By James Slater: “Prince” Naseem Hamed, the wickedly-powerful featherweight who lit up boxing in a major way in the 1990s/early 2000s, was a very interested spectator at last night’s “Magnificent Seven” card in Birmingham, U.K. There primarily to watch unbeaten welterweight hope Kell Brook do his thing against British 147-pound champ Michael Jennings, Hamed, now long retired, portly-looking and content with what he achieved, had nothing but good things to say about “Special K.”
“Naz” even went as far as to say the 24-year-old from the same town as him (Sheffield) was “The Second Coming” of himself. “That’s high praise indeed,” the 36-year-old said. Then Hamed went even further; stating that the man he really wants to see Brook fight is pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao – “You know, what?” Hamed said. “I see Brook knocking him out.”
Hamed always was no stranger to controversy, and it’s a dead-cert this latest quote from him will attract the attention of the fans. But who agrees with the bold prediction? Sure, Brook is a naturally gifted boxer, and he can punch pretty hard and with speed and sharpness. But KO Pac-Man? You would certainly get good odds at the bookies if you fancied banging down a few bucks on Hamed’s tip! There is very little chance of a Pacquiao-Brook fight happening, however, even if Brook’s win over Jennings earned him a shot at the WBO welterweight title. Brook may be world class, but is he in Pac-Man’s class?
Hamed’s words of praise actually came before Brook’s win over Jennings, and I wonder if he would have been so glowing about the now 22-0(15) contender after the less than stunning performance his mate gave against “The Lurcher.” Yes, Brook won, and inside five-rounds (equalling Miguel Cotto’s win over Jennings), but the 24-year-old never came close to flattening Jennings, winning instead on a cut eye stoppage, and he even looked flat and not all that hard to hit at times.
To be fair, Brook had been out of action since March, and his sharpness was affected as a result; but so was Jennings,’ and he was boxing and moving well enough. I’m not saying Jennings would have won had he not suffered that grazing shot that cut him by the side of his right eye, but when Brook is being compared to the best fighter on the planet his performances obviously come under great scrutiny.
It will be interesting to see where Brook goes from here. Now the number-one contender for the WBO belt that Pac-Man defended against Joshua Clottey back in March, Brook could find himself getting a huge chance. It doesn’t matter that many fans will surely agree with me that putting Brook in with Pacquiao at this stage in his career would be a great mistake; in this day and age many fighters, when not yet ready for the best, wind up going in with them.
At least Brook has Hamed’s backing!