremendous ego, it wasn't the same as someone like RJJ. Jones doesn't seem to care that he's getting beaten by men he'd have destroyed at even 50%. Naz wouldn't put himself through that, even if he could physically drag himself into shape. He didn't need the money either.
Iv always viewed Naz's downfall similar to that of Tyson. Both had a young mans style and therefore peaked early....When the footspeed and reflexes diminished it was a downward slide. Both got the money and fame too early. Changed trainers and lost the defensive techniques that made them great. Got overconfident.
a few have mentioned his insatiable appetite being part of his downfall.who can forget the prince munching on that turnbuckle against barrera?priceless...
Went out at just the right time, imo. So did Hagler, who is someone else people go on about packing it in supposedly early. And look neither is doing too bad well after their careers. We can't have it both ways.