Classic Matchup: Marquez vs. Hamed (ESPN "experts" debate)

[Fenster]

This is not a wind-up. Fact. I just stumbled across this by accident, it's an interesting read.

For this fantasy fight, we're matching the best featherweight versions of both fighters. For Hamed, that means we're talking about his absolute prime, circa roughly 1997. For Marquez, it's debatable what year and what weight represent his true prime, but at 126, his best run came from 2002 to 2005, after he had taken a couple of controversial losses and accrued valuable experience.

Below our panel of ESPN.com experts picks a winner in this classic matchup.

Experts picks

Dan Rafael: Hamed by KO

Kieran Mulvaney: Hamed by decision

Nigel Collins: Hamed by decision

Eric Raskin: Marquez by decision

Brian Campbell: Hamed by decision

Bernardo Pilatti: Marquez by KO (this guy obviously don't know shit about boxing. Fact.)

Salvador Rodriguez: Hamed by decision

Classic Matchup: Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Prince Naseem Hamed - ESPN

Read the link for their reasons.

As I always said, even if Naz had knocked Marquez unconcious he still would have been an all-time great.

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

I was only 15 then but 1997 seemed like such a good time for boxing. The memories

[Fenster]

Good time for music too.

[Master]

Fenster annual Hamed thread. 1997 is gone you cannot turn back time unless you have a flux capacitor.

[Violent Demise]

These guys know what there talking about

Dan Rafael: During the late 1990s, Marquez was Hamed's mandatory and wanted the fight badly. There is no doubt that Hamed ducked him because Marquez was a dangerous opponent

Eric Raskin: When one fighter blatantly ducks another, there's usually a reason, but in this case, the threat Marquez posed to Hamed was only half of it. The other half was that financially. If you can make bigger paydays elsewhere, why lose your perfect record against a guy who's going to beat you?

Bernardo Pilatti: Because of his unorthodox style, Hamed was actually tailor-made for Marquez. That's why the Prince never fulfilled his mandatory. Unlike his countryman, Marquez would indeed knock out Hamed.

[gest12645]

JMM beats him imo

[Fenster]

Look, don't shoot the messenger. I'm merely sharing an interesting article with my fellow Saddo friends.

I didn't know the "experts" would vote 5-2 in Naz favour. It just highlights that a KO loss to Naz wouldn't have harmed JMM great career.