Prince Naseem Hamed Reflects on His Loss to Barrera: 'It Was Impossible'
Prince Naseem Hamed, a legendary British boxer, has opened up about the primary reason behind his defeat to Marco Antonio Barrera in 2001. The match was a significant turning point in Hamed's career, as it marked the end of his successful partnership with long-time trainer Brendan Ingle and the beginning of his collaboration with the legendary Emanuel Steward.
Hamed's journey to the WBO world featherweight title was remarkable. With Ingle as his corner man, he dethroned Steve Robinson in 1995 with an impressive eighth-round stoppage victory. He then made 11 successful defenses of his belt, including a memorable fourth-round finish against Kevin Kelley. However, after ending his fruitful relationship with Ingle, Hamed's success continued under Steward's guidance, making four more title defenses before facing Barrera.
The Sheffield-born boxer was a strong favorite going into the match, given his resounding success at 126lbs and Barrera's lack of notable rivalries with top fighters like Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales at the time. Yet, the Mexican fighter ultimately gave Hamed his toughest night's work, securing a unanimous decision victory.
In a recent interview, Hamed revealed that his battle with the scales was the most grueling challenge leading up to the fight. He explained, 'It was impossible to prepare [for Barrera], because eight weeks to lose 2.5 stone [35lbs] was virtually impossible.'
Hamed's weight loss journey was extreme. On the first day of camp, his trainer, Oscar Suarez, weighed him at 11 stone [154lbs] and instructed him to live on a strict 500-calorie diet. Despite his efforts, Hamed still didn't make the required weight, feeling weight-drained and dangerous. However, he remained confident in his abilities, stating, 'I just always thought in my heart that there was no way [Barrera] was going to knock me out, or stop me.'
Hamed's sole defeat to Barrera marked a turning point in his career. After the match, he had one more outing, a points victory over Manuel Calvo, before retiring in 2002 as a British boxing legend.
