Azumah Nelson vs Eusebio Pedroza

If Pedroza has the chip on his shoulder like he did with Ford and, to a lesser extent Laporte, I reckon he could really do a number on Nelson.

 

Every day on this forum I see a dozen fantasy matchups that stir zero interest in me. This fight is one that I would love to see. A big part of that is that these are two guys that I never cheered for, every time I watched them, I wanted them to lose. And I was almost always wrong.

 

Curious, what was your beef with Nelson? He had a ferocious, crowd pleasing style and wasn't a bad actor.

 

I don't dislike him, it seems like he was always fighting someone I liked more.

 

I realize that Eusebio Pedroza was older on June 8 1985, when he lost his WBA World Featherweight Title to Barry McGuigan in London. But Pedroza has been kayoed before against a ferocious aggressive fighter in Alfonso Zamora in his career. Azumah Nelson gave then WBC World Featherweight Champion Salvador Sanchez all he could handle on the night of July 21 1982, before being stopped in round 15 by Sanchez in Madison Square Garden. Nelson later would stop a slick boxer, Pat Cowdell in round 1, of their 1985 encounter. I look for Nelson to keep immense pressure on Eusebio as McGuigan and Zamora did in their encounters against Pedroza. Azumah would get under those combos of Eusebio's, digging in severe body shots, slowing down the lateral movement and keeping Pedroza against the ropes. I see Nelson stopping Eusebio late, TKO 13.

 

15 or 12 rounds? Could make a difference here as Pedroza had plenty of experience going 15 while Nelson did fade down the stretch against Sanchez, the only time he went that far. It's a tough call. My guess, a nip and tuck war that goes down to the wire (as if often did with Pedroza) and Pedroza nicks an SD.

 

Pedroza would have to endure some scares, and Nelson isn't without a chance, but ultimately I hold Pedroza in higher regard and feel he would have outclassed Nelson over 15.

 

I like Nelson. I think he's underrated. So strong and forceful at his very best. I'll say by close decision.

 

He ALWAYS had that chip on his shoulders.

 

I sorta meant in relation to Sanchez, it's like he was hellbent on out-doing him. If he's on form like that vs Nelson, I think his awkwardness, limitless stamina and savage body punching would spell disaster for Nelson, and would lead Pedroza to a late stoppage.

Pedroza is one of the most underrated FWs ever IMO, I think he was at least Sanchez's equal

 

Amen Mr. C. I've always said Pedroza was underrated, and though I love S.Sanchez he would have been in the fight of his life if they met prime vs prime. With a very good chance of him losing to Pedroza. Love Nelson, but Pedroza was all wrong for him. Pedroza's slick feet, and angles would have Nelson missing most of his shots, along with great head movement, fast hands, and mean streak with some of the greatest, smartest fouling ability in the history of the sport (watching him on TV, we saw the fouls, but ref 's rarely caught him) would lead to a wide dec win for Pedroza against Nelson. Pedroza beats Nelson more convincingly than Sanchez did in my opinion, though he probably wouldn't stop him.

 

Great match. I think Nelson by decision. Pedroza would have his moments though.

 

True, because Sanchez did stop him in round 15.

 

I’m wondering how Nelson would respond to Pedroza’s body attack