6 of the best boxing PPV performances since 2000
6. Marco Antonio Barrera UD12 Naseem Hamed
April 07, 2001
The United Kingdom’s Prince Naseem Hamed has become an underrated fighter over time. The over-the-top and loquacious featherweight knockout puncher may have been a better fit for this generation. Hamed’s ring entrances and second-to-none trash talk made him stand out even among heavyweights.
In today’s era of social media and the amount of availability and attention British boxing now receives, Hamed could have been an even bigger star.
In the ring, he was known for his unorthodox style that allowed him to throw punches from irregular angles. Then, of course, there was the power. Hamed was considered one of the deadliest punchers in the sport, with only a handful of opponents making it the full distance with him.
Hamed, at the time, of his fight with Marco Antonio Barrera, was a 3-time featherweight champion and the reigning lineal featherweight champion. He made 15 defenses of his WBO featherweight title, including victories over Kevin Kelley, Wilfredo Vasquez, Wayne McCullough, and Vuyani Bungu. The Prince wasn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but there was no denying that his credentials weren’t anything to take lightly.
Marco Antonio Barrera was set to become the next heir to the Mexican boxing throne. A few setbacks for the two-time super bantamweight champion put him in the back of the line behind his rivals. But, Barrera always seemed to bounce back, whether it was losses to Junior Jones or participating in an all-time classic brawl against fellow countryman Erik Morales, his ability to respond to defeats was uncanny.
Just as important as his demeanor was his ability to adapt his style. Once a pure brawler, Barrera transformed into a master boxer that was operating at a higher level than ever before.
Barrera entered the ring against Hamed as a three-to-one underdog and would use this to his advantage. He used a simple game plan of using Hamed’s unorthodox style against him by keeping his strategy simple by using his jab from a distance.
Hamed always had issues with his balance, and against Barrera, whenever he was hit, he looked like the boxing version of Gumby. Barrera was not just outboxing Hamed; he was outclassing him in such a manner that it looked humiliating.
Barrera always had a mean streak. Although he was disciplined against Hamed, anytime there were any fouls or roughhousing tactics employed, the former super bantamweight champion wasn’t afraid to engage Hamed. At one point, he even refused to touch gloves.
In the 12th round, Barrera, fed up with Hamed’s antics and wanting to take the boxing lesson even further, intentionally slammed his opponent’s head into a turnbuckle, losing a point. It made no difference on the scorecards. Barrera as the underdog, earned a unanimous decision and the lineal featherweight crown.
Barrera-Hamed’s legacy is one of the few fights where boxing fans rejoiced in unison. They thanked Barrera for defeating the brash Hamed. It was one of the most satisfying victories that sport had witnessed for fans of Barrera and boxing fans in general.