Arguello vs Nelson @ 130

Talk about a shootout, but I see Arguello being the stronger man down the stretch because I don't see Azumah standing up to too many right hands.

Arguello TKO 8

 

I think this is Arguello's best weight. It would be one hell of a styles matchup. But I think Arguello was too good at this weight. I actually think he'd stop Nelson late. I think I might pick Nelson at 126 against a greener Arguello but not at 130. It was clearly Arguello's prime weight.

 

Arguello struggled with movers, he would have stopped Nelson i think. Hard fight though.

 

I think Arguello's height and range is the critical difference. That's a helluva obstacle that Nelson would have to overcome.

I'd go with Arguello by fair decision or late stoppage, after a fierce and competitive fight.

 

I like both guys and this fight as well. Initially I was seeing shades of Sanchez vs nelson with an Argeullo victory in 10-12? But now am not so certain.

Nelson of the Sanchez fight, while an admirable performance, was still green..being only his 14th fight. 1 of the 3 judges actually had him ahead in the fight??? While i agree with the other 2 judges that it was a close fight, I am not sure how anyone could have had him ahead on points.

Arguello is very precise, paitent, methodical etc. and will present a huge proplem for any SFW ever, including Nelson.

Nelson was a tough warrior who could box or fight and was sound defensively as well..with somewhat underrated power.

Nelson would never be stopped again after Sanchez only fighting the 15 rd limit once more...Had that fight only been 12 rd's Azumah may have left there with a W that night as well...So 12 or 15 rds could make a world of difference in this fight. Of course azumah never faced a puncher/boxer on par with sanchez or Arguello for that matter perhaps with the exception of Fenech, and in the first fight although I believe Fenech should have won, Nelson took a monsterous beating and never really was in danger of being KO'd.

I would look for Nelson to start strong and take the first few rounds, by the 5th or so I would see momentum shifting in Arguellos favor. I believe the 8-12 rds would be closely contested with Arguello holding a slim points lead.

If the fight ends there...over 15 I believe as much as I like Azumah, that Arguello would be able to get him out of there. Maybe if Azumah became strictly a boxer/counter puncher focusing on survival he could last...but I don't think he would.

Arguello 7-5/or 8-4 over 12 and tko 14 otherwise

 

Arguello on a whim for me, arguably Nelson's best weight also. But for me it is Arguello's best class

 

I like Arguello either by UD or late stoppage.

 

Rubbish Azumah Nelson would have knocked out Arguello be it over a scheduled 15 rounds or 12 rounds. Azumah had everything Pryor had and more. Nelson by knockout. 2 truly great fighters.

 

No, he didn't have the size and strength that Pryor had up at 140, and perhaps not quite as much mobility as well. Nor did he have a black bottle to drink from when the going got rough, either.

 

arguello wins by ud over 12 or 15 rounds,height and use of jab make a big difference in this fight arguello as said already above was at his best at this weight ,nelson though to good at weight to have lost by stoppage

 

Azumah was not like Pryor and even in some aspects was inferior to him.

As M2S said the impact Pryor had being the bigger man would be erased in this fight...reversed actually.

 

Rubbish Nelson did not need the black bottle. He would have relished stopping Arguello and would gladly have done it in Nicaragua as well the way he did the great Wilfredo Gomez in Puerto Rico. Azumah was an excellent boxer puncher with all the skills, great defence, great chin and ring generalship. The fact that he was an unbelievably powerful man who could take you out with 1 punch as well as combinations says it all. Arguello was a great fighter but fighting against Azumah Nelson is not the same as beating the likes of Jim Watt and Ray Boom Mancini.

Nelson use to spar regularly with Welterweights and Light Middleweights and hold back his power. In title fights he toyed with world class fighters.

I would leave the last words to Azumah Nelson contemporary and fellow all time great champion from the same Don King camp the all time great Julio Cesar Chavez Senior. He said of Nelson to a journalist who asked his opinion of Nelson when he observed him sparring and training in the same gym when he was WBC Junior Lightweight Champion of the world and Azumah Nelson the WBC Featherweight Champion of the world:

"He is a tremendous fighter in unbelievable and excellent physical condition. I look forward to the day he moves up in weight to contest for my title". Quite frankly that is about the highest compliment that can be paid. Even the great Chavez understood Nelson true worth. The real question is not whether Nelson would have beaten Arguello which he clearly would have done. The real question is what would have happened when a more seasoned Nelson and Sanchez fought again had Sanchez not died prematurely. I do know that somewhere up there in boxing heaven Sanchez is smiling because Azumah Nelson's subsequent career after his loss to Sanchez has dignified and honoured the legacy of Sanchez who in my opinion is the greatest to come out of Mexico with Julio Cesar Chavez Senior.

Nelson versus Julio Cesar Chavez now that would have been a great fightI am clear that Sanchez, Nelson and Julio Cesar Chavez would all have beaten Arguello.

 

This is an interesting match up, usually a taller power puncher has his way with smaller pressure fighters but Nelson brings a very dangerous package to the table, he's sucha physical beast, relentless, brutally strong, massive power, a tight inside game he'd force on his opponent. Nelson had better speed too and that may mean he'd be able to make Arguello fight his fight. Arguello's better technical ability, jab and brutal power made me initially favour him. But this would be a real back and forth backburner of a war, a battle of wills and until they go head to head who knows which man comes through. I lean towards Arguello's better technical ability and reach being the difference here

 

Whether Azumah was better than Pryor is debatable. The thing you're conveniently omitting from your analysis is that Arguello was considerably better and in his prime at 130 compared to 140. He would also be the bigger, stronger man.