Naseem Hamed facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Naseem Hamed
Hamed in 1997
Statistics
Nickname(s)	Prince Naseem Naz
Rated at	Bantamweight Super-bantamweight Featherweight
Height	5 ft 3 in
Reach	63 in
Born	(1974-02-12) 12 February 1974 (age 51) Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England
Stance	Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights	37
Wins	36
Wins by KO	31
Losses	1

Naseem Hamed (born 12 February 1974) is a famous British former professional boxer. People often called him Prince Naseem or Naz. He boxed from 1992 to 2002.

Naseem Hamed was a world champion in the featherweight division. He held many world titles between 1995 and 2000. He was also known as the "lineal champion" from 1998 to 2001. In 2015, he was honored by being added to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Hamed started his professional boxing journey at 18 years old in 1992. He quickly won important titles like the European bantamweight title in 1994. A year later, he won his first world title, the WBO featherweight title. He beat Steve Robinson in the eighth round. He later won the IBF and WBC featherweight titles too. His only loss was in 2001 to Marco Antonio Barrera. He fought one last time in 2002, winning the IBO featherweight title.

Naseem Hamed was famous for his exciting boxing style and amazing ring entrances. He would enter the ring in unique ways, like on a flying carpet or a lift. He even acted out parts of the Michael Jackson's Thriller music video. He was also known for his cool somersault into the ring. His boxing style was very athletic and he had powerful punches. He knocked out 84% of the opponents he beat! He was a big star in British pop culture in the 1990s. Many people saw him as a global superstar.

Early Life and Training

Naseem Hamed was born in Sheffield, England, in 1974. His parents were from Yemen. He grew up with eight brothers and sisters. He started training at Brendan Ingle's Wincobank gym. His natural talent and unique southpaw boxing style made him stand out early on.

Professional Boxing Career

Starting Out Strong

Hamed began his professional boxing career in 1992. He quickly became known for knocking out his opponents early in fights. When he was 20, he won the European bantamweight title. He then won the WBC International super-bantamweight title in 1994. His exciting style and confident personality made him very popular.

Becoming a World Champion

Winning the WBO Title

In 1995, Hamed moved up to the featherweight division. He fought Steve Robinson for the WBO featherweight title. Hamed won the title by stopping Robinson in the eighth round. This big fight happened in Wales, in front of a huge crowd.

Defending His Title

Hamed defended his WBO title against Manuel Medina in Dublin. It was a tough fight, but Hamed won when Medina's corner stopped the fight in the 11th round. He then easily beat Remigio Molina in just two rounds.

Unifying Titles

Hamed with the WBO featherweight title at a World Wrestling Federation event in Sheffield Arena, England, 1997

In 1997, Hamed fought Tom "Boom Boom" Johnson, who held the IBF featherweight title. Hamed won in the eighth round, adding the IBF title to his collection. He then quickly defended both titles against Billy Hardy and Juan Gerardo Cabrera. Later, he had to give up the IBF title because of boxing rules.

Fighting in America

Hamed made his first big fight in the United States in late 1997. He fought Kevin Kelley in New York City. It was a very exciting fight with both boxers getting knocked down. Hamed eventually won by knockout in the fourth round. This fight helped him become even more famous in America.

More Title Defenses

In 1998, Hamed continued to win. He beat former champions like Wilfredo Vazquez and Wayne McCullough. He also defeated Paul Ingle in a tough fight.

Adding the WBC Title

In 1999, Hamed fought César Soto for the WBC featherweight title. He won the fight after 12 rounds, adding another world title to his collection. He later decided to focus on being the WBO champion and gave up the WBC title.

Impressive Knockouts

In 2000, Hamed had one of his most impressive wins. He knocked out Vuyani Bungu with a single powerful punch in the fourth round. He then defended his WBO title for the 15th and final time against Augie Sanchez. Hamed won with a huge knockout in the fourth round. After this fight, he injured his hand badly and took a break from boxing.

His Only Loss

In 2001, Naseem Hamed faced Marco Antonio Barrera in a highly anticipated fight. Barrera was a very skilled boxer. Hamed lost this fight after 12 rounds, which was his first and only loss in his professional career. Barrera won by a unanimous decision from the judges.

Final Fight

Hamed returned to the ring in 2002 for his last boxing match. He fought Manuel Calvo for the IBO World featherweight title. Hamed won the fight by points after 12 rounds. He was only 28 years old when he stopped fighting. Hamed later shared that he retired because of ongoing problems with his hands, including many fractures.

Personal Life

Naseem Hamed is a Muslim. He often said a prayer before his fights. He was a proud Muslim who connected with many people in Britain. In 1998, he married Eleasha Elphinstone, who had become a Muslim.

Hamed was one of the highest-paid athletes in the world during his career. He earned millions of dollars from his fights and endorsements. His two sons, Aadam and Sami, have also started training to become professional boxers.

Legacy and Impact

Many boxing experts believe Naseem Hamed had huge potential. He was seen as one of the most exciting fighters of his time. His unique style and charisma made him very popular. In 2002, his victory over Kevin Kelley was voted one of the "100 Greatest Sporting Moments" in the UK.

Hamed is considered one of the most successful and important British fighters ever. He inspired many other boxers, including famous names like Tyson Fury and Floyd Mayweather. He also encouraged many British Asian people to get involved in boxing.

Hamed's fame went beyond boxing. He was mentioned in a song by the hip-hop artist Nas. Hamed himself recorded a song called "Walk Like a Champion." He even had his own video game called Prince Naseem Boxing for the PlayStation console. His fighting style also inspired characters in Japanese manga series and movies. A film about Hamed and his trainer Brendan Ingle was announced in 2023.

Professional Boxing Record

Television Viewership

See also

In Spanish: Naseem Hamed para niños

• List of world featherweight boxing champions
• List of WBC world champions
• List of IBF world champions
• List of WBO world champions
• List of IBO world champions
• List of European Boxing Union bantamweight champions