5. Naseem Hamed KO 2 Sergio Rafael Liendo – 1995
Prince Naseem Hamed is often fondly recalled as one of the hardest punchers, to have ever graced the featherweight division.
The first real glimpses of Hamed’s concussive punching power and knockout ability was demonstrated in 1995 against the unfortunate Sergio Liendo.
The knockout blow came when Hamed’s signature left hook left his man disorientated and incoherent. The famous commentator Reg Gutteridge says, the blow left Liendo with “no control over his feet”.
The referee should have stopped it immediately following that knockdown, as Liendo was in absolutely no shape to continue with the fight.
Nevertheless, the fight was allowed to continue and Hamed once again deployed his venomous left hook which caused his opponent to crash to the canvas, with an almighty thud.
4. Naseem Hamed TKO 4 Vuyani Bungu – 2000
https://youtu.be/EHxfVtId6_Q?t=24m15s
Hamed entered the ring, in his usual flamboyant style typical of him.
A flying carpet was suspended from the ceiling and ‘The Prince’ came floating down from above to emphatically dispatch Vuyani Bungi in the fourth round.
This was Hamed’s 14th title defence of the WBO world featherweight title.
Bungu, started out sharp boxing cautiously and even landed his fair share of blows, but they didn’t bother Hamed who was always credited with having a very reliable chin and a threshold for punishment.
In the end, however, Hamed’s superior ring IQ, reflexes and most importantly his power proved too much for an overmatched Bungu.
The renown referee, Joe Cortez saw fit to call an end to the action following yet another damaging, signature left hook in the fourth round.
3. Naseem Hamed TKO 4 Augie Sanchez – 2000
https://youtu.be/nlQ6l3un48Q?t=23m13s
This was the 15th defence of Hamed’s WBO world featherweight title. The fight which followed the emphatic kayo against Vuyani Bungu.
This was an all-out war from the opening bell with both fighters looking to unload their arsenal while in close quarters.
‘The Prince’ even suffered a dubious knockdown in the second round, even though the referee did not rule it an official knockdown.
Sanchez was put to sleep in the fight’s fourth stanza, following a relentless barrage of punches against a sitting target who was clearly out on his feet.
The Las Vegas native gamely tried to make it back to his feet but it was fruitless.
Hamed’s opponent was down and out for several minutes following the fight and sadly, even had to be escorted from the ring on a stretcher.
2. Naseem Hamed KO 4 Kevin Kelley -1997
A battle for the ages, at the mecca of boxing in Madison Square Garden. Both fighters hit the deck three times apiece in this war.
Hamed suffered knockdowns in the 1st, 2nd and 4th rounds. Kelley hit the deck in the 2nd round before going down twice in the 4th round.
This was Hamed’s 9th defence of the WBO featherweight title. The meeting at Madison Square Garden, a major step up in class for ‘The Prince’.
Additionally, this was his first appearance in front of an American audience. Hamed had to make an emphatic statement and he did.
Again in the fourth round, Hamed once again unveiled his trademark left hook and it proved too much for the game Kelley.
1. Naseem Hamed TKO 8 Tom Johnson – 1997
https://youtu.be/ELwGOWzuN0Y?t=34m32s
Arguably the finest night of ‘The Prince’s career. This fight was for all the marbles and was a world featherweight unification.
Hamed had made 5 defences of his WBO featherweight title. Meanwhile, the tried and tested Tom Johnson was looking to make the 12th defence of his IBF title.
The bout took place on home territory for Hamed, at the London Arena in Millwall.
Johnson fought bravely but he could only delay the inevitable. Hamed had landed by multiple hard, vicious left hooks over the course of the fight.
Johnson’s legs had begun to fail him as the fight wore on. This led to him being hit at will as the eighth round drew to a close.
Hamed took a back step, Johnson still on groggy legs foolishly followed him. Johnson walked onto a dynamite uppercut which brought the bout to its overdue end.
Britain had a unified world champion and his record was now 25-0.
READ MORE:
Top 12 Heavyweights Of All Time
Lennox Lewis: top five knockouts