Unbeaten former two-weight world champion Joe Calzaghe has been speaking about the outcome of a fantasy fight between ‘Prince’ Nassem Hamed and Manny Pacquiao.
These are two of the best smaller men to ever box. Pacquiao is a legendary eight-weight world champion who has fought everyone in his era, from Floyd Mayweather to Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez to Marco Antonio Barrera.
‘PacMan’ is now 46 years old and his record stands at 62 wins from 72 fights. He hasn’t been in the ring since a points loss to Yordenis Ugas in 2022 but returns next month against Marrio Barrios in what is a controversial welterweight world title fight given the Fillipnio’s age and time out the ring.
‘Prince Naz’ was an electrifying showman who won multiple featherweight world championships between 1995 and 2000 and took just one loss before hanging up the gloves in 2002.
Speaking to TNT Sports Boxing, Calzaghe was asked how the two would have got on in the ring in their primes.
“That’s a good one. I’d probably have to go Pacquiao. I love Naz, he was a massive puncher, if he hits you, you’re out. If he hit Pacquiao, Pacquiao is going out.
But Pacquiao is a good boxer. So I look at the Barrera fight with Naz, he nullified everything. Naz, whether he was 100% fit for that fight we don’t know. Naz had an equaliser for everybody.
But Pacquiao southpaw, fast hands, big puncher. Probably just edge for Pacquiao.”
Hamed has previously said that Pacquiao is the man who changed boxing more than any other.
