How many rounds can be seen today? Nelson's stamina and Wolgast's ability to take it were unreal. [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ync1lWXLKc[/url]
After watching footage of the epic 40-round bout between Ad Wolgast and Battling Nelson, I find myself in awe of both fighters' stamina, heart and work-rate in such a punishing and long contest. - Chuck Johnston
Probably the greatest fight in boxing history, yes i have seen it a few times and the pace they are going well after 20 rounds put these old guys into the stratosphere... many other old timers were incredible too. This is why I cannot even think of comparing guys from the 70's onwards to the guys in the first 40 years of the century........... it defies belief how tough these characters were. I love the report of the fight too, simply amazing film footage.
Battling Nelson................................. the fact that this fight was one of many similar fights he had....... I am always speechless with this bloke, he is one of my top five all time favourites among fighters I have seen on film....... just imagine what the guys like the Daniel Mendoza's and jack Broughton's went through.... I think the fact that most of the fighters of the 18th century and the early 19th century had fight records usually under 15 career fights and many had like only 7 or 8 or so (John Jackson only had three) points to something.... their fights were so long and gruelling that after 10 bouts you are a shot duck and have serious bad health and severe injuries that retirement is the only option....... don't talk to me about the toughness of a Mayweather lol. If Floyd was in England in the 1790's he would have taken up cricket with the professionals at Lords.
Great fight, certainly. I was particularly impressed by Wolgast and his ability. Amazing thing outlasting Nelson too.
I would say Nelson mate, Wolgast had the advantage of being young and seemingly in his prime but by then Bat had been in so many wars and time simply caught up with him in the very late rounds. Wolgast looks good in this but still Nelson holds on for 40 rounds, in the end Nelson's career is more remembered, Wolgast had a shorter time in the sun but was a very exciting fighter, a pity he ended up crazy in an asylum. They both will be forever linked, this fight was Ali v Frazier 1,2 and 3 all put together in one single day so I rate this fight higher than those three fights and Zale V Graziano trilogy, I wish I could have seen Zale v Graziano 1 and 2 (there is a hard to see fight 2 on youtube but the action is so far away it really is hard to tell whats going on).
