Azumah Nelson vs Tony "The Tiger" Lopez SFW

2 of my favorite non-Philly Phighters! Who would come out on top and how?

 

Azumah is a whole level above Tony the Tiger.

If prime Lopez fought Nelson in the Arco Arena with Nelson having one hand tied behind his back, then maybe....... Tony sneaks a round in an otherwise Unanimous shut out!

 

Azumah does just about anything he wants to do in the ring with Lopez. Azumah 8th rd. tko.

 

I don't have a problem with the nelson pick or even the statement that nelson was a class above...But I have not seen anyone completely outclass Lopez in the manner to which you are speaking... He remained competitive with Lockridge, Molina, Mitchell etc. nelson was great and like i said above one of my favs but even in his prime was not shutting out guys like Villisana, martinez, Laporte...

So is it a certain style that leads to Nelson shutting out Lopez, or something else????

 

Nelson has had very tough fights from lesser fighters than Lopez. Martinez arguably outboxed him in their first fight (and dropped him), Suarez gave him absolute hell, McDonnell and a faded LaPorte both gave him decent fights as well. Lopez also has the better resume than Nelson at jr. lightweight and above.

I think Nelson's cleaner, harder punches might eventually bust up Lopez and carry the day for him. But this isn't a clear cut win for Nelson like many people think.

Shame this fight didn't happen too, it was right there.

 

In the fights where Lopez was stopped Molina (elbow to the eye in the 2nd), and chavez (cuts again starting in the 2nd)..he went toe to toe with both of them....What is it about Lopez that makes you feel he gets stopped...cuts, swollen eye...or something else???

 

I see the fight in my mind going something like this...
Azumah putting the preasure on,getting the better of the exchanges,eventually getting Lopez more and more against the ropes then stopping him on a TKO.

 

Not saying that is impossible, I like Nelson alot and he did indeed pack a punch...But Chavez could not back Lopez to the ropes, try as he might...Lopez went toe to toe in the middle with no danger of being stopped by anything but a loss of blood..and that version of Lopez was nowhere near his best...I can't say this is outside the realm of possibility, but I would not lean towards it!

 

I respect your point. I just feel that Azumah was physically stronger than Chavez and that strength would play alot into how the fight unfolds.

 

this seems a very fair post...Nelson is unqestionably the favorite going into this! But Tony did indeed have a better resume at this weight IMO, and may just be slightly larger naturally...Once again a shame this could not have happened. Does anyone know if there was ever any talks of it between 88-92???

 

Nelson is also a level above Lockbridge, Molina and even Mitchell....

I get the feeling fighting a peak Nelson, Tony would go into just glad to be there mode.

 

Fair enough my friend! I would disagree about Chavez not being as strong as nelson though.

And although I have withheld my pick I would envision Tony applying the pressure (not as tenacious about it as fenech), with Nelson being against the ropes more often and countering much the way he did against jeff. Not a mirrior of that fight as i don't think tony would apply the pressure that steady, and I think Nelson (Although IMO lost that fight) was not at his best that night either.

 

I respect your pick and your opinion. Perhaps nelson was a class above not only Lopez but Molina Lockridge etc. But Lopez was a notch above some of the guys Nelson beat via not so lopsided scores...And I can't picture Tony just glad to be there against anyone???? Tony always felt he was the best of his era!

 

Do not get me wrong, Lopez was a fine fighter. Nelson very often fought to the level of the opposition, thus some below the best opposition gave him trouble (Martinez (fight one) and McDonnell come to mind). But when he fought the best, Nelson peaked, and against Tony, Nelson would be in prime form, because anything less, Azumah loses to the Tiger; but at his best, he dominates Lopez.

 

BTW I had the pleasure of Talking to Willie the Worm about 15 yrs ago.
A very nice man.