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Mister
Showman: Prince Naseem
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.Naseem was just seven when he started boxing at Brendan Ingle's gym and a very
confident 12 year old when he told the editor of Boxing News, Harry Mullan "You
ought to write a story about me, I am going to be a World Champion."
Prince Naseem is more than a boxer, he is an entertainer and it is not just his
boxing ability that sets him apart from the best of the rest it is his style and
showmanship. The music, the dancing, his leopard print shorts, his legendary
entrances and not forgetting his infamous 'flip' into the ring -- all Prince
Naseem Hamed trade marks that have made him a youth icon. Sir Bob Geldof once
told a local paper that, 'Prince Naseem is one of the greatest showmen in the
world.' Naseem also boasts support from other internationally renowned
celebrities including Puff Daddy, Will Smith, Sylvester Stallone, Michael
Jackson, Wesley Snipes, Robbie Williams, David Beckham, Ian Wright and Liam and
Noel Gallagher of Oasis. In January 1996 Noel Gallagher announced to the media,
'If Prince Naseem was a musician I'd want him to be in Oasis and if I was a
boxer, I'd want to be Prince Naseem.' Prince Naseem has given boxing a new image
opening it up to a whole new audience. His fan club attracts members of all ages
from around the world.
Naseem has been to Buckingham Palace to meet with the Royal Family and to 10
Downing Street at the invitation of the Prime Minister. However, Naseem is more
than a British fighter he is an Arabic fighter who prides himself on both his
roots.
In February 1997 Prince Naseem Hamed took on American Tom Johnson for the IBF
title. He won becoming the two time champion of the world but this was not to
last. In August Prince Naseem was stripped of his IBF belt due to boxing
politics.
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1997 saw
Prince Naseem enter a new era as a record-breaking deal was signed with major
American channel Home Box Office (HBO) firmly launching Naseem in America. This
together with the record breaking deals and endorsements already under his wing,
have made him one of the highest earning sports people in the world.
Naseem's first American fight took place on 19th December 1997 when he took on
native New Yorker, Kevin Kelley in his home turf at the boxing Mecca of the
world Madison Square Garden. Naseem was triumphant in four rounds putting up
what is being hailed as one of the most exciting fights of his career.
January 1999 was a busy month for Naseem who added an extra title to his
collection when he received an MBE in the Queen's New Year's Honour List. The
New Year also saw many changes to 'Team Naseem'. Decisions made allowed him to
take more control of his own destiny. Naseem launched his own promotions
company, 'Prince Promotions'. Emanuel Steward and Oscar Suarez are working
together on all aspects of Naseem's training and fight preparation.
In October 1999, Naseem fought Mexican Cesar Soto for the WBC title. In
preparation for the fight, Naseem headed to the Poconos Mountains for a
six-week, intensive training camp. He shared the camp with Lennox Lewis who was
preparing for his Holyfield re-match. This was the first time Naseem had been to
a training camp and the difference showed. After twelve grueling rounds Naseem
won on a unanimous points decision becoming the WBO & WBC featherweight champion
of the world. However, due to boxing politics Naseem had to resign the WBC title
in January 2000.
September 2000 marked Naseem's five-year reign as the WBO Featherweight
Champion. Five days after his anniversary party, Naseem decided to vacate the
title stating that he would no longer allow boxing politics to stand in his way
of fighting the world's top fighters. There was one fighter Naseem had in mind
when making this decision and the fighter was Marco Antonio Barrera. The Nas v.
Barrera fight has now been scheduled for 7th April 2001 in Las Vegas. This is
Naseem's first fight in Vegas and provides him with the opportunity to finally
silence his critics.
Although boxing politics seem to have got in the way of Naseem's dream to unify
the featherweight division, his victories over the WBO, IBF, WBA and WBC
titleholders make him the true featherweight champion of the world. No one can
argue that Naseem is an exceptional fighter destined for even greater things,
possibly even the legendary status he so desires. Prince Naseem has conquered
England, Europe and is now on his way to conquering America and the World. With
foresight maybe his Yemeni parents would have hesitated before they named him
Naseem, Arabic for 'gentle breeze.'
Hamed finally lost on 7 April 2001 at the 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 8-1. 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 they
both fell to the ground where Barrera threw a right jab, leading to a warning
from referee Joe Cortez. In the 12th and final round Barrera trapped Hamed in a
hold, and forced his head into the turnbuckle, resulting in a point deducted by
referee Joe Cortez.Ultimately, Barrera threw more punches, harder punches, and
more impressive combinations, making Hamed pay for his low guard style. 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.
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 BBC channel in which the trainer has threatened to quit training Prince
Naseem. In a book written after the fight, Hamed admitted that "everything went
wrong" in the build up to the fight, and many believe Hamed's pre-fight training
was not to a high enough standard. Instead, it is thought that Hamed took the
easy option of staying in Palm Springs to train, whereas Barrera trained in the
tougher climate of Big Bear, California.
Last Fight
On 18 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.
In an interview for Sky Sports, Hamed mentioned that part of the reason that he
left boxing after this fight was because his commitments to his family, who he
would often not see for up to 9 weeks at a time whilst attending training camps.
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