No retirement for Naz

Naseem Hamed has no intention of retiring and will definitely be back in the ring in the new year, according to one of his closest confidants.

Former undefeated British light-heavyweight champion Maurice Core has been Hamed’s chief conditioner for six years and insists the Prince has kept himself in as good a shape as ever.

Hamed has not fought since a poor points win over Manuel Calvo in London in May and does not have a trainer following the departure of Puerto Rican Oscar Suarez.

Rumours of a comeback bout in Qatar came to nothing and his continued failure to finalise a deal to box Manchester’s Michael Brodie raised further doubts about the former WBO featherweight champion’s desire to fight on.

Core, who contrary to some reports is not Hamed’s new trainer, told PA Sport: “Naz is not thinking about retirement in the slightest. He says, retire? I’ve got at least two good years left.

“He knows he is still the biggest draw in the featherweight division. He has got everything he wants but it is about more than money and glory for Naz. This business is what he knows and what he thrives on – he loves people coming up to him in the streets.

“He just wants to take his time. He’s done all the roadwork in the early mornings and spent hours in the gym every single day and he doesn’t need to do as much of that any more. But he’s still got that hunger about him.”

Hamed is expected to appoint a new trainer before the end of the year - American taskmaster Floyd Mayweather Snr is one of the leading contenders – and fight Brodie in March.

It would be only his third fight since losing his WBO featherweight title to Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera in April 2001 and Core admits he does worry a little about the former champion’s spells of inactivity.

“I suppose it is a worry but Naz is still going to the gym every day and I believe he can still be as good as he was.

“Naz knows there’s the Brodie fight out there and it’s a fight he wants. He also still wants the Barrera fight to wrap up to convince everybody including himself.

“I know Naz can still fight better than he did against Barrera the first time around.

“I believe he will prove it – but he’s in no rush.”