Four-time super-middleweight world champion Carl Froch is heralded as one of Great Britain\u2019s best ever fighters, but \u2018The Cobra\u2019 believes that one of his countryman could have gone down as one of boxing\u2019s greatest, if he didn\u2019t hang up the gloves so soon.<\/p>\n
When debating the United Kingdom\u2019s standout boxer of all time, there is no correct or clear answer, with each selection coming with its own pros and cons.<\/p>\n
The older generation will tell you that none come close to the likes of Ted Kid Lewis, Jimmy Wilde and Bob Fitzsimmons, but the lack of footage for each of those men means widespread recognition will always be a challenge.<\/p>\n
When it comes down to modern Brits, it\u2019s about what you like. That may be the r\u00e9sum\u00e9 of the destructive heavyweight force that was Lennox Lewis, the undefeated career and longevity of Joe Calzaghe<\/a>, or the natural talent, charisma and excitement that \u2018Prince\u2019 Naseem Hamed brought to the featherweight scene<\/a>.<\/p>\n Speaking in an interview with Press Insights<\/a>, Froch appreciated the skill of Hamed, but admitted that the Sheffield-born superstar could have achieved more in the sport, if he didn\u2019t retire at 28 years old.<\/p>\n \u201c28 years old, he retired. I think Naseem Hamed could have been one of the greatest. It\u2019s a waste of a talent.<\/p>\n \u201cHe made his money doing what he did but I think he could have been one of the greatest of all time. All he needed to do was tidy his defence up a little bit, when he stepped up.<\/p>\n \u201cHis defence was all about reflexes and movement. If he\u2019d have just got one glove up and timed it a little bit different [he could have had more success]. I\u2019m not telling him how to fight because he had a one-off unique style, they call it the Ingle style but Naz had his own flair.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Naz could have just tidied it up a little bit, which he would have done if he would have stayed with Brendan [Ingle], because Brendan knows the game, I think Naz could have been one of the best.\u201d<\/p>\n Hamed states that he walked away from boxing largely because of hand injuries, which were beginning to lessen his punch power, but others believe that his loss to Marco Antonio Barrera caused him to lose some of his love for the sport<\/a>.<\/p>\n