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March 2000
Each month we bring you a selection of articles from the current and past issues of BOXING MONTHLY. To buy the magazine, see our subscription or back issues pages, or use our world distribution map to find a news-stand copy. Why not use our Interactive Forum to express your own boxing comments and opinions!
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MEET YOUR MAKERS
This month’s Meet Your Makers feature sees Boxing Monthly readers put their questions to superstar Prince Naseem Hamed, who defends his WBO featherweight championship against Vuyani Bungu in London on 11 March |
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BOOM BOOM: Naz says Tom Johnson was the opponent who taught him most
- Get Big Pic Jamie Peters, Do you feel the time is right to silence your critics by putting it all
on the line against the likes of Mayweather, Morales, or even
Freitas? Definitely, this is the right time and I’m the right man. I feel
as though I’ve already proved myself through the calibre of opponent I’ve
been fighting. But now’s the time to shine, the time to take these guys
on and beat them — and to do it on their own soil, in America, where it will
get noticed most. That’s my goal. Clint Purches, Be honest, who do you think would give you the toughest fight from all the
fighters in and around your weight class and why? The Americans have been building up Morales so much and, of course, he’s
with Bob Arum - and I love knocking people out who are with Arum. He’s
[Arum’s] tried to corner the featherweight market and get me beat for some
time, but he can’t do it. I’m hoping upon hope that Morales comes
through against Barrera [that fight was due to take place four days after this
interview took place and after this issue of BM had been printed]. There
would be more credibility for me in fighting Morales because he’s unbeaten. I
think there are some good fighters out there. I don’t really analyse
them and I don’t really care about them, because I think I’m better than all
of them and would beat all of them. In 2000 I want to box the best and
beat the best. I’m willing to fight any of them. Adam Hurd, In my opinion, the fighter you were in 1995 would have become a legend, but
since then you’ve become surprisingly ordinary and the rumours are that these
days you do not stay in shape between fights. Do you plan to rededicate
yourself and save your career or is that awesome fighter who destroyed Steve
Robinson gone forever? Number One, that awesome fighter is still an awesome fighter now.
Number Two, that awesome fighter is fighting a totally different level of
fighter now. You can’t be naive in boxing. The same fighter, once he
reaches a better calibre of opponent, it becomes that much harder for him, and
that’s what’s happened with me. But if that fighter can keep winning,
then that’s what counts. I’ve been boxing former world champions and
world champions throughout the last two or three years. The
fact is that nowadays my future opponents have seen me fighting, they know where
I’m coming from. And I think I’m going to prove myself all over again
this year. Steve Robinson compared to Kevin Kelley . . .with every respect
to Steve, who’s done well to get himself back into the WBO No. 1 contender’s
slot, they’re totally different fighters, mate, so don’t be naive. I’m
on the world level now and the competition is that much greater. S. J. Kilpatrick, Can you still walk past Brendan Ingle’s gym with your head held high? Course I can, definitely. In my opinion I was the one who gave that
gym such a name. I was the best one to ever come out of that gym, so I don’t
see why I shouldn’t be able to walk past it with head held high. If
there’s anyone who can walk with his head held high, with my achievements,
then I can. I’ll always have my head held high, regardless. Graham Pearman, You grew up and became great friends with Ryan Rhodes. How has the split from
Brendan Ingle changed your relationship with Ryan and how did you feel when he
was beaten in his second tilt at a world title, bearing in mind that you have
publicly stated that one day Ryan would become a world champion? With Ryan, I still love him the same, he’s still a great kid. I
feel a lot for him and his family. I’ve been in contact with him again
recently. There was a time when we didn’t speak for quite a while
because of my split with the gym. But now we’re on great terms again, he’s
coming to my fight in London. I went to his house, he came to mine.
Everything’s back to normal. Ryan’s got his life, I’ve got mine, and
we have to concentrate on our own careers. But me and Ryan are getting on
really well, we’ve always been like brothers, and we can only get
closer. What is he, 22, 23? The guy, in my eyes, is still a great
fighter. He’s had a few setbacks, but he’ll still win a world
title. I’d fancy him in rematches over Otis Grant and Jason
Matthews. Ryan has all the ability. He hasn’t lost no credibility
in my eyes. He still has what I’ve always thought he had. I was shocked
by the Jason Matthews fight because I thought Ryan had - and I still think the
same now - far more ability than he showed in that fight. But we’re all
only human and we all make mistakes. Ryan didn’t follow the gameplan - I did
the same in the Kevin Kelley fight, but I came back to KO Kevin Kelley.
Ryan could have made it a lot easier for himself against Matthews, but none of
us are perfect, we all make mistakes. Ryan’s a very young guy, very
strong guy, very good puncher, mobile, a clever boxer and he hasn’t been hit
and hurt too many times. And I can tell you this, if he’s lost any
confidence, I haven’t noticed it. Ryan still wants it. What more
can you ask for? Ryan will be okay, believe me. Paul Raddon, Why did you keep your WBO belt over the more prestigious WBC belt? The WBC title I’d wanted probably since the age of 10. It’s a very
special belt, so many prestigious fighters have held it, going back to
Ali. But I’ve got a lot more loyalty to the WBO than any other
organisation because they gave me my opportunity at the age of 21. Even
though I get on well with presidents of the other sanctioning organisations, I
get on great with Paco Valcarcel [WBO head honcho], who’s shown me great
loyalty and I feel that should be rewarded. I told the WBC that my loyalty
would always be to the WBO first and foremost, and that was that. Alastair Stuart, Given that you relinquished the IBF belt and were stripped by the WBC, how
important is it to you to unify the featherweight titles? I used to think
I needed them all, all the belts, just because no featherweight had ever done
that before. But there’s too much bullshit in boxing, too much politics
and people trying to make it difficult for you. The great fighters have
always made the belts rather than the other way round. I actually don’t
feel I need a belt to prove who I am. My achievements should speak for
themselves. Also from Paul Raddon Because of your much publicised hand troubles, do you find yourself holding
back on power in the early stages of a fight in case it goes the distance? One thing I never do is hold back. Both my hands could be broken in
a fight, but I don’t ever hold back, regardless of what pain I’m in. I’m
a winner, I’ve always been a winner, and whatever happens to me in the ring is
written from God. But whatever happens with my hands, I’m never holding
back. If I can knock you out, believe me, I’m knocking you out,
irrespective of the pain. Steve Davis, Out of all the fighters you’ve met in your career, which one did you
underestimate most and end up respecting more, after the fight? To be honest, I’ve respected all of my opponents. Sometimes I may
have appeared not to, but I really always have respected my opponents. But
if I had to choose one who I probably didn’t realise would be as good as he
was, that would be Boom Boom, Tom Johnson. After our fight I could see why
he had 11 or 12 title defences under his belt. I didn’t underestimate
him, I gave him the respect he was due, but I didn’t think he quite had the
knack of winning fights that he actually had. Even with the way our fight
went, with me stopping him, there was still a little something in that fight
that I learned and I’m very grateful to have fought him. Paul Hindley, How are things working out since your brother Riath took over promoting your
career in terms of dealing with other promoters and making fights? Things are going unbelievably well and I’m so happy with the
situation. It’s good to pick up the phone any time and speak to my own
brother regarding my own affairs. Basically I’m in charge of my own
career now and that’s an unbelievable position for any fighter to be in.
I give my brother all the credit in the world, given that he started with very
little experience [in boxing promotion]. He can go on for as many years as
he wants and he will always have the ability to succeed in business, whatever
the field. Joe Considine, Do you see yourself as still being undefeated in two years time? I see myself being undefeated in five years time, if I want to box in five
years. Two years time is nothing and I’ll be on top of my game, if I
want to be. But the days are coming when I’ll have to broaden my
horizons. As you know, I’ve been boxing from the age of seven. All
I know is boxing, but I feel that my life, at some time or other, has to
change. At this point, I’ve still got a lot of room for boxing in my
heart. But I’ve got a wife, a kid, and another on the way. I miss
my son immensely when I’m away from him. I love my wife dearly. I love
having my family around me so much. Boxing at this time is great for me
and there are still things I want to achieve in it, people out there that I want
to beat. But I know that, some time, things are going to have to change. |
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