BARRERA SURPRISES HAMED NOW HE'S HOPING PEOPLE WILL GIVE HIM RESPECT.

Byline: Michael Rosenthal Staff Writer

LAS VEGAS - Now we know.

Naseem Hamed, a master showman, is a good fighter but not particularly special. Marco Antonio Barrera would have a more legitimate claim to that title after Saturday night.

Barrera, dismissed by some as overmatched in this fight and a 3-1 underdog, befuddled the previously unbeaten Hamed with a brilliant display of boxing to win an easy, unanimous 12-round decision before a raucous evenly divided crowd at the MGM Grand.

The judges scored it 115-112, 116-111 and 115-112. The Daily News had it 116-111, or nine rounds to three for Barrera (53-3, with 38 knockouts).

``He never hurt me,'' said Barrera, who just became a hero in Mexico if he wasn't fore. ``Now, I wish people would start believing in me.''

The fight was expected to evolve into a brawl because of Barrera's typically aggressive style, which many believed would lead to his demise because of Hamed's power.

However, Barrera crossed up everyone, including Hamed (35-1, 31 KOs), by boxing purposely but rather cautiously.

As a result, the fight was more tactical than entertaining but the perfect recipe for a Barrera victory.

Hamed, expecting Barrera to rush in, appeared to be confused much of the fight. He simply couldn't figure out how to hit his supposedly slower opponent on a consistent basis.

And, when he did hit Barrera, he didn't hurt him as many were certain he would. Afterward, Barrera declared that Hamed just doesn't punch as hard as everyone thinks he does.

Barrera, who even outjabbed Hamed, didn't hurt the Briton either but landed more and cleaner blows to win over the judges.

The fight was fairly close after 10 rounds. And Barrera, who believed he was robbed when he lost a decision to countryman Erik Morales in February of last year, didn't take any chances.

He was at his most aggressive in those rounds and it paid off: Apparently the much stronger of the two at that point, he won both on all cards to clinch a victory that was both surprising but clear even though Berrera lost a point for holding Hamed midway through the 12th round.

``When I fight, I always pressure my opponent,'' Barrera said. ``Tonight, I changed my style. They expected me to pressure him and I surprised everybody.''

Hamed was gracious in defeat.

``The guy boxed probably better than me tonight. That's it,'' he said. ``He was the pure winner tonight. He planned tonight to box and his boxing skills paid off.''

However, Hamed expects to have opportunity to gain revenge.

``I have a rematch clause in my contract (with Barrera),'' he said. ``I don't want a rematch. I'm going to get one.''

In preliminary bouts, Omar Sheika stopped Stephan Ouellet in a scheduled 10-round super middleweight bout.

And three 2000 U.S. Olympians won scheduled four-round bouts. Middleweight Jermain Taylor knocked out Kenny Stubbs at 2:28 of the second round,heavyweight Michael Bennett stopped Billy Zumbrun 2:49 into the first round, and bantamweight Clarence Vinson outpointed Bryan Garcia.

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Photo:

Victorious Marco Antonio Barrera lands a right cross to the face of Naseem Hamed on Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News