Steward Backs Naseem

· No Comments · News · comeback, featherweight, hamed, kronk, naseem, steward

Legendary trainer Manny Steward believes Naseem Hamed could be ready to fight in three months’ time - and backs the former world champion to make it back to the top. Hamed claims he has been offered a six-fight deal by an American TV network despite having not fought since 2002, but the featherweight’s former handler insists it could be a good move.”

He’s one of the nicest kids I ever worked with,” he said. ”

I’ve only got fond memories of him, not anything bad.”

I think he can be world champion again.”

He’s one of the greatest natural punchers I ever saw in my life and has great co-ordination. It has to be done properly and delicately though.”

A lot of guys come back but they don’t come back the proper way, they rush into it too much. And you have to be careful about the opponents.”

The pair are still on good terms despite the ill-feeling surrounding Hamed’s only defeat against Marco Antonio Barrera in 2001, when they fell out over training methods.”

I’ve not spoken to him for about six months. I still have a good relationship with him and his family, we are very close and I’m one of his biggest fans. Only the fight with Barrera we disagreed on the training methods.”

Training properly, he is a dangerous man,” he added.”

If he asked me to help him I would definitely consider working with him. If we could come up with an agreement on the method of his training I would definitely not pass that up.”

He’s got to be extremely careful because this is an extremely rough, competitive division at 130lbs (super-featherweight).”

When he did train he trained extremely well, he’s a good trainer. For the Barrera fight he was training without sparring because the other trainer had him convinced he didn’t have to do that.”

If he trains hard, I don’t think it will take him more than three months (to be ready).”

Hamed is still only 31 years old and will take great heart from Steward’s comments as he ponders a return to the ring.

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Steward Issues Hamed Ultimatum

· No Comments · News · hamed, kronk, steward, ultimatum

Prince Naseem Hamed has been handed an ultimatum by his trainer - do things my way or I’ll quit.

Emanuel Steward believes Naz has little chance of reversing his recent IBO featherweight title defeat to Marco Antonio Barrera, unless he makes radical changes in his camp.

“If Naz wants me to still be involved, then I must be given complete control on every aspect of his training.

“Whenever his next fight is, that has to be the situation, otherwise I will quit.

“Unless Naz makes radical changes to his schedule the way he works, and the people who he has around him, Barrera will knock him out.

“Barrera could have done it last time, and he knows Naz was not good enough as a boxer to get to him.

“The truth is that top fighters have worked him out. To beat men like Barrera you need strategy and tactics and Naz did not have them in Las Vegas.”

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Steward Flys Into London

· No Comments · News · arrives, kronk, london, manny, steward

Emanuel Steward has flown into London to begin Naz’s training for his unification challenge against Cesar Soto.
Naz is giving a press conference on Thursday 26th and then on Friday the destination is Detroit and the world famous Kronk Gym.
After a while the training will then move to the Pocono Mountains in a training camp which will feature Lennox Lewis and Thomas Hearns!

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Steward Confirms Soto fight

· No Comments · Fights, News · hamed, kronk, manny, soto, steward

Naz’s next fight will be against Cesar Soto it has been confirmed by Emanuel Steward.
The fight date looks very likely to be November 6th in Las Vegas.

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Naseem To Train At Kronk Gym

· No Comments · News · gym, kronk, naseem, steward, train

News is that Naz could be heading for the Kronk Gym at the beginning of August to train for his next fight with new trainer Emanuel Steward.
Says Steward : “It would be great to get Naz working at the Kronk. I have always thought he was a great fighter but there is a lot he can learn from me.”

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