Boxing legend Prince Naseem Hamed has undergone a significant physical transformation since retiring from the sport in 2002, with his brother attributing the weight gain to stress stemming from a £12 million family dispute.
Hamed, now 51, was known for his flamboyant style and peak fitness during his career, weighing just nine stone as a featherweight world champion. However, in the years following his retirement, he has piled on the pounds. His brother Ali revealed in 2022 that the weight gain is a result of trauma and stress, saying, 'He’s turned in on himself and has just eaten and eaten.'
The family feud centres on a property investment believed to be worth around £12 million. Hamed reportedly gave his parents an undisclosed sum to invest in property, which he considers an investment. Following their mother's death in 2020, Hamed's eight siblings argued the money was a gift and should be split equally, leading to a bitter rift.
Ali further criticised Hamed's financial decisions, claiming he wasted wealth on ventures including a mango farm in Yemen that is now 'all dead and dishevelled.' Despite the estrangement, Hamed remains a revered figure in British boxing, having won 36 of his 37 professional fights and becoming Britain's youngest world champion at age 21 in 1995.
Hamed now supports his son Aadam, who turned professional in 2023 and holds a perfect 6-0 record. Aadam is scheduled to fight Kasey Bradnum in Manchester later this month. Meanwhile, a new biopic titled 'Giant', chronicling Hamed's rise to fame, is released in UK cinemas today, with Pierce Brosnan playing his trainer Brendan Ingle.
