Hamed to join Hall of Fame

DISGRACED former world champion Naseem Hamed looks likely to be granted a place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Judges have until the end of October to decide whether to induct the cocky but brilliant Sheffield featherweight, who was involved in a high-speed city car crash which led to him being jailed.

The judges are considering his career in the ring - 36 wins one loss, 31 knock-outs from 1992 to 2002 - rather than the turbulent personal times.

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The flashy, former Ingle fighter, now aged 32, served 16 weeks of a 15-month sentence for dangerous driving after his 313,000 silver Mercedes McLaren collided head-on at 90mph with another car, at Ringinglow Road, in May 2005.

His MBE, awarded in 1999 was revoked after his conviction.

Hamed had bragged about a return to the ring, but that never materialised.

NAZ: the verdict.

Star writers Martin Smith and Paul License have weighed the pros and cons of boxing's plans to honour Naz. Click here to read their views and then tell us what you think. You can post your comment for or against or email the Editor with your views. Click here to join the debate.

Now his boxing skills are set to be honoured by the world-famous IBHoF, formed in 1989, which has feted legends of the standing of Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard.

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The New York-based IBHoF says its "mission is to honour and preserve boxing's rich heritage".

And its possible induction of Hamed into elite status was today supported by his one-time British promoter Frank Warren. And one IBHoF judge has already revealed he will also back the induction, saying that Naz's punching power and "rubber-like body" made him one of the best pound-for-pound fighters of the 1990s.

Warren, who said he had his "ups and downs with Naz" declared the Sheffielder "as one of the best featherweights of all time, and at his peak would have beaten all the modern day champions". He added: "He would have held his own against anyone, from any era. When Naz eventually lost to Marco Antonio Barrera in 2001, he had long lost the plot."

Before that though, said Warren: "He hit harder than anyone and his incredible reflexes and awkward style made him virtually untouchable. No one could lay a glove on him.

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"If Naz lived the life Barrera and Erik Morales did I have little doubt he would have won world titles at three weights. It's frightening how good he could have been and heart-breaking that he wasted so much of his talent."

**Naz SHOULD be inducted into the Hall of Fame: Tomorrow three Sheffield boxing characters lend their support to Naseem Hamed, on video, on the Star's website. Check out www.thestar.co.uk/video on Friday.

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