On April 14, 1992, a Prince entered the world of professional boxing and went on to have a storied career, winning numerous titles. The journey began at the Mansfield Leisure Centre in Mansfield when Prince Naseem Hamed made his professional debut against London-born Ricky Beard. Big Fight Weekend wanted to take you back to that night when the slick southpaw from Sheffield made a winning start to his career.
Prince Naseem Hamed Makes Professional Debut
Prince Naseem Hamed vs. Ricky Beard
Hamed’s performance against Beard was one you would expect from a fighter making his debut, full of defensive lapses, and the Prince was no different. During the first round, despite the late notice of the fight for Beard, he caught the Sheffield fighter with a couple of good punches flush on the chin. Even though he got tagged, you could quickly see the exceptional lateral movement and his unique ability to punch from unorthodox angles.
Hamed scored a knockdown from a smart left-right combination in round one, which showcased his impressive hand speed. During the second round, his brilliant movement made Beard fall short, and Naz was countering him almost at will. As the second round progressed, Hamed showcased an impressive repertoire of punches and landed a brilliant right to the body, which dropped Beard, who was visibly in pain and unable to beat the count. This was a winning debut for a British fighter who went on to make headlines around the world.
Legacy
The legacy of Prince Naseem Hamed is safe in the boxing history books. The entertainment he bought the sport inside and out of the ring is undoubted. His power, lateral movement and punch variety made him a joy to watch. He defeated Vincenzo Belcastro on May 11 to win the European bantamweight title. He recorded impressive wins against Steve Robinson, Kevin Kelley and Augie Sanchez. The Sheffield star only tasted defeat once in his career against the legendary Mexican fighter Marco Antonio Barrera.
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