Naseem Hamed vs. Manuel Calvo

Naseem Hamed had lost his previous fight to Marco Antonio Barrera, giving him first defeat in his professional career and ending his over five year reign as featherweight champion.{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/vault/2001/04/16/301493/glam-rocked-prince-naseem-hameds-glitz-was-no-match-for-the-grit-of-marco-antonio-barrera-in-their-featherweight-showdown|title=Glam Rocked Prince Naseem Hamed's glitz was no match for the grit of Marco Antonio Barrera in their featherweight showdown|last=Lidz|first=Franz|website=Vault|language=en|access-date=2020-02-01}} As per the contract that was signed, Hamed had the option of facing Barrera in an immediate rematch and though he had expressed interest in his post-fight interview, he ultimately decided against it.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxing/3007408/Boxing-Hamed-fighting-shy-of-Barrera-rematch.html|title=Boxing: Hamed fighting shy of Barrera rematch|last=Lewis|first=Mike|date=2001-06-16|access-date=2020-02-01|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}} Hamed eventually announced his intentions to face European featherweight champion Manuel Calvo, who was coming off arguably his biggest victory over former WBO featherweight champion Steve Robinson. However as Calvo was an unknown fighter in the United States, HBO, with whom Hamed had an exclusive contract allowing them to air his fights in the US, objected to Hamed's choice of opponent. Rather than relent as he had the previous year when HBO objected to a proposed Hamed–István Kovács bout,{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxing/4773407/Boxing-Hamed-loses-last-world-belt.html|title=Boxing: Hamed loses last world belt|last=Mee|first=Bob|date=2000-10-09|access-date=2020-02-01|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}} Hamed opted to sever ties with HBO.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxing/3013987/Boxing-Hamed-severs-American-tie-up.html|title=Boxing: Hamed severs American tie-up|last=Mee|first=Bob|date=2001-10-02|access-date=2020-02-01|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}} The fight was also met with several delays. Prior to their separation, HBO offered Hamed a fight to take place on September 8, 2001, but Hamed declined, opting to face Calvo on November 10, 2001 instead. However Hamed postponed the fight as a result of the September 11 attacks.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxing/3013056/Boxing-Hamed-puts-his-return-to-the-ring-on-hold.html|title=Boxing: Hamed puts his return to the ring on hold|last=Mee|first=Bob|date=2001-09-18|access-date=2020-02-01|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}} The fight was next rescheduled for March 23, 2002, but a back injury suffered by Hamed during training caused the fight to be postponed again.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Hamed-Calvo-Fight-Postponed-7089322.php|title=Hamed-Calvo Fight Postponed|date=2002-03-12|website=Midland Daily News|access-date=2020-02-01}} The fight was then finally set for May 18, 2002.{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/boxing-may-date-set-for-hameds-return-9257057.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/boxing-may-date-set-for-hameds-return-9257057.html |archive-date=2022-06-18 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Boxing: May date set for Hamed's return|date=2002-03-21|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=2020-02-01}}

Coming off a 13-month hiatus, Hamed looked sluggish and disinterested throughout the fight, abandoning his usual aggressiveness for a slow, tactical approach. Though Hamed clearly outboxed Calvo, many of the 10,000 fans who attended the fight booed throughout.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxing/3027975/Boos-greet-Hameds-comeback-win.html|title=Boos greet Hamed's comeback win|date=2002-05-18|access-date=2020-02-01|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}} The fight went the full 12 rounds, with Hamed winning by lopsided scores on all three of the judges' scorecards. Two judges had Hamed winning 119–109, each giving Calvo only a single round, while the third had Hamed winning with a score of 120–110.

Hamed blamed his lackluster performance on a hand injury he sustained in the second round.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2002/may/20/boxing|title=Hamed struggles to produce a convincing excuse|author=Guardian Staff|date=2002-05-20|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-02-01|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}

In a post-fight interview with Ian Darke, Hamed assured a quick return to the ring, which ultimately never happened. For years, Hamed would not confirm whether he had retired or not and there were talks of several fights in the UK and in the US, including a potential fight with Michael Brodie.

In an interview for BBC Radio Sportsweek in 2009, Hamed said that his retirement was largely due to chronic problems with his hands, including multiple fractures as well as surgery.{{cite news | title = Naseem Hamed Reveals The "Real Reason" He Retired | publisher = Boxingscene | date = 31 August 2009 | url = http://www.boxnews.com.ua/en/news/5769/2009-08-31/Naseem-Hamed-Reveals-The-Real-Reason-He-Retired}}

Confirmed bouts:{{cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/164554|title=BoxRec - event|publisher=}}

{{note|Naseem Hamed vs. Manuel Calvo|Note 1|For IBO Featherweight title.}}
{{note|Michael Brodie vs. Pastor Humberto Maurin|Note 2|For WBF Featherweight title.}}
{{note|Colin Dunne vs. Wayne Rigby|Note 3|For WBU Lightweight title.}}

{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-bef | before=vs. Marco Antonio Barrera}}

{{s-ttl | title=Naseem Hamed's bouts |years=18 May 2002}}

{{s-non | reason=Retired}}

{{s-bef | before=vs. Steve Robinson}}

{{s-ttl | title=Manuel Calvo's bouts |years=18 May 2002}}

{{s-aft | after=vs. Aneudis Cuevas Pena}}

{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hamed, Calvo}}

Category:2002 in sport in London

Category:2002 in boxing

Category:May 2002 sports events in the United Kingdom

Category:Boxing matches in London

Calvo

Category:Boxing matches promoted by Matchroom Sport

Category:Boxing on Sky Sports

Category:Sport in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets