The featherweight division missed a potential "Super Fight" by only a few years. The fight would have featured two southpaws with the kind of explosive power that can end any fight with just one blink of the eye. The two men I am talking about are Manny Pacquiao and "Prince" Naseem Hamed.

Love or hate Hamed you can not deny the excitement he brought to the ring in his 37 fight career; out of 36 wins, 31 came the short way. Manny Pacquiao brings the same excitement to the ring with his power; 31 of his 39 victories have came by stoppage. Hamed's unorthodox style of leaping at opponents with his punches cocked and ready to explode like a pistol was more than enough to get by 36 of his 37 opponents. The one opponent who would not budge nor back down from Hamed's power was Marco Antonio Barrera. Everything seemed to be going great for Hamed and his boxing career before he met Barrera; he was undefeated and gaining more and more popularity in America with each fight. He was well on his way to becoming a superstar in America; he had already conquered that feat in the United Kingdom.

Hamed's power was only part of the excitement he brought to the ring; he had charisma that some loved and some hated but what really made it exciting was the fact that he was no stranger to the canvas himself. On more than one occasion he was sent down. Kevin Kelley managed to put him down three times in their fight but it was still not enough to stop Hamed, who also sent Kelley down three times. The difference between the two was the fact that  Kelley was not able to continue after his third knockdown.

After Hamed's loss to Barrera, The Prince went on to fight once more in 2002 and has not returned to the ring since.  Meanwhile, Manny Pacquiao's career has been in overdrive the last three years, having stepped into the ring against three of the best his division has to offer. His 11th round TKO over Marco Antonio Barrera catapulted him to the top and had everybody  talking. Next was a draw against Juan Manuel Marquez, in a bout in which Pacquiao sent Marquez to the canvas three times in the first round. Pacquiao's last fight against Erik Morales is a candidate for Fight of the Year, and even though he was on the losing side of a decision his stock still rose.

Enough with the details let's get to the match up that never happened. What would have happened if these two men squared off in the ring? I'm not sure, but I would like to think it would have been exciting while it lasted. I imagine both men swinging for the fences and landing,  pushing the other back; a knockdown or two sounds about right too. But, what I really see happening is Pacquiao timing Hamed during the bout, waiting for the right opportunity to throw his powerful straight left hand and catch Hamed as he lunges in to land a punch of his own,  sending Hamed to the canvas. It may have taken a couple of well timed straight lefts from Pacquiao to finally get the job done, but in the end, I believe it would have ended the fight.

There have been rumors throughout the years of a Hamed comeback, but until I see it I will not believe it. If he does return to the ring and can once again come close to his prior level, a fight with Pacquiao would certainly draw my full attention. Until then, all I can do is replay in my mind the mythical fight between these two warriors.

Who do you think would have won this fight? Send your answers to Kenny