Given the tough fight he presented, could Azumah Nelson, once he reached his prime and had more than just 2 weeks to prepare, have beaten that Sanchez?
Sanchez may have underestimated him a bit, as did most everyone at that stage. Either way, it was more Azumah's unrelenting pressure and workrate that gave Sal so many problems in their first encounter, while Nelson became a much more technical, methodical fighter as he aged and improved. Stylistically, it would've still been a very competitive bout, but his style as he progressed wouldn't have posed the same problems to Sanchez as the younger version did, and I seriously doubt he's outboxing Sanchez.
I agree with what you say, but don't you think Nelson could have reverted back to that style when he chose to as it would have served him better, but this time around instead of coming up blank late in the fight or not necessarily knowing how to defend against something Sanchez did he would have known what to do. Nelson became technically more refined and significantly more experienced, and while this altered his style for the most part, I'm not entirely convinced that he would have forgotten how to fight the way he did when they met and make it successful. I do agree that Sanchez probably took him lightly, and he himself would have been better served in knowing more about Nelson.
...............I think it's cutting Nelson short to say Sanchez took him lightly. We don't know that. That said, Nelson's frenetic pace and energy were a huge part of the reason he troubled Sanchez the way he did, and in order to be able to last the distance and be effective in the later rounds in any proposed rematch, he'd have to curtail that craziness somewhat. That plays into Sanchez's hands.
It's hard to gauge this fight. Sanchez might well have taken Nelson lightly when they squared off. Motivation higher if Sanchez faced a prime Nelson? Probably. But when they fought it does show that the styles would always make for a close battle between the two, prime v prime. It's hard to pick against Sanchez if they fought each other at their absolute peaks. He was without question a better pure boxer at long range. Nelson was a decent ring general, but was more inclined to be aggressive. His looping overhand right IMO was his signature weapon. Sanchez probably edges him when both were firing on all cylinders.
Nelson did have a distinguished amateur career behind him (for what it's worth). He was a great fighter and a prime for prime match would have been great. sanchez like Monzon was a thinker though. he solved problems in the ring and I think he'd solve Nelson a second time. 2 greats though who are more than likely top 10 in the division.
I don't think Nelson added anything to his arsenal that would've troubled Sanchez any more than he did the first time. It could be argued that Nelson had the greater career, longevity and all, but prime for prime I don't think he beats Sanchez.
I think its not beyond the realms of possibility that prime Nelson could have beaten Sanchez. I think its always a bit unfair comparing fighters with Sanchez who was great but will always be remembered as a young man in his prime. We never saw his career unfold. Its an insult to Sanchez to say he probably underestimated Nelson, I remember Sanchez as a true professional. Nelson on the other hand hadn't reached his prime and what a fighter he went on to become and what a "boxer" he went on to become. I think Nelson learnt a lot from this fight and had the gumption to come back from this, which although competitive, was a painful loss. Sanchez could have trouble with boxers, Cowdell, Castillo and Patrick Ford. For me a more mature Nelson, the boxfighter with more time to prepare could give Sanchex nightmares.
Hello Chaps..great board... salvador sanchez was very young when he died.. so how great would sanchez had been.. without a doubt the proffesor is a great one indeed..its just that sanchez is a legend..
Did Nelson only have two weeks to prepare for Sanchez? I've never heard of that being the case, but if indeed it was, then Nelson done himself extremenly proud. In fact, with only two preparation, Nelson put in the performance of a winner. Are you sure that was the case because given two weeks preparation for guy who was as good as Sanchez is like being thrown amongst sharks in my view?
Yeah, Nelson was a late subsitute for Mario Miranda I believe. Giving absolute hell to an all-time great in his 14th pro fight that he took on short notice is a statement on how great Nelson was. Granted, it is likely that Sanchez probably didn't know anything about him and was more than likely expecting less of a challenge.
Sanchez to me really used to get up for the big fights and challenges in his cut short career. I think Nelson at his best would really make Sanchez respond accordingly, well if he didn't Nelson would beat his ass. I see Sanchez coming in fired up mentally and at his absolute best and beating Nelson, who i consider great without a second of hesistation via a close decision. It'd be competitive tho, and only a fool would count Nelson out.