Mexican great reveals his respect for Sheffield's former World Champion boxer Naseem Hamed
“He stood out from the rest”
Marco Antonio Barrera has paid a glowing tribute to Sheffield legend Prince Naseem Hamed, naming him the best boxer he ever faced, 25 years after their memorable Las Vegas showdown.
The Mexican's praise makes a striking contrast with the ugly scenes in the final round of their April 2001 fight, when Barrera drove Hamed's head into the corner turnbuckle and had a point deducted for the foul.
Both men were just 27 when they met at the MGM Grand, with Hamed arriving unbeaten and widely regarded as one of boxing's most dangerous and entertaining performers.
Today, both are 52, and Barrera's latest comments offer a very different perspective on the man he once treated with such disdain inside the ring.
Speaking to The Ring magazine, Barrera was asked to name the finest boxer he had shared a ring with during his illustrious career. Despite facing elite opposition including Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao, his answer was unequivocal.
"It would definitely be Naseem Hamed, because he made it extremely difficult to hit [him]. He would come around from different angles, his boxing approach would be different from the rest, and he stood out from the rest. His punching ability from different positions and an overall tough guy to get a good, solid hit on," he said.
It is a remarkable endorsement from the man who dismantled Hamed's aura of invincibility on April 7, 2001.
Barrera produced a disciplined, accurate performance to outbox the Sheffield star over 12 rounds, winning a unanimous decision with scores of 115-112, 116-111 and 115-112.
Hamed had struggled to land his trademark punches against an opponent who refused to be drawn into his unorthodox style. As frustration grew, the contest became increasingly physical.
In the 12th round, Barrera trapped Hamed in a hold and forced his head into the padded corner turnbuckle. Referee Joe Cortez deducted a point from the Mexican for the incident, an ugly moment in a fight he was already winning.
Hamed, who had won world titles and built a global following through his explosive punching and flamboyant entrances, returned to the ring just once more, beating Manuel Calvo in 2002 before retiring.
Barrera continued to compete against the best for years afterwards, cementing his reputation as one of Mexico's greatest fighters.
Now, a quarter of a century after their defining encounter, his verdict recognises the extraordinary talent that made Hamed such a difficult opponent, even for a champion of Barrera's calibre.