PRINCE NASEEM HAMED:
Prince Naseem Hamad Undefeated World Featherweight Champion 31-0, 28 KOs Professional Record On his Elaborate Ring Entrances Prince Naseem's exceptional boxing ability speaks for itself; at just 24 he is the undisputed WBO Featherweight Champion of the World. 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 determined to become a legend and he knows that to achieve that status he must win world titles in different weights. He trains six hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year, and it shows. Flyweight Ricky Beard confessed that when Prince Naseem nailed him in the first round of their fight back in 1992 he made him feel junior and inexperienced. Significantly, this was Prince Naseem's first pro fight (at the tender age of 18) and certainly an indication of the Prince Naseem Hamed to come. After defeating the likes of Des Gargano and Peter Buckley, Prince Naseem went on to win his first pro title in May 1994 against the European Bantamweight Champion Vincenzo Belcastro, a veteran of 14 championship fights. Since then he has fought off the competition, collecting WBC International Super Bantamweight, WBO and IBF Featherweight titles along the way. 1997 saw Prince Naseem Hamed enter a new era. He became a two-time world champion, holding both the WBO and IBF belts. In August Prince Naseem was stripped of his IBF belt after refusing a mandatory defense against Hector Lizarraga. Naseem had always spoken of unifying the featherweight division and being the first fighter at any weight to hold all four belts at one time. However, it was not a fight that Naseem, his promoter Frank Warren, the media and, most importantly, the fans wanted. On December 19, he made his US debut at Madison Square Garden, stopping hometown boy Kevin Kelley in the fourth round. Prince Naseem is more than a boxer -- he is an entertainer, and as Bob Geldof told a local paper, "Prince Naseem is one of the greatest showmen in the world." Naseem also boasts support from other internationally renowned celebrities, including Sylvester Stallone, Michael Jackson, and Noel Gallagher of Oasis, who 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." It is not just Naseem's boxing ability that sets him apart from the rest -- it is his style and showmanship. The music, the dancing, his leopard-print shorts, his legendary entrances and his infamous flip into the ring are all trademarks that have made him a youth icon. Naseem's fan club attracts members from all around the world. His following includes first-time boxing fans, including women and children, who were drawn to the sport due to Naseem's showmanship. Prince Naseem has given boxing a new image, opening it up to a whole new audience. Naseem has been to Buckingham Palace to meet with the Royal Family and to Ten Downing Street at the invitation of the Prime Minister. However, Naseem is more than a British fighter -- he prides himself on his Yemeni heritage. Naseem frequently visits Yemen to see his family. The reception and adulation Naseem receives from the Yemeni people is staggering. Their love for him is returned, and he shares their love for Yemen. Sheffield, Naseem's home town, has a large Yemeni population and Naseem continues to actively support the community. Naseem's values, culture and belief in God have enhanced his character and provide him with his inner strength. With 31 undisputed fights under his belt, nearly half of which ended in under two rounds, no one is going to argue that Naseem is an exceptional fighter destined for even greater things, possibly even the legend status he so desires.
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