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10th November 2005
Steward Backs Naseem
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Legendary trainer Manny Steward believes Naseem Hamed could be ready to fight in three months' time - and backs the former world champion to make it back to the top. Hamed claims he has been offered a six-fight deal by an American TV network despite having not fought since 2002, but the featherweight's former handler insists it could be a good move."
He's one of the nicest kids I ever worked with," he said. "
I've only got fond memories of him, not anything bad."
I think he can be world champion again."
He's one of the greatest natural punchers I ever saw in my life and has great co-ordination. It has to be done properly and delicately though."
A lot of guys come back but they don't come back the proper way, they rush into it too much. And you have to be careful about the opponents."
The pair are still on good terms despite the ill-feeling surrounding Hamed's only defeat against Marco Antonio Barrera in 2001, when they fell out over training methods."
I've not spoken to him for about six months. I still have a good relationship with him and his family, we are very close and I'm one of his biggest fans. Only the fight with Barrera we disagreed on the training methods."
Training properly, he is a dangerous man," he added."
If he asked me to help him I would definitely consider working with him. If we could come up with an agreement on the method of his training I would definitely not pass that up."
He's got to be extremely careful because this is an extremely rough, competitive division at 130lbs (super-featherweight)."
When he did train he trained extremely well, he's a good trainer. For the Barrera fight he was training without sparring because the other trainer had him convinced he didn't have to do that."
If he trains hard, I don't think it will take him more than three months (to be ready)."
Hamed is still only 31 years old and will take great heart from Steward's comments as he ponders a return to the ring.
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