When it comes to discussing the greatest British fighters of all time, Lennox Lewis and Joe Calzaghe are often the first two names that spring to mind.
Both of them defeated every man they faced in a professional ring, while also becoming dominant world champions in their respective divisions.
At heavyweight, Lewis was crowned the undisputed king in 1999 following his unanimous decision victory over Evander Holyfield, who many felt he deserved to outpoint earlier that year.
Calzaghe, meanwhile, made an astonishing 21 world super-middleweight title defences before moving up to 175lbs and ending his decorated career with a record of 46-0 (32 KOs).
But while many would place these two at the very top of an all-time British boxing list, there are others who argue that Prince Naseem Hamed deserves the No.1 spot.
The Sheffield stylist claimed his world featherweight title in 1995, dethroning Steve Robinson with an eighth-round stoppage on away soil.
Eight consecutive defences then led him to a six-knockdown thriller with Kevin Kelley, culminating in a stunning fourth-round triumph for Hamed at Madison Square Garden.
After that, ‘Naz’ halted the likes of Paul Ingle and Augie Sanchez with solid performances, before suffering his only defeat, against Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera, in 2001.
Still, it was a phenomenal career that is fiercely celebrated and revered among boxing circles, with Hamed telling talkSPORT that he should be regarded as the best champion in British boxing history.
“I honestly believe that I am the best fighter from this country and the best British boxer that’s ever lived.”
Most would argue that Lewis and Calzaghe deserve to be placed above ‘Naz’ in a list of such nature, though the three of them are certainly among the very best of all time.
