Just how good was Azumah Nelson

And his wife had just died from cancer when he fought Whitaker.

Oops where did this highlightning came from? I didnt mean it. My apologies!

 

I meant to add that there were super tough fighters in and around that weight back in the day. Very healthy division(s).

Both French and Azumah ran the Villasana/Martinez gauntlet to name two.

To prevail over and rise above quality fighters like that likely meant you were a great fighter.

 

Totally agree. Fenech put on a couple of great performances against those guys.

 

I don’t think she was dead but she was unwell and in the hospital. This is what Nelson said about the Whitaker fight in The Ring ‘Best I Faced’ interview:

“Pernell Whitaker was a very good boxer. At the time I just wanted to finish the fight and leave; my wife was in hospital at the time. I was not focused. That is why I do not talk much about the Whitaker fight.”

 

I remember the post fight interview, Azumah Nelson, WBC Featherweight Champion called out WBA Featherweight Champion Barry McGuigan.

 

Pretty pretty pretty good.

 

I think Nelson owns a Brewery ! Zoom beer apparently

 

A great fighter but didn't aswell perform at his best and had some fights where he struggled that's why he needed quite a few rematches throughout his career.

@Jel I have sympathy for whatever Nelson was going through with his wife. But honestly I do feel like Nelson did make a fair amount of excuses for his losses Nelson never beats Whitaker let's be honest.

I don't believe the malaria excuse for Nelson either I think Fenech just fought a great fight and Nelson underestimated the strength of Fenech.

 

Oh yeah, I wasn’t buying into the excuses - just responding to a post. Yeah, like you I think Whitaker always beats Nelson too.

I’m not sure about the malaria one - but Nelson proved himself in the rematch when the odds were heavily against him.

Yes, he struggled in certain fights but his ability to make adjustments and beat those fighters who caused him difficulty when he fought them again is a positive in my opinion.

 

Nelson was not flashy at all.

He wasn't really outstanding in any one area.

But he was very good in all areas.

He was versatile - he could adapt to the opponent's style

His longevity was quite impressive.

I thought he lost the first Fenech fight but he destroyed Fenech in the rematch and remained world class for a few more years

I was especially impressed with the way he outlasted then KOd Wilfredo Gomez to win the title. Gomez was still very good at that juncture.

 

I think the adjustments were simply or almost completely mental personally. I think sometimes he simply didn't show up for whatever reason. You can see in his poor performances he was extremely uninspired comparative to when he was on which was often.

Has a close one (or in Fenech's case gets a whopping) then turns up at 100% for the rematch and wins impressively.

I remember reading an article on it and unfortunately can't remember all the insight.

 

You wouldn't call him an all time great at feather -jr. lightweight ? Interesting.

 

I probably would, thinking about him some more.

 

I was a big Nelson fan when he was around. We did not see the best version against Sweet Pea but thems the breaks. Dude was a true warrior.. In another forum, someone just posted the perennial question. what if great stick and ball athlete X learned to box at a young age, how good would he be? Well, Azumah had those rare qualities you just can't teach, that most of even the finest athletes lack. As crafty and skilled as he was, he didn't mind getting hit and he was in there take out his opponent. He never made the silent agreement. All dog.