Hamed vows to return in style

Naseem Hamed: "Great fighters come back"

Naseem Hamed has vowed to return to the ring in style after his first professional defeat to Marco Antonio Barrera.

Hamed lost his unbeaten record to Barrera in a unanimous points decision in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

The Prince admitted after his fifth fight in America: "He won the fight clearly in my eyes. I didn't box to the best of my ability, but credit is due to him.

"I'll be back. I think I tried too hard - maybe the rematch can come by the end of the year. I'm going to relax a bit, take a bit of time off.

Great fighters have lost before; great fighters come back

  Naseem Hamed

"If that's what's written for me from Allah, that's what's written. All the success in the world to Marco in future - that is plain and simple.

"There was never a time when I thought it wasn't going to be my night. I've knocked guys out in the 11th round before.

"Great fighters have lost before; great fighters come back. Marco's been beaten three times. He came, he prepared, he boxed his fight and he boxed the right fight."

Naseem is set to go off on holiday with his wife and two children - and as 2001 rolls on the business will be done for a second, perhaps an overall more lucrative, fight later in the year.

Hamed: Rematch

"I didn't make the adjustments I wanted to make in that ring. That's just the way the cookie crumbles. I knew he wasn't going to charge me; I thought he was going to box.

"My idol, Muhammad Ali, got beat when nobody thought he would - and he came back and back to beat Joe Frazier. I'm planning to do a similar thing," he added.

British boxing legend Henry Cooper believes Hamed should return to coach Brendan Ingle, the man who originally made him into a world champion.

Hamed and Ingle ended their career-long partnership in acrimonious fashion in December 1998 and Cooper believes the break in their relationship is a key reason for the Sheffield star's dip in form.

Promoter Lou DiBella agreed their was a need for change, claiming Hamed must alter his fight plan if he wants to beat Barrera in their featherweight rematch.

It was DiBella who sealed Hamed's lucrative deal with cable network Home Box Office.

He said: "Barrera executed a perfect game plan; Naseem fought one of the lesser quality fights - and he knows it.

My idol, Muhammad Ali, got beat when nobody thought he would - and he came back and back to beat Joe Frazier

  Naseem Hamed

"He was anxious early on and he was trying to take him out with one punch. It wasn't vintage from Naz but it was picture perfect from Barrera.

"Marco told us all exactly what he was going to do, and we didn't believe him. He fought the opposite of Naseem's fight.

"Barrera fought one of the best fights of his life.

"No question Naseem could have fought better.

"He didn't throw combinations, he didn't make an adjustment - it looked in the sixth he might be doing that when switching to orthodox, but then he turned back.

"Naz can take men out with one punch but he tended to rely on that too much. It's a compelling re-match, and I expect a different result next time. If he fights like this, however, it will be the same result."