The best Featherweight you'd pick Prince Naseem Hamed to beat

Somewhere around a Chris John, Antonio Esparragoza type of level? Maybe Ernesto Marcel? Actually I think that would be a fun fight.

 

He could beat Manny Pacquiao. I think he'd get destroyed, but if he landed a massive leaping uppercut then followed it up, he'd have knock Pac out. I think he would KO Esparragoza, Lopez and McGuigan, which is about his level IMO. But Marcel would ****ing destroy Naz IMO.

 

McGuigan was who came to mind when I saw this.

Sal Sanchez would school him far worse than Barrera. Pedroza would weather a storm and toy with him.

Sandy Saddler would need to bring a criminal defense attorney to work his corner for the violence he would enact on the awkward and helpless Prince. It would be tricky as he couldn’t plead self-defense as no jury would believe he was threatened.

 

Juan Malvarez

 

Barry McGuigan
Chris John
Antonio Esparragoza

Danny Lopez could go either way.

 

I think Lopez would flatten him. He hits too hard and Hamed was chinny/poorly balanced with sloppy defense.

I’d say it’s probably got to be the level below Lopez. I would pick McGuigan over Hamed. I’d also pick Famechon, Winstone, Legra etc; would Hamed beat Shibata?

 

Pacquiao's in and out rhythm then exploding into life would cause Hamed problems imo. Hamed is best against fighters who glue their hands to the side of their heads, so he can step around them whilst they're blindsided and start other attacks.

 

Tom Johnson

 

I think he gets underrated. He had the power and speed to trouble most.
Also remember a taller boxer like an Arguello might give him big problems because of the height and reach but on the flip side Naz is faster.
Medina gave him some problems but Naz got him in the end with the power.
I think he gets criminally underrated and yet he had ONE loss. To an alltime great no less.
Think his personality comes into play when people short change him.

 

I remember Steve Robinson went on a tear and was beating everyone especially the top British fighters.
Now when he fought Naz Robinson could do NOTHING to the point where it was a huge mismatch.

 

I agree with some of the names being thrown around in this thread, namely McGuigan (who I think is a a good style matchup for him), John and Esparragoza (I think this fight would be huge fun and I would love to see it). I'm also of the opinion that his arrogant persona leeds to him getting sold short in fantasy fights. He'd get outboxed badly by the truly great technicians like Pep, Sanchez, and Pedroza, but there aren't very many fighters like that among the elite at 126 and his unconventional style is a benefit imo in terms of being able to disrupt an opponent's rhythm and throw them off their game plan. Add to that his speed and extremely dangerous power, and I don't think there are many featherweights who have an easy night with him.

 

Hamed had the firepower to stop damn near any feather.
But as his competition got better the vulnerabilities of
his unique boxing style became a liability.
What worked against B-C level fighters or past
primes ones was easily dissected by an "A" level prime
fighter. (But in all honesty he really only faced one,
Barrera, he got schooled and basically quit fighting.)
The best opposition he defeats are on the level
of the ones he defeated.
The Tom Johnsons, K.Kelly (He was past prime,
gave Hamed hell) Mccoulough , that level.
Or Fighters that were world class, championship
level, but not considered great.

 

Azumah Nelson or Ruben Castillo? Rigo if he made a stop at feather.

 

He'd knock out Bobby Chacon. Little Red, Wilfred Gomez.