Naseem Freed from Prison After 15 Weeks

Former world boxing champion ‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed has left prison after serving only16 weeks of a 15-month sentence for dangerous driving. 32-year-old, Hamed was put in jail last May after his Mercedes sports car was involved in a 90mph crash in Sheffield which left another driver, Anthony Burgin, severely injured.

As the ‘Prince’ left Doncaster Prison last Friday in a Rolls-Royce, he said: “My heart goes out to Mr Burgin.” Hamed, of Sheffield, will have to wear an electronic tag under the Home Office’s Home Detention Curfew system. Last week Mr Burgin, who suffered fractures to nearly all of the major bones in his body in the crash, said he was stunned that Hamed was being released so early.

But as he left prison, the former world champion was asked by reporters if he was remorseful for what he had done, where he responded: “All I can say basically is my heart goes out to the victim, Mr Burgin, and his family.” It was in May where Sheffield Crown Court was told that the former world featherweight champion had taken a “stupid risk” while showing off his new forceful Mercedes McLaren sports car to a businessman nearly a year ago. It was told that he was going at least 90mph on the wrong side of the road as he approached a blind dip on Ringinglow Road, on the edge of the Peak District. His car, with the registration plate NAS 1, was in a one-on-one collision with the Volkswagen Golf, with Mr Burgin at the wheel, whose wife Claire was also injured in the crash. Last Friday, Mr Burgin, who is lucky to be alive, stated: “What happened to my wife and I was deeply distressing and nearly destroyed our lives and I am shocked that after such a serious accident Mr Hamed has been released after less than four months.”

It was roughly this time last year when Naseem claimed that he would be returning to the ring to relive the glory days. Naseem was a colourful, flashy and sometimes arrogant boxer that was renowned for his low hands, superb footwork and elaborate ring entrances. Whether he does return to the ring is unknown but extremely unlikely; I mean with £30 million in the bank why bother?

Is 15 weeks too short and does ‘The Prince’ still have what it takes to make the grade? Please leave your own comments on the matter at the bottom of the page.