STEFANO BLIN, London | Sunday 7.00pm.
LESS than a minute into the fourth round match on Saturday night Prince Nasseem Hamed’s straight left caught Vuyani Bungu on the chin sending the 33-year sprawling onto the canvas.
The knock out crowned Hamed’s 14th defence of the WBO featherweight crown with an electrifying performance.
Hamed was always on top against Bungu — who was undefeated in the past eight years and seen by many as the most serious threat yet to Hamed’s dominance of this division. Only once did Bungu catch the elusive Hamed — midway through the second round — but the champion proved too strong, showing the style, power and pace some claimed had long disappeared from his repertoire.
Hamed placed less emphasis on the showboating tactics of his last three fights and had Bungu on the back foot from the opening bell. It seemed only a matter of time before his extra strength over Bungu -who had moved up from bantamweight for the battle – would pay dividends.
At his post-fight press conference Hamed took the opportunity to hit back at the critics who have found fault in his recent performances.
“I’m not going to say to you guys give me the credit; you have to give me the credit,” said a grinning Naz to the media. “Is Naz back at his best? Is Naz’s invincibility coming back? You’ve seen it for yourself – sharpness, speed, accuracy, power, body punches and then a wicked finish. I’m talking about KO, not TKO.”
Now four men are being lined up to sample that power in Hamed’s 15th defence – Americans Kevin Kelley, Danny Romero, Johnny Tapia or Junior Jones if he beats IBF champion Paul Ingle in New York on April 29. — AFP