Classic Boxing Fights: Prince Hamed vs. Kevin Kelley

What ever happened to professional boxer and the United Kingdom’s very own Prince Naseem Hamed?

In 2001, after suffering the first loss of his career to venerable Mexican boxer Marco Antonio Barrera (52-3; 43 KOs), he only fought one more time.

In 2002, Hamed returned to the ring for what was his final boxing match against the European Champion Manuel Calvo. The fight was for the vacant IBO Featherweight Title vacated by Barrera.  Hamed won the fight with a unanimous decision.

Some talk of a return to the sport has circled around the charismatic fighter ever since, but no concrete plans have ever been made, unfortunately for boxing fans around the world.

Prince Hamed, now 36, has since stated reasons for not returning to boxing, from wanting to spend more time with his family to a chronic arthritic hand.   And it appeared that Prince had some huge disagreements with his boxing trainer which boiled over in the Barrera fight.   I’m sure the way in which he unanimously lost to Barrera played on his psyche as his style of boxing (hands down, defense by head movements only, an off-balance and unorthodox boxing style) was, at least for one fight, exposed.

When Prince Hamed fought Kevin Kelley in 1997, it  was his  grand and flamboyant introduction to mainstream boxing fans in America.

Prince Hamed dominated most of his opponents, including top level boxers in the UK through most of his career.  And in 1997 Prince Hamed decided to finally bring  his talents and knockout prowess, at 125 pounds, across the seas to the United States.  In his first fight ever outside of the UK, he went up against the popular Kevin Kelley at Madison Square Garden.

This fight was classic, and the hype was built to enormous proportions.  And much of it was aided by this newcomer to American soil in Hamed, and his off-the-wall walk-out ring entrances.

It doesn’t seem that long ago when the Prince was involved in the most memorable fight of the 1990s. In 1997 Prince put his title and undefeated record (then 35-0; 31 KOs) on the line against the former two-time WBC featherweight champion of the world Kevin Kelley (60-10; 39 KOs).  Prince boldly and ostentatiously  acquainted himself to a new and wider audience!

Prince’s Ring Entrance vs. Kelley [perhaps the longest ring entrance ever]:

Highlights of Prince Naseem Hamed  Vs.  Kevin “Flushing Flash” Kelley: