Naseem Hamed (original) (raw)

Known for his flashy style, energetic and colorful ring entrances, speed, power punch, unorthodox boxing style and praises of Allah once his fights are over, Naseem Hamed is a British boxer of Yemeni ancestry born on February 12, 1974 in Sheffield, Yorkshire.

Nicknamed The Prince, Hamed was a boxing prodigy since his early days. He himself confesses that he didn't care much for school because he knew he'd someday become a world champion. At the age of 12 he was a top amateur boxer in England and Europe, and at 18 he signed his first contract as a pro.

Hamed rose fast through the ranks, and in 1995 he won his first world title, knocking out Wales's defending WBO world Featherweight champion Steve Robinson in 8 rounds in front of Robinson's home crowd in Cardiff. His first defense came against another British based Muslim, Said Lawal, taken out in only 45 seconds. This was the fastest world title fight ever held in England.

Hamed kept defending his title and then he met Puerto Rican Daniel Alicea, a challenger who had also amassed great popularity in Great Britain. The fight was televised to the United States by Showtime and Hamed was dropped in round one, but he rose to win by a knockout in round 2.

Next was IBF world champion Tom Johnson who was defeated in 8 rounds in a unification bout, once again in London. Johnson was prevented further punishment by the referee, who stopped the fight.

1997 came by and he flew to the United States to fight there for the first time. His grand arrival on the British Airways Concorde was covered by multiple media outlets. There, he and former WBC Featherweight champion of the world Kevin Kelley fought Ring Magazine's fight of the year at the Madison Square Garden in New York. Despite being dropped three times himself, Hamed put Kelley down for a third and final time to win by a fourth round knockout. This was his first of many fights on HBO.

1998 came, and Hamed had wins over former 3 time WBA world champion Wilfredo Vazquez (KO in 7), Former WBC Bantamweight world champion Wayne McCollough (W 12), and WBC world Featherweight champion Cesar Soto, (W 12) to add the world Featherweight championship to his resume.

In 2001, having split acrimoniously with Brendan Ingle (his trainer since the age of seven), Hamed suffered his first loss, being beaten comprehensively by the brilliant Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera to lose the WBO's version of the Featherweight title.

He had one comeback fight in 2002 against the European Featherweight champion Manuel Calvo of Spain, and annexed the European title with a 12 round unanimous decision, despite a knockdown suffered in round seven. Many of his fans as well as some boxing magazines didn't seem impressed by his performance.

Hamed's spectacular ring entrances have included being deposited in the middle of the ring by an elevator , which was set up specially for the event near the roof of the Manchester arena, being carried into the ring on a king's throne, walking into the ring on a fashion runway style walk way, walking into the ring with a Halloween mask for his fight with McCollough (fought on Halloween night of 1998), and many others.

Hamed's behavior is somewhat strange outside the ring too. He is known for stopping to sign autographs for fans, but he also had an altercation at Heathrow Airport with former WBC world Heavyweight champ Frank Bruno, showing off his belts and reminding Bruno that Bruno was not a champion anymore.

Hamed bought a castle in the mountains of Manchester, where he lives with his wife and children. He is managed by his brother