26 years ago

Date: 18th April 1998

Title: WBO World Featherweight Title

Promoter: Sports Network

Tv: HBO Sports & Sky Sports

Naseem Hamed
( 29 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 125¾ lbs

Wilfredo Vazquez
( 50 - 7 - 2 )
Weight: 126 lbs

On Saturday, April 18, 1998, the Nynex Arena in Manchester, England played host to the match between Naseem Hamed and Wilfredo Vazquez. The event, promoted by Sports Network, saw Hamed defending his WBO World Featherweight Title for the 10th time, while Vazquez aimed to defend his Lineal World Featherweight Title for the 5th time. At the time of the bout, Hamed boasted an undefeated record of 29-0-0, while Vazquez had a record of 50-7-2. Both fighters weighed in at just under the featherweight limit, with Hamed at 125¾ lbs and Vazquez at 126 lbs.

The match, refereed by Genaro Rodriguez, was broadcast live on HBO Sports and Sky Sports. It soon became clear that Hamed had the upper hand, as Vazquez found himself knocked down once in the 3rd round and again in the 6th round.

In the 7th round, Hamed's dominance continued, and he managed to knock Vazquez down twice more. With Vazquez unable to continue, the referee called a halt to the contest at 2:29 of the 7th round, awarding Hamed a TKO victory. This win solidified Hamed's status as one of the top fighters in the featherweight division and further bolstered his already impressive record.

At the time of the stoppage, the judges' scorecards reflected Hamed's control of the fight, with scores of 59-53, 58-54, and 58-55 in his favor. With this victory, Hamed successfully defended his WBO World Featherweight Title, while also claiming Vazquez's Lineal World Featherweight Title.

However, the fight was not without controversy. Vazquez, who had held the WBA Featherweight Title since 1996, was stripped of his title for choosing to face Hamed instead of fulfilling a mandatory title defense. This decision further fueled the rivalry between the two fighters, but ultimately, it was Hamed who emerged victorious in their meeting at the Nynex Arena.