The time had come for the conceited, fast-talking pugilist they referred to as “The Prince” to beat essentially the most well-known enviornment in boxing historical past. The gifted power-puncher had already turn into a serious attraction, a star in his native England, to not point out a world champion. With greater than a bit of noise, the one and solely Prince Naseem Hamed had arrived within the Massive Apple. By no means seeing a digicam or microphone he didn’t like, “Naz” bragged to all who would pay attention about his supremacy. Now it was time for the brash Briton to step into Madison Sq. Backyard, to point out off his ring abilities, in addition to his flamboyant showmanship, to a New York Metropolis combat crowd.
Hamed’s NYC takeover and the ninth protection of his WBO featherweight title was to be on the expense of Brooklyn’s personal Kevin Kelley and it proved to be an evening to recollect for all current. Even earlier than the bout started, Hamed’s extravagance was on full show, together with his customary, drawn-out ring entrance, that includes an illuminated catwalk and glowing confetti. His patented entrance flip into the ring was not neglected both. And so with The Prince lastly within the ring, the pageantry was over, however the true motion and the intense thrills had been about to start.
The fireworks began early, with former champion Kelley scoring the primary of many knockdowns simply two minutes into this unforgettable brawl. After Hamed pressured Kelley to the ropes and unloaded a flurry, his lack of textbook method acquired him in hassle. Backing up together with his fingers down and chin uncovered, he was despatched to the canvas by a sweeping proper from the New York native. Though Hamed acquired up and appeared unharmed, he had undoubtedly conceded the opening spherical, although that didn’t cease the Brit from boldly staring down his opponent on the bell.
Kelley’s success continued early within the second, when he carried out a slick maneuver of switching stances to launch a lead left hook that landed clear and compelled Hamed to the touch his gloves to the canvas, marking one other knockdown. Kelley sensed his opponent was harm and pursued aggressively, seeking to land one other damaging blow. However buying and selling within the pocket with the at all times harmful “Naz” proved unwise, because the Prince countered Kelley with a hook that despatched the American falling backwards into the nook.
Fortuitously for “The Flushing Flash,” the ref dominated it a slip, permitting him to take care of his stranglehold on the spherical. However Kelley’s benefit could be short-lived as Hamed landed a straight proper to the chin that felled his opponent. Kelley rose and when the motion resumed it was solely extra intense, each fighters unloading large photographs because the Backyard crowd roared, each searching for to land one other convincing bomb to shut the present.
The tempo slowed in spherical three, with neither fighter establishing clear benefit, but it surely was a short respite, because the fireworks resumed within the fourth. Halfway by means of, southpaw Hamed landed two large lefts, the second of which put Kelley on the seat of his trunks once more, night up the knockdown tally at two apiece.
Hamed resumed his assault and was starting to grab management, till he was caught by a counter proper hook that once more compelled his glove to the touch the canvas. It didn’t injury Hamed, however his opponent was credited with yet one more knockdown. Kelley once more determined to pursue the end and landed numerous laborious energy punches, but it surely was this brawling intuition that will finally show his demise. Hamed landed a number of laborious counters, stopping Kelley in his tracks, after which got here the ending blow, a stiff left cross that put Kelley down for the rely.
With a complete of six knockdowns, Hamed vs Kelley gave followers their cash’s price and extra. It was a blistering battle filled with thrills and spills and it confirmed that the brash and garrulous battler from Britain was certainly a stateside star. “Naz” not solely talked a giant recreation, he additionally backed it up with large punches. Underneath the brilliant lights of the legendary Madison Sq. Backyard, the grandest of levels, Prince Naseem Hamed received new followers whereas exhibiting the entire world there was no tougher puncher within the featherweight division.
— Jamie Rebner
