I worked in an ice cream parlour and dreamed of becoming an actor… now I’m following my dad’s iconic boxing footsteps
SAMI HAMED is hoping the cream will rise to the top of his boxing career having been inspired to follow his legendary dad into the sport.
The 26-year-old is the eldest son of British boxing icon Naseem Hamed – who lit up the sport in the 1990s and early 2000s.
But the Hamed name looks set to remain in the sport for years to come through Naz’s sons Aadam and Sami.
Aadam is already 1-0 and signed to Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren – who guided his dad to superstardom decades earlier.
Whereas older brother Sami has signed a deal with Misfits Boxing, home to celebrity-style crossover fights.
He debuts on August 31 in Dublin on the undercard of YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI and does so as the son of a legend.
Sami told SunSport: “It’s in my heart and it’s in my DNA.
“Obviously, everybody wants to be like their dad but when your dad is knocking everybody out it’s on a another level.
“I just want to get in there, I want to show my dad that listen, I can have a good fight as well and pack that dig.
“I just want to make my parents proud.”
Sami Hamed: I'm not here to please anyone
SAMI HAMED becomes the latest son of a British boxing legend to try and make his own way in the sport.
He follows after Chris Eubank Jr, Conor Benn and Campbell Hatton all followed in the same footsteps.
But Hamed will not get drawn into the inevitable comparisons due to come his way.
He said: “I’m pretty blessed because my attitude towards the whole thing is, I couldn’t give a c**p what anybody thinks. I’m not here to please anyone.
“To be honest, anyone who obviously spends their hard earned money to come and watch me fight, obviously I want to put on a good performance for them.
“But in terms of being my dad, me and my brother are never going to be Prince Naseem Hamed, no one’s every going to be that and the sooner people realise that, the better.”
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Neither Sami or Aadam had amateur careers or ever really considered entering the family boxing business.
Aadam was once a talented tennis player while Sami had his eyes on the big screen – something he is not yet ready to throw the towel in for.
He revealed: “We’ve played tennis, football, all of that.
“I wanted to be an actor when I was like 12 years old, all the way to like 15, 16. My heart was set, I really wanted to be on the big screen.
“I still feel like I’ve got the potential to do that. I could do a couple of years in boxing and even if I carry on fighting but maybe go to Hollywood and chase my dream in that sense.”
Prince Naz is believed to have banked over £40million during his prizefighting career – but his sons were made to earn their own cash.
I just want to make my parents proud.
Naseem Hamed's son Sami
Sami said: “Before this, I was working in retail for like two and a half years, before that I worked in Creams ice cream parlour when I came out of college when I was like 17 or 18.
“So for me now, this does really feel like I’m doing something big with myself and I’m cracking on with something that I can love.”
Sami believes the work ethic his famous father installed in him as a youngster is what will allow him to excel in boxing.
He said: “My dad’s a Yemeni, whether you’ve got lots of money or not he’s still going to raise you like you’re a Yemeni.
“He’s always shown me that he’s never just going to give me or let me have my handout.
“He’s always going to make me work for my money and to be honest that’s the whole reason I’m here.
“I would have never done it if I didn’t have the previous jobs that I’ve had in the past.
“I feel like now, this is a massive opportunity to make it for myself.”
Sami, who debuts against vlogger Jesse Clarke, has signed a one-year Misfits deal and wants to fight as many as five times in those 12 months.
