Hamed wants Barrera rematch

Barrera makes another punishing blow

Naseem Hamed will get the chance to avenge his loss to Marco Antonio Barrera, according to his promoter.

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

The 27-year-old from Sheffield is contracted to fight a rematch and promoter Barry Hearn is confident that will happen.

"I believe there will be a rematch and it's a rematch that Nasseem has got to win if he wants to be a great champion," Hearn said.

They've made a lot of money from this fight - the rematch will be even bigger, frankly I'm already thinking about Hamed, Barrera III

  Barry Hearn

"Great champions have been beaten throughout the history of boxing and the really great ones avenge those defeats."

Big money-spinner

But Hearn is uncertain when a possible rematch will take place - that decision lies with the Hamed.

"I don't know whether it'll be his next fight or the one after that, that'll be Naz's decision," Hearn added.

"Both fighters will go off for a well-earned rest, they've made a lot of money from this fight - the rematch will be even bigger, frankly I'm already thinking about Hamed, Barrera III."

Hamed said after his points defeat that a clause in his contract ensured a rematch could take place.

Hamed said: "I'll be looking at the end of the year."

Hearn admitted that the best man had won on the night and said that Hamed must now work out how he can turn the tables for next time.

"He's philosophical about the defeat at the moment but I think it will sink in a few days time and it will hurt but defeat should hurt - the secret of success in boxing and life in general is learning from defeats.

"I believe Naz is big enough to do that but time will tell whether he can make the adjustments to his style to cope with Barrera, who won comfortably.

New game plan

"I believe he can but it's not going to be easy and that's why the rematch is so commercially appealing.

"The appetite has been whetted now and people want some more, it's now up to Naz to come up with a plan to beat Barrera next time round."

Hearn is confident Hamed can bounce back and thinks defeat could be good for him.

"If he comes out of this defeat a better fighter then maybe it was good for him," he said.

"He will be hurting by Monday when he realises he has lost his unbeaten record and is no longer the world champion.

"But hurt is good because out of it comes knowledge and he's got to learn how to put the record straight," Hearn added.