Bordering on farce at times and descending into pathos frequently, the final press conference to promote the World Featherweight bout between Prince Naseem Hamed and Wayne McCullough in Atlantic City yesterday left a lot to be desired.
Even for those of us accustomed to hearing hyperbole and exaggeration on these occasions were shocked by the venomous outpourings of Hamed, who declared that he was determined to end McCullough's boxing career, stopping only a little short of suggesting that McCullough's welfare might also be at stake.
In a fore-shortened question and answer session, Hamed even managed to annoy the distinguished American boxing writer, Mike Katz of the New York Daily News. Hamed dismissed a probing question from Katz about the physical dangers which boxers have had to face with a curt reply of "next". In doing so he even managed to stifle further questions.
Hamed had said he would: "take McCullough out. He will definitely be knocked out. He will take such a beating, it will be his last fight. His best weapon would be a Uzi sub-machine gun but even then he would be beaten. I think I have round three in my mind and then we will see the end of McCullough." He also scoffed and sniggered about the fact that McCullough had employed Kevin Kelley, a previous opponent of the champion's. When reminded by McCullough's wife and manager, Cheryl, that Kelley had knocked Hamed down three times at Madison Square Gardens, Hamed was dismissive of her as well. Even hardened boxing writers were stunned into silence.
McCullough, in contrast, was all reasonableness and quiet charm. "I have nothing personal against Naz. I am a professional boxer and I intend to win on Saturday. I don't have to throw insults around. I have proved my point as a professional boxer. I have great respect for all my opponents." he said.
Asked if he would give Hamed a rematch in the event of a win, he hesitated, but then suggested that he would not do so. "I think I would just get on with my career. I would see no point in beating anybody twice," he said.
They have billed it the Fright Night and the press kit is emblazoned with a dark image of Hamed on the cover with flaming gloves and fiery eyes. It is an image which the champion has invented for himself and it seems to have worked here, where he has managed to build up a high profile in spite of some bad press.
He has also managed to make himself unpopular with the big supporters for the fight game. Bally's Hilton-connected organisation, which boasts one of the biggest casino and hotel operations in the United States, has been displeased with Hamed's late arrival for what was intended to be a huge publicity build-up. His delayed arrival from London was severely frowned upon and resulted in the serious slump in ticket sales. Hamed's tardiness resulted in a rumour that the fight was being called off and this was fuelled further by the continuing legal ructions going on between the fight's former promoter Frank Warren, and the American promoter, Don King. Now that both Hamed and McCullough are both here, interest, fed by massive television advertising, has injected new impetus into the bout, which is now expected to attract something close to a sell-out crowd of 12,500.
Although Hamed is odds-on favourite in this gambling town, rumours are beginning to spread that many punters, not all of them Irish, have been attracted by the generous 5 to 1 odds against a McCullough win.
Already some pundits, the champion included, are looking around for Hamed's next opponent, so confident are they that their favourite will win inside the distance and even in the early rounds. In the meantime McCullough keeps a cool head in the face of some pungent remarks from the Sheffield boxer. Whether the American public will be impressed by his exaggerated behaviour remains to be seen, but what is not in doubt is that Hamed is a superb boxer, unique in fact, and a fine athlete. His biggest asset, however, seems to be his loud mouth and many are banking on the age-old saying that pride comes before a fall. As a result he may lose genuine fight aficionados with his brashness and there are few who would not relish a victory for McCullough. McCullough comes from a more orthodox boxing background. He has lots of experience and courage, too much of the latter for his own good, some might say, but all that remains to be seen as the fight itself approaches.
Tickets ranging from $300 down to $25 are still on sale as locals as well as visiting gamblers and boxing supporters begin to prepare their elaborate Hallowe'en costumes, which everybody is expected to wear on Saturday night.
This will be the biggest non-heavyweight title fight ever staged in this gambling city in New Jersey. The fact that two neighbouring Europeans are fighting in such circumstances has given the bout a rather bizarre twist from an American point of view, but one that is highly appropriate given the timing of a bout on a night when most Americans go slightly nuts anyway. Although the bill has not yet been completed, two other super bantamweight world titles will be at stake in the shape of an IBF title fight in which South Africa's Vuyani Bungu will meet Danny Romero from New Mexico, while in the WBO match, Richie Wenton from England will meet Marco Antonio Barrera from Mexico.
