
via Getty
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 06: Anthony Joshua during the press conference for Andy Ruiz Jr. v Anthony Joshua 2 ‘Clash on the Dunes’ at the Hilton Syon Park on September 06, 2019 in London, England. Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr will have a Heavyweight World Title rematch fight on December 7th 2019 in the historical town of Diriyah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

via Getty
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 06: Anthony Joshua during the press conference for Andy Ruiz Jr. v Anthony Joshua 2 ‘Clash on the Dunes’ at the Hilton Syon Park on September 06, 2019 in London, England. Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr will have a Heavyweight World Title rematch fight on December 7th 2019 in the historical town of Diriyah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
In his prime, Prince Naseem Hamed was one of the biggest draws in British boxing. The former lineal and world champion, the 2015 International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee lasted only a decade in the international feature. He retired in 2002 with thirty-six wins against only one loss. Now forty-nine, the Southpaw of Yemeni origin met former Heavyweight champion and fellow Briton Anthony Joshua. The pic, which so far garnered nearly half-a-million views, is spreading fast across social media for not the best of reasons.
Michael Benson shared the pic yesterday evening. Quite a few followers took a dig at the legend’s girth, measuring him up against Joshua, a Heavyweight boxer. Of course, many fans did join, appreciating Hamed’s contribution to British boxing. Then, as usual, some dissed him for being too flashy a boxer, which yielded who pitched against a competent adversary.
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Prince Naseem Hamed and Anthony Joshua’s picture receives mixed reactions
One user stormed the first blitzkrieg. He highlighted that Anthony Joshua and Prince Naseem Hamed belong to the same weight class today.
Same weight division nowadays
— Basic Bloke (@basicbloke2012) June 25, 2023
Watching the two, one user commented that while one possesses untapped potential, the other has stuffed himself to the gills.
One with unfulfilled ability and one that’s filled himself too much….
— Paul britland (@Paulbritland1) June 25, 2023
Dave Davis also joined the roasting session, stating that the world finally knows about Anthony Joshua’s next opponent.
Least we know who Aj’s next opponent is…
— Dave Davis (@DaveD0106) June 25, 2023
The following user seems to be a bitter critic of Prince Naseem Hamed. Urging everyone to check the BoxRec details, he said that barring one of two mediocre fights past their prime, Hamed mostly faced below-average fighters. However, he failed when he met an excellent boxer like Marco Antonio Barrera. In the user’s opinion, too much praise is being heaped on Hamed.
Not enough space here to give my full thoughts on Hamed but checkout boxrec. One or two semi decent fighters past their best but mainly “bums”. The moment he fought a decent fighter in Barrera, he gets wrecked. People give him too much credit. I can look good against a granny
— G_S_3670 (@YIAU1234) June 25, 2023
Among the few who appreciated, Mo Green remembered watching Naseem Hamed in his prime. Calling him a pure class act, she appreciated his showmanship. According to Green, it used to be a sheer delight to buy the tickets for his fights since it was guaranteed that the bout would be exciting. She even met Hamed and his brothers in Sheffield and found them very down-to-earth and humorous.
I loved watching Naz as a fighter he was class and a good showman.
Worth every penny to go and watch him,you knew it was going to be a good Fight. Met him and his brothers many a time in Sheffield and super, funny and humble.— Jo Green (@BurnleyJo) June 25, 2023
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There remains an air of uncertainty about the opponent Anthony Joshua takes on during the year’s second fight. On April 1, he defeated American Jermaine Franklin through a unanimous decision. With the news of a battle against rival Dillian Whyte collapsing, ‘AJ’ who is keen on a comeback after the two humiliating defeats from Oleksandr Usyk, needs to figure out a battle that elevates him to the championship contention once again.
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Who do you think ‘AJ’ should fight next? Do share your thoughts and views with us in the comments below.
Watch This Story: Former heavyweight champion Deontay WilWilder’stense training routine
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