Hamed plans unique grand slam of titles

PRINCE NASEEM HAMED has put himself on count down to pull off a unique boxing monopoly.

No fighter has ever held all four world title belts at the same time. But, with the WBO and IBF featherweight crowns in his safe keeping, Hamed warned the other champions - Luisito Espinosa (WBC) and Wilfredo Vasquez (WBA) - that he intends to leave them hurt and empty handed.

"I'm destined for greatness," declared Hamed, and nobody could put up a constructive counter argument after his chilling, 93 second destruction of Billy Hardy at Manchester's Nynex Arena on Saturday night.

Clearly, Espinosa's Japanese manager Joe Koizumi felt he had witnessed something special. He said: "Naz looked awesome. If we agree to fight him, we will have to work out some form of special strategy. He's such a great puncher, so dangerous."

With Koizumi at ringside in Manchester, it would appear that an Espinosa fight is the more imminent of the two - possibly on July 19th in America.

Jay Larkin, senior vice president of cable network Showtime, wants to parade Hamed in America. First, though, Espinosa is due to defend against Manuel Medina in Manila on May 17th.

Hamed, who had boldly predicted a first round eclipse of his WBO mandatory challenger, insisted: "I don't care who I fight, I Just want the other belts.

"Espinosa and Vasquez are great champions. I'd say Espinosa is the man to beat a good name, and the WBC belt probably has a bit more prestige, but I'm not really bothered.

"Both would be a great fight. What I know is when I get the opportunity there is only going to be one winner, and you are looking at him. I can't wait.

"I believe that for the first time in history I will win all four belts and after that I might move up to superfeather. I predicted eight weeks ago what I would do in the Hardy fight.

"I don't only have punching power, I have accuracy there, speed, timing, everything. I'm probably the hardest punching featherweight ever.

"If I hit a certain man on the chin, he is going to get knocked out. I'm 23, and there is more that you are going to see. But I'm going to keep my feet on the ground - and win everything. I'll retire undefeated. I don't think anyone can beat me."

Promoter Frank Warren, mean while has a third opponent lined up for Hamed's next defence, if one of the unification bouts is not finalised for mid summer.

Hardy, 32, experienced the pain first hand. One thunderbolt right hand broke his nose - and his heart, and he reflected: "I feel Naz has the power in both hands to unify the titles."

Down twice before referee Paul Thomas wisely called a halt, Hardy believes Hamed is a more potent puncher than Orlando Canizales, the IBF bantamweight champion whom he fought twice for the title in 1990/91.

"The first shot he hit me with, I honestly felt my nose crack. I'm all numb around my teeth," said Hardy.