Sure as **** wouldn't be a slug fest, or even potentially entertaining, but I feel Nelson has the negative style that would see Haye frustrated and gassed after the course of 12. Also, the chin, which held up at HW against some very big punchers. Haye at Cruiser fought fighters who were almost exclusively made for him. The only man at CW to go the distance with him was the epitome of an active spoiler, Ismail Abdoul. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Nelson could avoid the power of men who hit as hard as Haye, potentially harder (Ezra Sellers) and come back to stop them. He could outbox pressure fighters over the course of 12, such as the underrated iron chinned Marcelo Fabian Dominguez, and he stopped Carl Thompson. So, thoughts?
Haye would of had too much fire power if the match was set at 200lbs, Nelson could dog it and Haye sometimes came in too overconfident. But that is something that would not happened against The Entertainer. Haye TKO8 Haye deserves to be considered second only to The Real Deal amongst 190-200lbers post 1979, IMO. (Sorry Carlos )
Nelson could definately give him problems but he was chinny and we dont really know what he was made of at CW because he was so protected there.
Chinny? And protected from who? Johnny was far from being one of my favourite fighters (though a nice bloke incidentally) but he was as crafty and durable as they came if not exactly pleasing to watch nor an A-grade talent. Plus he faced a shitload of good to solid names over a span of nearly 20 years, being stopped just once in 12 defeats and 60 or so fights.
id have fancied nelson i think haye would have done well early but eventuly nelson would have wore him down like carl thompson did nelson in 9 .
Nelson was a pure spoiler. He certainly would be a live body vs Haye. Plus Nelson was a 12 round fighter. Haye isnt even a 6 round fighter.
