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May 1998
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BACK TO BASICS
A mature, commanding performance was required following the Kelley war, and that was what Prince Naseem Hamed delivered against veteran three-time champ Wilfredo Vazquez. But still some found fault. GLYN LEACH reports from Manchester |
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Prince Naseem Hamed, the World Boxing Organisation featherweight champion
and headline attraction of Frank Warren's extravagant multi-title fight
promotion at the Nynex Arena, Manchester, on 18 April, should have been
returning to the British ring as a conquering hero. But following
December's up-and-down win over Kevin Kelley in New York, Hamed had some
convincing to do.
Hamed went some way to calming fears that his career was headed off the
rails by stopping Wilfredo Vazquez, Puerto Rico's veteran three-time
world title holder, following two knockdowns after two minutes and 29
seconds of round seven.
The undefeated Hamed, 24, showed caution fitting a fighter who had taken
several counts in the four-round win over Kelley, and defended his WBO
title for the ninth time with a welcome maturity. His 10th in WBO title
fights, earned Hamed the status of Superchampion.
Hamed extended his record to 30-0, 28 KOs by using speed and mobility to
bolster the power punching that has seen him win his last 18 fights,
dating back to 1994, by stoppage. Vazquez was down in the third but
recovered well, yet not even a 10-minute interruption to repair a
damaged ring rope - a result of the Carl Thompson-Chris Eubank WBO
cruiser title war on the undercard (see page 28) - in round six could
prevent the inevitable for too long. He was lifted off his feet when
Hamed knocked him down for the second time in round seven and American
referee Rudy Battle's intervention was timely.
Vazquez, a 37 year-old veteran of 60 fights and until recently the
undefeated World Boxing Association champion, wore a gaudy crown and
robe into the ring but wisely he allowed a younger camp aide to
indulge in Hamed-like gymnastics. When Hamed arrived, some 10 minutes
later and after his customary clubland-on-acid entrance, he went eye
to eye with the Puerto Rican, but Vazquez was unfazed.
There were doubts surrounding Vazquez's ambition, his having vacated
the WBA title in order to pursue a $300,000 payday against Hamed. But
he appeared businesslike and determined when the fight began and
Hamed, wisely, took no risks early on. The knockdown he suffered in
the first round against Kelley clearly had a sobering effect on an
undefeated champion who seemed in danger of self-destructing through
his disregard for defence.
The Yorkshire Yemeni was rocked by a right-hander in the second, but
a left hook counter dropped Vazquez or a count of five in the third.
Once again Hamed, winner of all but two of his 30 fights by KO,
enjoyed a clear edge in power.
Vazquez was clever and canny, and at times ripped in some nice shots
to the body. But he was never given the opportunity to land his
vaunted left hook and after Hamed had dropped him twice in round
seven, he had no more left to offer.
Speaking after the fight, Vazquez praised the WBO champ. "Now that
he's beaten me, I'm a fan," he said cheerfully. "He's a funny guy
and I like him."
Did Vazquez see any fighters out there who might be able to get the
better of Hamed? "Not really," he continued through his interpreter.
"He is so unorthodox. Very hard to deal with."
Those comments made a change from the views of a number of prospective
Hamed challengers that have been expressed in this magazine with
regularity over recent months (see features on Kennedy McKinney and
Angel Manfredy in this issue for examples). The perceptions of these
fighters are probably based on Hamed's fight against Kelley, their
only first-hand experience of the featherweight phenomenon. They may
wish to reconsider following Hamed's latest win.
Still there were some at ringside who expressed doubts about Hamed's
latest performance. Many said he was too cautious, others even went
as far as to call him gun-shy. But to be so critical is to ignore
Hamed's situation. He has been flirting with disaster for some time
and the Kelley fight saw him standing on the precipice, staring
defeat in the face. That he should be criticised for "choosing life",
as it were, seems unfair. Displaying a little circumspection is
exactly what was required on this occasion and Hamed should be
commended rather than castigated. The evidence suggests that he has
rededicated himself to the sport by a worthwhile degree.
Hamed seemed caught up in the whirlwind that his career has become.
He needed to take a step outside his situation in order to
effectively evaluate recent events and, without going into detail,
I am assured that he has, which is just as well. If he did not do
so willingly, then self-analysis and soul-searching would have been
forced upon Hamed by inevitable defeat.
The win over Kelley was more exciting than Hamed's latest victory,
but it underlined that at the level Hamed has now reached,
sloppiness will be punished.
But on the form Hamed displayed against Vazquez, he has strengthened
his claim to be the best fighter in the world at nine stone (126lbs)
right now, a position he seemed close to abdicating.
Unifying the disparate world featherweight championships is proving
impossible for Hamed and promoter Warren. But the southpaw WBO champ
has now won and relinquished the International Boxing Federation
title, and in his last two fights has beaten undefeated World Boxing
Union and WBA champions who have given up their belts in order to
face the highest paid featherweight in history. Should Hamed fight
and beat WBC champion Luisito Espinosa, Hamed can claim to have
beaten the champions of the five main sanctioning bodies. Whether
belts are on the line or not, that is an incredible feat in this
day and age.
Hamed's next outing is scheduled for the USA on 18 July, with no
opponent having been named at time of writing. |
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