On April 7th, 2001, the MGM Grand in Las Vegas hosted a highly anticipated featherweight bout destined to be etched in the memory of boxing fans: the undefeated Naseem Hamed was putting his lineal featherweight championship on the line against the fierce Mexican challenger Marco Antonio Barrera, in what was expected to be a fiery showdown—so much so that the fight was promoted under the tagline “Playing with Fire.” The bout delivered multiple surprises, particularly in terms of tactics, and ended with a clear and unequivocal outcome: Barrera’s five-star performance was rewarded with a unanimous decision, sending Hamed toward an early retirement.
The Showman Hamed Reaches the End of the Road
Few boxers have managed to captivate, excite, and entertain quite like the British-Yemeni “Prince” Naseem Hamed. His immense charisma, unique movements, endless taunts, and spectacular knockouts had earned him a massive following during his reign as WBO champion—but also plenty of critics. “Good or bad, as long as they talk about you” was the mantra of many flamboyant athletes whose cocky attitude drew equal parts admiration and hatred, turning each of their fights into a can’t-miss event. Hamed added to this flair a fighting style that guaranteed entertainment: his explosive power, combined with his unorthodox guard and his ever-wobbly footwork, made his matches thrilling spectacles full of surprises.
However, after 15 consecutive title defenses, the Englishman began to experience the first creaks in the perfect machine that had been his body until then. A serious hand fracture suffered in the fight against Augie Sanchez forced him to stop training for six months, during which he gained a staggering 35 pounds. Not exactly the best way to prepare for the biggest fight of his career.
Marco Antonio Barrera’s Search for Glory
For years, Barrera had been touted by boxing insiders as the natural heir to the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez, and as long as he remained undefeated, many believed he was a true generational talent. But back-to-back losses to Junior Jones—despite the controversy surrounding the rematch decision—had cast some doubt, and even the breathtaking first chapter of his trilogy with Erik Morales, marred by another disputed loss, wasn’t enough to fully restore his status. As a result, the bookmakers had him pegged as the underdog against Hamed.
Several factors influenced this perception: Barrera’s move up in weight, after having started his career as a flyweight, raised concerns about how he’d fare in the tough featherweight division. Additionally, his aggressive style seemed tailor-made to suit Hamed’s counter-punching abilities. Adding even more prestige to the contest—beyond the lesser-valued IBO title—was the coveted lineal championship, traditionally bestowed upon the fighter who defeats the undisputed champion, thus serving as the link between generations of world titleholders. Hamed had taken that honor from Wilfredo Vazquez, making him “the man to beat.”
A Boxing Lesson for Beginners
Superstitious fans likely raised their eyebrows even before the opening bell, sensing an upset was in the air when Naseem Hamed skipped his trademark forward somersault and entered the ring like a “mere mortal,” stepping through the ropes instead. A more rational analysis, however, suggests focusing not on unfinished rituals, but rather on the strategy Marco Antonio Barrera executed that night: contrary to most expectations, the Mexican gave up the center of the ring and fought off the back foot right from the opening bell.
Used to luring opponents into traps and provoking them into attacking, Hamed found himself out of his comfort zone when forced to take the initiative, and already in the first round he had to absorb several heavy counterpunches. Although he was more active than his opponent in terms of throwing punches, the Brit struggled to land anything of significance; in contrast, Barrera’s shots drew loud cheers from the crowd and undoubtedly made a greater impression on the judges.
After being rocked again at the start of round four, “The Prince” enjoyed one of his better moments in the fifth, but his aggression and constant attempts to find a breakthrough were consistently neutralized by Barrera’s near-impenetrable defense. The Mexican paid special attention to Hamed’s signature lead hooks, usually thrown from long range and often decisive in the past. That night, Barrera dodged them with precision, exposing Hamed to vicious counters from the Baby Faced Assassin.
As the minutes ticked by, little changed, and the illusion of a shift in momentum appeared only briefly in round ten, when Barrera, for the first time, lingered too long with his back to the ropes and allowed Hamed to land some dangerous shots. But these were always isolated punches, and as the fight entered the championship rounds, the feeling—shared even by a concerned Emanuel Steward in Hamed’s corner—was that only a knockout could alter the outcome.
Reading the scorecards afterward, however, reveals something astonishing: had Hamed won the final two rounds, he could have earned a draw! But that didn’t happen. It was Barrera who closed the show like a true champion, ramping up his work rate dramatically in the last six minutes. His competitive fire even led to a moment of foolishness when he drove Hamed’s head into one of the corner turnbuckles, earning a well-deserved point deduction. Nonetheless, when the final bell rang, there could be no doubt about the winner: despite narrower margins than the action seemed to warrant, Barrera was rightfully awarded a unanimous decision and lifted high in triumph.
To this day, Barrera’s victory over Hamed is considered one of the greatest performances of his career—thanks in large part to the flawless execution of a brilliant tactical plan. For Naseem Hamed, it marked the beginning of the end. After a lackluster points win over Manuel Calvo, the Brit retired at just 28 years old, unable to overcome persistent hand injuries. Prince fans still wonder how things might have turned out that night 24 years ago had their hero been a little healthier and a little hungrier—but the truth is, it’s hard to imagine any version of Hamed defeating the razor-sharp Marco Antonio Barrera who ruled the ring in Las Vegas that night.