Hamed To Return

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Naseem Hamed says that he is ready for a return to boxing.

The former WBO, WBC and IBF featherweight says he has been offered a six-fight deal by American TV and will be back in the ring by the middle of 2006.

Hamed, now 31, has not fought since a muted points victory over Manuel Calvo in May 2002 and has fought only twice in five years.

He has spent the time “just chilling” with his wife and two sons, but after being inspired by Ricky Hatton’s success story, says he is ready to end his exile once and for all.

“There are no opponents as yet, we’re just talking to TV,” he told The Times, “Then hopefully next year there’ll be a nice, big fight.”

I am still very young and have not had too many beatings. In fact for 20 years I fought as an amateur and pro and I only took a beating once against (Marco Antonio) Barrera.”

I was fighting the best in the division and I had a bad day, he had a good one. The fight came at an awkward time in my career where I didn’t really have a proper number one trainer, but I don’t want to make any excuses.”

I have no regrets and I can only say again and again that I enjoyed a fantastic career. ”

I believe I can still achieve great things in the ring and I wouldn’t be coming back unless I felt that.”

Hamed On Road To Return?

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Former world featherweight champion Prince Naseem Hamed has set tongues wagging once again by claiming he will be making a comeback in the Middle East.

Hamed, once the darling of the 9st division, lost his unbeaten record and his aura of invincibility against Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera in the heat of Las Vegas in the summer of 2001.

The devout Muslim has since shied away from the public eye, fighting just once more when claiming a points victory over the moderate Manuel Calvo in May 2002.

And although never officially announcing his retirement, it was thought he had turned his back on the fight game for good after failing to agree to a big domestic match-up with Michael brodie in 2003.

But Hamed, who will be 31 next month, told his local newspaper, the Sheffield Star: “I’ve not said anything publicly until now but I am planning to fight again in the summer.”

We have not selected my opponent but the fight will take place in the Middle East and that is definite.”

Reports suggest Hamed’s weight has ballooned to 11st during his absence, but it is claimed he has been keeping in trim at his local Sheffield gym.

We await the next chapter in this on-going saga.

Will Hamed Box Again?

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Boxing has seen the last of Prince Naseem Hamed - according to promoter Barry Hearn.

The former WBO featherweight champion remains an engima outside the ring having not boxed for almost two years, and Ringside entered the debate as to whether or not we will see him fight again.

His promoter Hearn confirmed that as far as he knows, there are no plans in the pipeline for an imminent return, and admitted that he does not expect to see the Prince back on our screens.”

There’s been talk about him coming back to fight, first in June, then September and then November and here we are in 2004 and he’s still talking about it,” said Hearn.

“I hear he’s back in training but there’s nothing happening in the process for a real fight to be made. He’s been out of the ring for two years and that is a long time to come back and make nine stone. Is he going to come back at super-featherweight?

“He brought something special to boxing, but whether those days can be recaptured, it is beyond my comprehension at the moment, but my gut feeling is no.”

My advice to him as a man, is ‘you’ve got a wonderful life, a wonderful family and you’ve made shedloads from the business - so enjoy it now’.”

The Hamed debate is one that has split boxing since his sophoric comeback fight against Manuel Calvo in May 2002.

Many believe his mauling at the hands of Marco Antonio Barrera was the end for the Prince, but there are those that feel British boxing needs him back, especially following Lennox Lewis’ retirement.

And with Hearn backing against a return to the ring, the Ringside judges came up with a split decision, reflecting the hold Hamed still has over the sport - even at the age of 30 and after 21 months of inactivity.

Barry McGuigan agreed with Hearn’s sentiments, suggesting that even if he could make the nine stone bracket, that age would leave him a shadow of the fighter that took the sport by storm.”I would say to him don’t bother,” said McGuigan. “It’s not just about the weight, it’s about timing and the ability to punch quickly and remember, he relied hevaily on his speed and timing.”But to reflect the differing opinions on Hamed, Hearn and McGuigan found opposition from former European super-bantamweight champion Spencer Oliver and Ricky Hatton’s trainer, Billy Graham, who considers the Sheffield-based star a friend.

And both believe that the boxing bug will be too difficult to shake off, with the latter sure that Hamed will want to erase the bad memories of that fight with Calvo before finally calling it a day.”I’m not saying he’s going to make boxing his career again, but there’s no way at all he will retire on that note,” said Graham. “I think he will appear in the ring one more time.

“He’s a friend of mine, I’ve know him for a long time. I haven’t spoken to him for a while, but people like him won’t be able to resist than one more time. And If he wins and it goes well, he’ll try another one.”And Oliver believes that one more figth will see him move up a weight in order to dispel the difficulty he had making nine stones last time he climbed into the ring.”Naseem Hamed’s life is boxing. He’s been doing it since he was seven and I believe we will see him again,” said Oliver.”The big problem and the reason for the long lay-off is that he struggles to make nine stone and I think if we see him again, it will be at super-featherweight.”

Where Is Hamed?

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More than 3 months since his first defeat to Marco Antonio Barrera no news has emerged from Naz or his brothers as to the next move of the former world champion.

No doubt Naz requires time to think over his next possible move, be it retirement or to continue fighting. With £30million in the bank money would not be much of an factor but the question would be whether he still had the appetite to continue.

With his millions of fans shunned after this time, promised a return to the ring against Marco Antonio Barrera “I accept the loss but I will come back and beat him. I’ve got a re-match clause in my contract and I’ll get the title back.” , only for this to be apparently turned down by the Naz camp, his fans and admirers are left out in the cold with not even an idea as to what is going on.

Have you seen Naz?
Anyone who has spotted Naz or heard anything of what he’s been up to please e-mail us and we’ll start a section to find out what’s been happening in the last 3 months.

naz@designimpress.co.uk