Top promoter Frank Warren has launched a scathing attack on former protégé Prince Naseem Hamed. Warren has hit out in response to last week's Channel 4 documentary chronicling Hamed's preparations for last year's Las Vegas showdown with Marco Antonio Barrera. 'Naz: The Little Prince, the big fight', portrayed a somewhat laboured, and occasionally farcical, build-up to the Sheffield fighter's first loss.
After seeing Hamed struggle in sparring, question his corner during the bout and engage in petty squabbles over the choice of gloves to be worn, Warren doubts whether the former WBO featherweight champion can ever recapture his past glories.
The Sports Network supremo told his website frankwarren.tv: "I watched the documentary on Naseem Hamed last week and often couldn't believe what I'd seen. The sparring session was a joke and was just three weeks before the fight so he couldn't have done more than two weeks and looked dreadful. I don't rate Oscar Suarez as a trainer at all - he was one of the reasons I finished with Acelino Freitas a few months back - and when Hamed was working on the bags Hamed couldn't even square up properly. Fighters shouldn't get into a position where they dictate to their trainers, but this has happened with Hamed."
Warren continued: "In the early days Naz was a down to earth guy who was exceptionally hard working and desperate to learn his craft. Now look at him. It's sad but he now comes across like a monster out of control. They should change his name to Prince Narcissus. Instead of worrying about lamb skin gloves, driving ranges, room sizes, haircuts, washing machine rotas and ring entrances they should have been concerned with getting Hamed in shape for the fight. But Naz has lost it and I don't think he will ever get it back."
Hamed has been out of action since his points loss to Barrera last April but is due to return to the ring in March.
Filed by Shane Murray
