Floyd Mayweather has picked Naseem Hamed as the best fighter ever from Britain. The undefeated boxing legend with a 50-0 record called Hamed "underrated" and urged people to give him the recognition he deserves.
Mayweather, who retired unbeaten with 50 wins including 27 knockouts, knows a thing or two about great fighters. He's beaten 24 former or current world title holders and 5 Hall of Famers. In 2018, he was even rated as the highest-paid athlete.
The only British opponent Mayweather faced was Ricky Hatton, whom he beat in 2007. But it's Hamed who's caught his eye. In a recent media interview, Mayweather had high praise for the former featherweight champion.
"Hell of a showman. Unbelievable. One of the best fighters to come from the UK, if not the best," Mayweather said. "He don't get the props that he truly deserves. A lot of people in the UK forget about him. We need to give him his flowers."
Mayweather revealed that he and Hamed still talk regularly. He shared these thoughts with various media outlets, including Seconds Out.
Known as "Prince" Naseem Hamed, the featherweight held several world titles between 1995 and 2000. He was also the lineal ruler of the division. Hamed's notable wins came against fighters like Wilfredo Vázquez and César Soto.
Hamed's career hit a snag in April 2001 when he lost to Marco Antonio Barrera. This fight marked a turning point in his career. He fought one more time in 2002, beating Manuel Calvo by unanimous decision before hanging up his gloves.
Fans loved Hamed for his showboating, fast reflexes, and razor-sharp punching. These traits made him a unique figure in boxing during his prime.
When asked how close a fight between him and Hamed had come, Mayweather said, "If you go back and look at my interview as Pretty Boy Floyd, I wanted to fight everybody."
Mayweather's words shine a light on Hamed's impact on boxing. They serve as a reminder of the Prince's skills and achievements, which, according to one of the sport's greatest, deserve more recognition.
