NO REAL SURPRISE

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (INSIDE BOXING) This past Saturday night the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino entertained the self-proclaimed “best featherweight in the world” Prince Naseem Hamed (35-0) against Mexican bantamweight champion, Marco Antonio Barrera (52-3).

Although Hamed currently held no title in the (featherweight) 126 pound weight class, he was still regarded as the number one draw in the division. Barrera was making his presence felt after recently moving up from the 122 pound (bantamweight) division where he was champion.

Since the arrival of Prince Naseem Hamed the only real question about him was how would he fare against the stronger Mexican and American fighters away from his British homeland? The pay-per-view event Saturday night established Hamed as what this writer had speculated from the beginning.

Prince Naseem Hamed is a young talented fighter. When in Great Britain he is spectacular. When away he is a relatively exciting opponent. There are many fighters who can beat anyone in the comfort of their own surroundings. Hamed is just one of those.

His antics of arriving on a magic carpet or dancing down the runway to rap music were mysteriously missing on Saturday night. Maybe someone stole his carpet. Maybe the rappers (and their music) missed the flight. Whatever the case, the Prince is good, but not that good.

To make matters worse, except for his British entourage, he was alone. No Master P…no Red Man…no Dr. Dre. Maybe there was some rap convention that prevented their attendance? Whatever the case, Hamed was eerily alone.

He did attempt to enter the ring via a trapeze like swing some 15 to 20 feet above the crowd. That entrance was marred by a fan, no doubt of Barrera, who launched a perfectly timed beer right smack into the chest of the Prince.

This bit of liquid did little damage to Hamed in a physical way but the mental punch came in the form of not allowing the Prince his usual flip into the ring. Hamed was just wet enough that he could not get a good grip on the ropes and thus had to enter the ring in the traditional way. Not a good sign for the Prince.

Hamed had promised his fans that arrived from England there would be a “devastating” knockout of the Mexican Barrera. He even went as far as proclaiming his next victim to be Erik Morales, another Mexican champion.

There would be no devastating knockout. There would not even be any victory. The Prince would suffer his first defeat. The Prince would be humbled in a BIG way. The Prince would learn the price one pays when venturing from under the security blanket he knew as HBO.

The likes of George Foreman, Larry Merchant and Jim Lampley were the biggest Prince Naseem Hamed fans in the world. But then, all three would proclaim “Bugs Bunny” the best in the world should he sign with HBO.

No longer being a part of the HBO family, the Prince now will be subjected to “runaway child” status. Look for everyone to suggest any number of featherweight contenders can give the Prince trouble.

From the opening bell there was a focused look in the eyes of Barrera. He was more than prepared for this fight, his largest payday in 55 previous bouts. His experience and ability to stick to the game plan he prepared for would carry him through.

Hamed was under the impression Barrera would charge him in an attempt to engage him in a slugfest. He was wrong. Barrera jabbed and moved like never before. The left jab was such a weapon that Hamed was sent backwards on numerous occasions. The Barrera movement so bewildered Hamed that he was caught with stinging punches after admiring some of the Barrera footwork.

As the 1st round went to Barrera, so did the 2nd, 3rd and so on until entering the 8^th round, trainer Emanuel Steward told Hamed he was close to needing a knockout to win the fight. The look in the eyes of Hamed was that of one whom, having never been in this position before, needed more than words. He needed advice contrary to what he had prepared for. But the inability of the Hamed camp to adjust to the strategy change of Barrera would be costly.  

Hamed began his tactic of WWF wrestling. But he soon realized Barrera was not just talking when in a pre-fight interview he stated he was aware of dirty tactics employed by Hamed and he would not hesitate to reciprocate should it become necessary. The end result of that Hamed tactic was him being lifted off the canvas and slammed hard with a Barrera shoulder to the chest followed by a quick knee to the groin for good measure.

WWF president Vince McMahon would have been proud after watching Hamed being walked across the ring by Barrera and having his head slammed into the turnbuckle.

Hamed was finished. He no longer had any idea what to do with a determined challenger who, on this night, would not be denied. The bitter taste of defeat was unfamiliar to the mouth of Hamed. That taste should become a familiar one as the future doesn’t look any brighter.

Marco Antonio Barrera totally dominated Prince Naseem Hamed for 12 solid rounds. One was hard pressed to give Hamed 3 or 4 rounds. Barrera fans were suggesting a 12 round shut out. But the Las Vegas judges would never have the scorecards read 120-108 in favor of Barrera.

Instead scores of 116-111, 115-112 and 115-113 were logged in.

Prince Naseem Hamed has been “the mouth” in the featherweight division ever since his arrival on HBO. His flamboyant style both in entering the ring and inside the ring padded the pockets of both he and HBO. But the honeymoon is now over.

HBO knew it when in the process of re-negotiating a new contract the cable giant requested a step up in competition which the Hamed camp adamantly refused. Seems they knew it too.

Hamed now has the unfortunate task of either enacting the rematch clause with Barrera, taking on Junior Jones, Erik Morales, Acelino Freitas, Juan Marquez and so on and so on. The list of opponents for Hamed doubled or even tripled with the loss to Barrera.

Should Barrera decide the Hamed fight will be his next he should in no way let Hamed off the hook. Make Hamed come to Mexico. Make him prove he can “take his show on the road”. Let him feel the wrath of some 10 to 15 thousand Mexican supporters of Barrera cheer on their fighter.

Marco Antonio Barrera now sits in the same position with Prince Naseem Hamed as does Shane Mosley with Oscar de la Hoya. Now comes the time for good business savvy. The pressure to regain golden boy status for Hamed and de la Hoya is stifling to both.

The opportunity for Marco Antonio Barrera to totally destroy the Prince Naseem Hamed “myth” is resting right in his own back yard. Should there be another battle it should be in Mexico.

The result of the Saturday night bout came as no real surprise. The rematch to be held in Mexico? That should come as no real surprise either.

Boy Wonder

04/07/01