The debate for the greatest British fighter of all time is one that remains undecided, but Floyd Mayweather has thrown one name into mix, believing that there is a fighter whom many fans overlook.
When quizzed on the hot topic, British fight fans are often split between Lennox Lewis, who became the undisputed heavyweight champion in a competitive era, and super-middleweight legend, Joe Calzaghe, who retired undefeated.
Meanwhile, boxing historians often point to the earlier eras of the 20th century, when Ted Kid Lewis and Randolph Turpin successfully represented the United Kingdom on the world stage.
Yet, in a clip captured by Seconds Out, Mayweather paid respect to featherweight icon Naseem Hamed, who dominated the 126lb division during the 1990’s and brought attention to a lesser-watched division with his unique and exciting style of fighting.
“Prince Naseem Hamed – he doesn’t get the props that he truly deserves. We still speak on a regular basis, [he was] one hell of a showman and a lot of people in the U.K. forget about him.
“We need to give him his flowers, [he was] unbelievable. One of the best fighters to come from the U.K. – if not the best.”
It’s clear to see why Mayweather feels that way, as Naseem Hamed retired with a record of 36-1 in 2002 and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2015.
While it may be over two decades since ‘Prince Naz’ hung up the gloves, the Hamed name is still present in boxing through his son, Aadam Hamed, who boasts a 6-0 professional record.
