Hamed Camp Talk

· No Comments · Fights, News · barrera, buildup, camp, hamed

It’s hard to imagine Naseem Hamed living like a monk, thinking like a
philosopher and eating like a Mexican.

There’s nothing like a genuine challenge to focus the mind however.

Such is the importance of his upcoming fight with Marco Antonio Barrera in
the early hours of April 8, Naz is in the mood for sacrifice. That’s why he
is thousands of miles away from his family - at a place where you run four
miles before breakfast and forced to turn off your bedroom lights at ten
o’clock at night.

Oscar Suarez, Naz’s trainer for the Barrera fight in Las Vegas, has given
skysports.com a fascinating insight into how Naseem is shaping up for the
most dangerous fight of his life.

Despite 35 wins in 35 fights, only victory against Barrera - a genuine
Mexican tough-nut - will make Naz’s claim that he is a boxing legend seem
plausible.

Only by pushing himself can 27-year-old Naz be certain of victory. He is
4/11 favourite

“No other fighter can knock people out while flying through the air”

Suarez, who hails from Puerto Rico, and Sheffield’s finest have been holed
up together for the past eight weeks at a secluded desert training camp just
outside Palm Springs, California.

“Naz is out by seven o’clock in the morning to run a few miles in the
mountains. Then, it’s a pure protein breakfast, a nice walk and sleep, and
four hours in the gym in the afternoon,” reveals Suarez.

After-dark isn’t any less serious for the nightclub-loving Naseem.

“We spend the evenings watching boxing videos, seeing what Barrera can do.
Then it’s bedtime by 10.

“Naz hasn’t seen his wife and kids (he has two) for eight weeks. It’s
cutting him up and he keeps telling me Barrera will suffer for this.”

In such isolation, Naz and Suarez have formed an almost-brotherly
relationship.

“Naz is a Moslem and I am a Christian. When we are out walking in the
mornings looking at the beautiful scenery, we talk about God a lot,” says
Suarez.

“The only break Naz has from training or thinking about the fight is to go
to the local Mosque.

“Despite his bravado, Naseem always thinks about his opponent. But he
believes in God first and foremost. He believes God has given him the
strength to be a pure winner.

“He’s never spent so long locked away preparing for a fight. He is suffering
and I think Barrera will pay. I’ve been with Naz two years, what impresses
me is his desire and hunger to learn. Not what I expected, I had heard about
his image and thought he wouldn’t listen to anybody.

“The only break from boxing at the moment is the Mosque”

Suarez has drafted in two world champions with similar styles to Barrera to
help Naz prepare.

The 39-year-old coach says the world will see a new Naseem - and the
American public will love it.

“Naz is already an original because no other fighter has his range of shot.
He can knock you out virtually on the canvas or knock you out flying through
the air,” he says.

“But he has never learned to knock people out as a counter-puncher until
now.

“A lot of Mexicans will come up to Vegas for Barrera but Naz will have
plenty of friends inside the MGM. The Americans, and Mexicans for that
matter, love a showman who is also a winner. Someone who can talk the talk
and then walk the walk.

“If Naz is booed, it won’t affect him. But I think people will be surprised
by the support he’s going to get. When he is on his training runs around
Palm Springs, the Hispanics shout Naseem, Naseem as he runs past them. They
love him.

“Naz is one of the biggest six draws in boxing along with Lennox Lewis,
Felix Trinidad, Shane Mosely etc. If he beats Barrera in style, he could be
the very biggest draw.”

And what about the Mexican eating?

“It’s true, Naz has developed a liking for Spanish and Hispanic food. His
cook Maggie does as many Mexican dishes as European ones. And his mushroom
omelettes have to have Spanish-style seasoning on them now,” says Suarez.

THE PRINCE’S DAILY SCHEDULE (as told by trainer Oscar Suarez)

6:30am: Wake-up time and straight out road running. He was doing four to
five miles but I’ve cut it down to three-and-a-half miles a day now. Running
on the mountain is hard - I want him sharp for the gym.

8:30am: Shower, then breakfast. Pure protein breakfasts, Naz likes mushroom
omelettes with special Spanish-style seasoning.

9:30am: A walk around the camp. We talk about God a lot. We are both
spiritual guys and there are plenty of the beautiful wonders of God to look
at; nature, desert, trees.

11:00am: Naz often goes to the mosque. Then, he can have a sleep or a rest
when he comes back.

3:30pm: Three hours gym work. Naz likes to have the music on while he is
working The sparring is great - we have brought in a couple of fighters who
are stronger and faster than Barrera. We are working hard on Naz’s
counter-punching. We expect Barrera to comes forward on fight night, it is
his style. When he does, he is going to get a surprise.

7:00pm: Naz has something to eat. Then we have a nice English cup of tea and
talk about Barrera. Analyse his style, watch his previous fights on video. I
asked Naz one night if he fancied watching some golf video instead. He said
he wasn’t interested in anything other than boxing right now.

10pm: Sleep-time. I don’t think Naz misses the bright lights; when he was
younger he was out partying. Now he is more concerned about his family. They
are flying out to see him in the next week.

Hamed Opens Training Camp

· No Comments · Fights, News · camp, fight, hamed, opens, training

Naz opened his high altitude training camp at Big Bear Lake, California today.
Big Bear is located in the high mountains three hours east of Los Angeles, Located at 8,000 feet above sea level, Big Bear offers high altitude training, along with mountain running trails, clean air and the blistering hot weather the Prince loves.
Naz is staying at the home of Oscar De la Hoya and training in the Golden Boy’s personal gym.

Trouble At Hamed Camp

· No Comments · News · camp, hamed, trouble

A ‘popular’ boxing website ran a story recently saying that there was trouble at the Naz Camp.

Apparently this trouble was between Naz’s two trainers Emmanuel Steward and Oscar Suarez.

The official reply from Steward is : “That’s totally wrong. I can’t believe someone would make that up. I have a great relationship with Oscar. He has proven to be a very valuable part of the team, and I look forward to working with him for a long time. Even outside of Naz I may have Oscar help me with other fighters.”