Prince Naseem Hamed has been asked who he thinks is the greatest boxer to ever lace-up the gloves.
For several years, Hamed was one of the most talked-about and divisive fighters on the planet. He competed from 1992 to 2002 and, in that time, held multiple featherweight world championships, as well as being the lineal champion from 1998 to 2001.
Hamed was famous for his eccentric and over-the-top ring entrances as well as his outrageous showmanship, which has often been likened to that of current light heavyweight Ben Whittaker, although the ‘Prince’ himself hasn’t taken too kindly to the comparison.
While speaking to the BBC recently and ranking various boxers, Hamed was asked for his view on Muhammad Ali and couldn’t stress his view enough.
“Ultimate GOAT. Ultimate GOAT. One more time, ultimate GOAT.”
Ali is a popular pick as the best to ever do it both inside and outside of the sport. He transcends boundaries as an activist as well a boxer who was involved in some of the most legendary bouts of all time.
From the Rumble in the Jungle with George Foreman to the Thrilla in Manila with Joe Frazier, he was renowned for his trash-talking as much as his movement, footwork and rope-a-dope technique.
He won 56 of his 61 fights before retiring in 1981. Ali, who passed in 2016, is remembered as much for his conscientious objection to the Vietnam War and refusal to be drafted, which cost him the best years of his career, as he is for what he achieved in the ring.
