Naseem Hamed 102533 226086363 2008-07-16T19:37:42Z 86.29.205.163 clarify use of 'title' {{Redirect|Naseem}} {{Infobox_Boxer|name=Naseem Hamed |image=Replace this image male.svg <!-- only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people - see [[WP:NONFREE]] --> | |realname =Naseem Hamed |nickname =Prince, Naz |height ={{height|ft=5|in=4.5}} |weight =[[Featherweight]] |nationality =British |birth_date ={{Birth date and age|1974|02|12|mf=y}} |death_date=| |birth_place =[[Sheffield, England]] |home =[[Sheffield, England]] |style =Southpaw |total =37 |wins =36 |KO =31 |losses =1 |draws =0 |no contests =0 |}} '''Naseem Hamed''' (born [[February 12]] [[1974]], in [[Sheffield, England]]) is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[boxing|boxer]] and former [[Bantamweight]] and [[Featherweight]] champion born to muslim [[Yemen]]i parents who emigrated to [[Sheffield]]. Hamed adopted the [[bogus]] style of "Prince" Naseem Hamed, which he has no entitlement to use. He is not a [[prince]] and has no royal of noble linneage. He is known for his flashy and arrogant style, colourful ring entrances, unorthodox [[Southpaw (boxing)|southpaw]] stance, and explosive power. 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 [[palanquin]], walking into the ring on a fashion runway style walk way, and walking into the ring with a [[Halloween]] mask for his fight with McCullough (fought on Halloween night of 1998). Hamed is also known for unorthodox behaviour outside the ring. He had an altercation at [[London Heathrow Airport|Heathrow Airport]] with former world champion [[Chris Eubank]], showing off his belts and reminding Eubank that he was no longer a champion. He was managed by [[Barry Hearn]] then [[Frank Warren (promoter)|Frank Warren]] and finally by his eldest brother Riath Hamed. In May 2006 he was jailed for 15 months for dangerous driving but was granted an early release in September 2006.<ref name="car_crash">{{cite news | title = Naseem Hamed jailed for car crash | publisher = ''BBC News'' | date = May 12, 2006 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/4764161.stm}}</ref> It has been claimed that when he was jailed, he weighed 170-180 lb, well over the featherweight limit (126 lb) where he was a defending world champion. {{Fact|date=February 2007}} The [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] he was awarded in the New Year Honours 1999 was revoked in December 2006, after his conviction.<ref name="MBE">{{cite news | title = Ex-champ Hamed stripped of honour | publisher = ''BBC News'' | date = January 1, 2007 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/6222389.stm}}</ref> == Biography == === Early career === He began boxing at the age of 7 when his father sent him to Ingle's gym to learn to defend for himself because he was very small.<ref name="sfx">[http://www.sfxsports.co.uk/biogs_other.asp?BiogID=201 SFX Sports group profile on Naseem Hamed]</ref> At the age of 12 he was a top [[Amateur Boxing Association of England|amateur]] boxer in [[England]] and [[Europe]], and at 18 he signed his first contract as a pro. Hamed's elusive, ''hands-down'' style was developed at Brendan Ingle's famous St. Thomas Boxing school gym in [[Wincobank]], Sheffield. However, it was also strongly influenced by the gym's star fighter in the mid-1980s, [[Herol 'Bomber' Graham]]. Hamed started boxing professionally at [[Flyweight]] in 1992. He soon began rising through the ranks as he knocked out a series of opponents in the opening rounds. Age 20 he won the European Bantamweight title, comprehensively beating the beleaguered Vincenzo Belcastro in twelve rounds. After one defence he added the WBC International Super-Bantamweight title to his C.V in 1994, overwhelming [[Freddy Cruz]] in Sheffield, whom he knocked out in the sixth round. Hamed's popularity grew, his unorthodox style winning a large fan base, and his arrogance generating a large group of detractors. After signing for Frank Warren, Hamed, employing spectacular entrances in which he began somersaulting over the top rope and entering the arena to [[Here Comes the Hotstepper]], knocked out increasingly good opposition such as Jose Badillo and Juan Polo Perez. Later in 1995, arguably his finest year, Hamed moved up to featherweight having been named number one contender to face [[Wales|Wales']] defending [[WBO]] world [[Featherweight]] champion [[Steve Robinson]]. Hamed won the fight, knocking out his contender in 8 rounds in front of Robinson's home crowd in [[Cardiff]].<ref name="sfx"/> His first defence came against [[Austria]]n based [[Nigeria]]n, Said Lawal, knocking him out in only 45 seconds. This was the fastest world title fight ever held in [[Scotland]]. === Defending his titles === Hamed's title defences included a fight against [[Puerto Rico|Puerto Rican]] [[Daniel Alicea]]. The fight was televised to the [[United States]] by [[Showtime]] and Hamed was carried to the ring on a throne. Shockingly, he was dropped in round one. While in his corner, Hamed was advised to temporarily abandon his ''hands-down'' stance in favour of a conventional defence. Upon returning to the fight, he won by a [[knockout]] in round 2. The next opponent was [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]] world champion [[Tom "Boom Boom" Johnson]] who was defeated in 8 rounds in a unification bout at the [[London Arena]]. Johnson was saved further punishment by the [[Referee (boxing)|referee]], who stopped the fight. The new WBO and IBF world champion successfully defended his titles against Juan Gerardo Carbrera. In 1997 he flew to the United States to fight there for the first time. His ceremonious arrival on the [[British Airways]] [[Concorde]] was covered by multiple [[mass media|media]] outlets. There, he and former 2 time [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] Featherweight champion of the world [[Kevin Kelley]] fought in [[Ring Magazine|Ring Magazine's]] fight of the year at the [[Madison Square Garden]] in [[New York]]. This fight marks something of a watershed in Hamed's career, as he was forced, for the first time, to abandon his ''hands-down'' style of fighting throughout the entire course of the bout, given the calibre of Kelley. In addition, many of the speed and stamina-related hallmarks of his career, i.e. the prevalence of combination punching, ability to dodge blows etc, seemed to have degraded somewhat; debate still rages as to whether this was the result of increasing age, or of increasing quality of opponent, or both. Nonetheless, 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 [[Home Box Office|HBO]]. The fight was ranked 100th in Channel 4's [[100 Greatest Sporting Moments]] in 2002. Naseem relinquished his IBF belt due to the conflict in interests between the IBF and WBO. In 1998 Hamed enjoyed victories over former 3 time [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] world champion [[Wilfredo Vazquez]] (KO in 7), Former WBC Bantamweight world champion [[Wayne McCullough]] (W 12), and in 1999 the WBC World Featherweight champion [[Cesar Soto]]. The Soto fight was a very controversial match due to the latter rounds in which Soto would apply pressure by clinching Hamed, but Hamed countered by tackling Soto to the ground and using several "misplaced" knees to Soto's groin and head, which knocked the wind out of Soto.<ref>{{cite news | title = "Prince" Hamed Wrestles WBC Crown From Soto | publisher = ''The Boxing Times'' | date = October 22, 1999 | url = http://www.boxingtimes.com/analyses/1999/991022hamed_soto.html}}</ref> A simple point was deducted and the fight continued, ending with an Hamed victory (W 12) allowing him to add the world Featherweight championship to his resume. Had Vazquez not been (deliberately) stripped by the BA of his belt (they did not want their featherweight title unified with the WBO) Hamed would have the distinction of being the first boxer to hold all four world titles in a division. This is an overlooked accomplishment of Prince Naseem. The WBA would not grant him a subsequent shot at their championship. As with the IBF belt two years previous, Naseem had to relinquish his WBC world belt due to his commitment to being WBO champion. After this, Naseem vowed to put boxing politics behind him. ===Dethroned by Barrera=== Hamed finally lost on April 7, 2001 at the [[MGM Grand Las Vegas|MGM Grand Casino]] in Las Vegas. His record at the time was 35-0 and his opponent, [[Marco Antonio Barrera]] had a record of 52-3. The bout was delayed a full hour as Hamed's elaborate entrance, involving fireworks, loud music, spectacular lighting, and conveyance to the ring on a motorised seat suspended from a catwalk, was prepared. Before the fight, Hamed was a heavy favourite with bookmaker's odds of 3:1 consistently in his favour. But, it was not to be. Hamed could not hit Barrera with his trademark lefts as the Mexican champion circled to his left and worked both head and body. Barrera was not a fan of Hamed's antics and responded to Hamed's punches during clinches. On one occasion early in the fight, Hamed grabbed Barrera and both fell to the ground where Barerra threw a light jab leading to a warning from referee [[Joe Cortez]]. Ultimately, Barrera threw more punches, harder punches, and more impressive combinations. Barrera was awarded the victory via a unanimous decision, with the scorecards reading 115-112, 115 -112, 116-111, and won the vacant IBO Featherweight title. In the 12th and final round Barrera trapped Hamed in a hold, and nudged his head into the [[turnbuckle]], resulting in a point deducted by referee [[Joe Cortez]]. Quite notably, Prince Naseem's trainer Emanuel Steward has made criticisms to the training schedules of his fighter before and after the fight according to the [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/1284646.stm BBC] channel in which the trainer has threatened to quit training Prince Naseem. ===Last Fight=== On the 18th May 2002, Hamed returned to the ring for what was his final fight against the European Champion Manuel Calvo. The fight was for the vacant IBO Featherweight Title vacated by the man who inflicted Naseem's only loss, Barrera. Naseem won the fight on a unanimous decision, but it was far from a convincing performance. The old swagger, speed and punching accuracy appeared to be gone. Vague talk of a return to the sport has swirled around the charismatic fighter ever since, but no firm plans have ever been made. ==Style== Hamed employed a unique style that flummoxed lower-caliber opponents and contributed to his tremendous popularity. Hamed's most powerful punch was a straight left that was known to knock strong fighters out in a single shot. He rarely threw combinations in excess of three punches, which were usually composed of two right jabs followed by a straight left, hook, or uppercut. Because Hamed threw his left with such ferocity, he often lost his balance, a stylistic defect that opponents such as Kelley and [[Marco Antonio Barrera]] took advantage of. For defence, Hamed relied mainly on his sharp reflexes to avoid his adversaries' punches, rarely blocking shots and preferring to back away from strong attacks. His quick feet prevented him from getting stuck against the ropes or in corners. Hamed clinched infrequently, primarily because he was not usually sufficiently fatigued to warrant such tactics. When in clinches he would often throw lefts to opponents' heads. Hamed was also known to clown around in the ring. When hit cleanly he would smile at opponents, make faces, shake his head, and shrug his shoulders to indicate that he was unhurt. Hamed sometimes danced in the ring and, ever the showman, usually entered by doing a flip over the ropes. Hamed's opponents did not generally respond to his taunts and horseplay, but his best, Barrera, was sufficiently infuriated by Hamed's flippancy to drive "Naz's" head into a turnbuckle in the twelfth round of their fight costing himself a point. Naseem was never the same without his first coach and mentor [[Brendan Ingle]]. His unique style was understood by the man who helped hone it, and Emmanuel Steward and others who trained Hamed for his later bouts tried to introduce combination punching and other methods he was unused to. == Criticism == In the eyes of hardened supporters and some observers, both despite and because of flaws in his style of fighting, Hamed had earned a false reputation of invulnerability by the time of his fight with Barrera. As one Boxing reviewer wrote, "He does everything wrong except lose". It was the view of many by this point that, regardless of the opponent presented, as long as that challenger weighed within 10[[pound (mass)|lb]], he would simply and inevitably lose; any measure of success against Hamed only decreased the opponents final standing, being all the more badly bruised and marked for lasting 12 rounds. Nor did it seem to help if you succeeded in knocking Hamed down; all of the three men who had succeeded in punching him to the canvas, namely Alicea, Kelley, and Sanchez had ultimately been knocked out in increasingly brutal fashion over the years, culminating finally with the carrying away of Sanchez on a [[stretcher]] in 2000. In the eyes of a few boxing [[Sportswriting|cognoscenti]], however, Hamed's downfall was only a matter of time.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} They pointed to the increasing instances of opponents knocking him down and lasting 12 rounds; they attributed this both to Hamed's own declining qualities, i.e. dulling [[reflexes]], worsening defence etc, and also to the slight changing of his style due to his new trainers Oscar Suarez and Emmanuel Steward. It was in 2001, to the shock of the great majority of the Boxing community, and to the gratification of a smaller minority of experts and detractors, that Hamed suffered his first loss, being beaten comprehensively by Barrera, a champion of long standing, to lose the WBO's version of the Featherweight title. He fought a single return match in 2002 against the [[Europe]]an Featherweight champion [[Manuel Calvo]] of [[Spain]], and annexed the IBO title with a 12 round [[unanimous decision]], despite a knockdown suffered in round seven. Despite, or in some cases because of Hamed's re-styling of himself as ''The Fresh Prince'', a nickname hinting at a return to the combination punching, fleet footwork and inaccessibility to inbound punches that typified his pre-Kevin Kelley fights, many of his fans as well as some boxing magazines were left unimpressed by his performance, indeed loudly expressing discontent at the continued deterioration of his skills, many seats around the ring becoming vacant in the latter rounds. There was often speculation about Hamed making a return to the ring. In November 2005, Hamed announced he was considering the possibility of a return to the ring. <ref>{{cite news | title = Featherweight ex-champion Prince Naseem Hamed talks of return | publisher = ''Girls Talk Sports'' | date = November 4, 2005 | url =http://www.girlstalksports.com/More-Sports/Boxing/Featherweight-ex%11champion-Prince-Naseem-Hamed-talks-of-return-20051104267}}</ref> <!-- replace with a reliable, notable source--> == Controversy outside the ring == On [[2 May]], [[2005]] Hamed was involved in a 90-mph three-car collision at Ringinglow Road, [[Sheffield]], while driving his £300,000 silver [[Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren|McLaren-Mercedes SLR]]. He was arrested on [[3 May]], released on bail and later charged at Sheffield Magistrates Court on [[3 December]]<ref>{{cite news | title = Prince Naseem arrested over crash | publisher = ''BBC News'' | date = December 19, 2005 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4507243.stm}}</ref>. On [[31 March]], [[2006]] Hamed entered a plea of guilty, and was warned he could face jail by a judge at Sheffield Crown Court<ref>{{cite news | title = Boxer could face jail after crash | publisher = ''BBC News'' | date = March 31, 2006 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/4864262.stm}}</ref>. The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Alan Goldsack, adjourned the case until [[12 May]] to allow pre-sentence reports to be prepared. The court heard how the man in the car Hamed hit, later revealed as 38-year-old Anthony Burgin, who had attended a number of previous hearings, was unable to come to court because he was in hospital for further treatment. His wife Clare was also injured. On [[12 May]] the court heard in a sentencing hearing how Hamed had been anxious to impress businessman Asif Goro (aged 46), who was a passenger in the McLaren-Mercedes at the time of the crash. Hamed was showing what his car could do when he crossed a solid white line at a speed of at least 90 mph and crashed head-on into a [[Volkswagen Golf]] that emerged from a dip in the road. Hamed's car then hit a second vehicle, the [[Ford Mondeo]] he had been trying to overtake. Mr. Burgin, the driver of the Volkswagen Golf, was very seriously injured, breaking every major bone in his body and suffering bruising to the brain<ref name="car crash"/>. Hamed escaped unhurt. Hamed was jailed for 15 months after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing. He was also given a four-year driving ban. Judge Alan Goldsack, told Hamed: ''"I find it astonishing that the [[DVLA]] has not been prepared to co-operate with the prosecution to give them details of your earlier offences - apparently on human rights grounds."'' The DVLA's decision led to Hamed being sentenced without the judge being told he had previously been banned for a year for driving a [[Porsche]] at 110mph on the M1 in [[Derbyshire]]. It was also revealed that Hamed had three other previous convictions for speeding offences, details of which the prosecution had to find from court records. <!-- Any updates??:In May of 2006, BBC confirmed that Hamed will appeal against his 15 month prison sentence. Hamed's solicitor Stephen Smith said the appeal would be against the length of the sentence and comments made by the judge in his summing up. <ref>{{cite news | title = Boxer to appeal against jail term | publisher = ''BBC News'' | date = May 15, 2006 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/4774637.stm}}</ref> --> Hamed was granted an early release and left prison on [[4 September]] [[2006]] after serving 16 weeks of the 15 month sentence. Hamed was placed under [[Home Detention Curfew]] for the remainder of his sentence, and monitored by an [[Electronic tagging|electronic tag]]. Anthony Burgin, the driver whom Hamed collided with, said: ''"I am shocked that after such a serious accident Mr Hamed has been released after less than four months."'' There was also a civil court case rumoured to cost Hamed up to £1 million plus legal costs, as Burgin was deemed unable ever to work again.<ref>{{cite news | title = Early release for ex-boxing champ | publisher= ''BBC News'' | date = September 1, 2006|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/south_yorkshire/5306648.stm}}</ref> Burgin was later arrested and charged with dangerous driving for an incident alleged to have involved Eleasha Hamed (the wife of Naseem) on [[April 19]] [[2007]]. Burgin pled not guilty, and appeared in court on [[March 17]] [[2008]],<ref>{{cite news | title = Hamed crash victim denies charge | publisher= ''BBC News'' | date = January 14, 2008 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/7187790.stm}}</ref> following which he was cleared of charges.<ref>{{cite news | title = Victim cleared on Naz car rap | publisher = ''The Sun'' | date = March 20 2008 | url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article941478.ece}}</ref> ==Legacy and impact== As popular lower weight fighters like [[Oscar de la Hoya]] and [[Kostya Tszyu]] moved into the mid-weight classes and the Mexican champion [[Julio César Chávez]] declined, Hamed and [[Arturo Gatti]] filled the void. Hamed's power made him the new poster-boy for lighter-weight boxers and his charisma attracted a large number of fans. Hamed has also been referenced by the rapper [[Nas]] in the song "You Won't See Me Tonight", with the lyrics "I can't forget how I met you//you thought I was a boxer//Prince Naseem but I'm a mobster, Nas from Queens". Hamed himself recorded a song with hip hop group [[Kaliphz]] called "Walk Like A Champion", which reached number 23 in the [[UK Singles Chart]] in 1996. Former fighters and boxing purists also question any right he has to greatness. Following the loss to Barrera he failed to take advantage of a return clause in the fight contract.<ref>{{cite news | title = Hamed beaten in Las Vegas | publisher = ''BBC Sport Online'' | date = April 8, 2001| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/low/boxing/1266600.stm}}</ref> It is argued that for a fighter to be considered great he must at least try to hunt down those who have beaten him to obtain a rematch. Fighters such as Thomas Hearns chasing down Ray Leonard, Shane Mosley chasing down both Vernon Forrest and Winky Wright, and also [[Lennox Lewis]] ensuring that Hasim Rahman and Oliver McCall gave rematches immediately are examples of behaviour befitting a fighter who believes he is still the best.<ref>{{cite news | title = Rahman-Lewis Rematch Planned | publisher = ''The Washington Post'' | date = August 8, 2001 | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A45309-2001Aug7?language=printer}}</ref> Following the loss to Barrera, Hamed, his confidence apparently shattered, faded from view. Respected British boxing pundit [[Steve Bunce]] stated on the [[March 15]] [[2008]] edition of [[BBC]] panel show [[Fighting Talk]] that Hamed was the greatest British boxer of all time, in his opinion. == Record == *Amateur boxing: **Fights: 67 **Wins: 62 (92.5%) **KOs: 17 (25.3%) **Losses: 5 (7.5%) *Professional boxing: **Fights: 37 **Wins: 36 (97.3%) **KOs: 31 (86%) **Losses: 1 (2.7%) **Drawn: 0 == Championships and accomplishments == *'''[[European Boxing Union]]''' :*EBU European Bantamweight Championship *'''[[International Boxing Federation]]''' :*IBF Featherweight Championship *'''[[International Boxing Organization]]''' :*IBO Featherweight Championship *'''[[World Boxing Council]]''' :*WBC Featherweight Championship :*WBC International Super Bantamweight Championship *'''[[World Boxing Organization]]''' :*WBO Featherweight Championship == References == <div class="references-small"> <references /> </div> ==See also== *[[Isra Girgrah]] ==External links== * [http://www.boxrec.com/record004462.html Career Record] * [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/4765035.stm BBC's Naseem Hamed profile] {{start box}} {{Succession box| before=[[Steve Robinson]]| title= [[WBO]] [[List of featherweight boxing champions|Featherweight boxing champion]] | after=[[Istvan Kovacs]]| years=30 Sep 1995&ndash; 2000<br>Vacates }} {{Succession box| before=[[Tom Johnson (boxer)|Tom Johnson]]| title= [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]] [[List of featherweight boxing champions|Featherweight boxing champion]] | after=[[Hector Lizarraga]]| years=8 Feb 1997&ndash; Jul 1997<br>Vacates }} {{Succession box| before=[[Cesar Soto]]| title= [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] [[List of featherweight boxing champions|Featherweight boxing champion]] | after=[[Guty Espadas, Jr.]]| years=22 Oct 1999&ndash; 2000<br>Vacates }} {{Succession box| before=[[Marco Antonio Barrera]]<br>Vacates| title= [[IBO]] [[List of featherweight boxing champions|Featherweight boxing champion]] | after=[[Michael Brodie]]| years=18 May 2002&ndash; 2002<br>Vacated }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Hamed, Naseem}} [[Category:1974 births]] [[Category:Arab people]] [[Category:English Muslims]] [[Category:British Arabs]] [[Category:English boxers]] [[Category:British boxers]] [[Category:Featherweights]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Sheffield]] [[Category:Southpaw boxers]] [[Category:Sport in Sheffield]] [[Category:World boxing champions]] [[Category:Yemeni boxers]] [[ar:نسيم حميد]] [[de:Naseem Hamed]] [[ja:ナジーム・ハメド]]