I'm trying to stay away from the usual catchphrases we use like "underrated," but I do think he is dismissed by a few here rather unfairly. Nelson was one of a relatively few fighters that had the ability to stay on top for a very long time not only through skill, but through an ability to refine and change his style as he aged. He understood the decline age brings, and gradually tailored himself from a strong punching, aggressive boxer-puncher into a canny trap-setter who knew how to husband his strength and fought in bursts when it served him to. He didn't always win by a landslide in his twilight years, but I think credit must be given to a fighter that had learned so much through the years and had the wherewithal to apply that knowledge. Longevity Skill Ring intelligence Many good victories over true world-class opposition What more do we need to call a fighter great?
Hey sanchez, how was his fights with leija and genaro hernandez. I know he lost the hernadez fight, but how well was he fighting back then?
............I may have seen the Hernandez fight, but don't remember it. The Leija fights came at a time when he was just squeezing out the last of his skills. He was pretty much at the end then, but still deserved the nod in their first fight I thought. Leija was just too sharp and energetic in the second fight. Nelson was floored in the second and went on to be outboxed and outpunched over twelve. Nearing forty, he rebounded to stop Leija impresssively the third time, looking strong all the way, then dropped a decision later to him when he was just fighting on fumes. The last fight with Leija aside, these fights are a good example (along with the Ruelas fights) of what I meant by trap-setting and outhinking and outfighting an opponent through sheer savvy.
Hernandez could have taken the easy way out of that fight by winning the WBC title on a foul. I can't mind exactly how the foul occured, possibly a low blow. But Hernandez was applauded by everyone for not taking the easy way out, he took the full five minutes to resume. But if my memory serves me correctly if he was unable to continue he would have won the fight anyway.
Nelson's an all-time great. Argubaly the best fighter to come out of Africa, and he'd make the top 10-15 "pound for pound" best fighters of the last 30 years. His KO against Cowdell was chilling. Hook/uppercut swiftly delivered with precision to the chin with devastating consequenses. He also gave a game effort against Sanchez, which was only his 15th pro fight. His finishes against Martinez and Fenech in the rematch are worth checking out.
Just had a memory flashback. Was Hernandez not punched on the adams apple?. I'm pretty sure it wasn't a low blow, it was an illegal punch to the throat from Nelson. I have the fight, but its so long since I last watched it. Whatever happened anyway, Hernandez's sportsmanship was first class as he was handily ahead on the scorecards, yet decided not to take the easy way out and win the title on a foul. It was 1997, that I do know. And with Tyson's terrible bite against Holyfield and Akinawnde's hugging contest with Lewis, it was a breath of fresh air for the fight game.
.............Robbi, I could be wrong, I only ever saw the fight when it was aired on TV when it happened, but I could have sworn that punch landed on the bridge of his nose (Cowdell). I'd love to see that again.
Nelson was a fine fighter, arguably the best to come out of Africa. He was as good as anyone (outside of Ray Robinson) in rematches, and when motivated a fine defensive fighter with good power and excellent cunning. Nelson slips up slightly, in that he could be lazy and unmotivated on occasions, fighting at his opponents levels and making a meal of what should of been easier wins, sometimes needing a second fight to do what he should of done first time round.
Ok thanks Sanchez, yeh i didnt know that he stopped leija, thats impressive from him considering how long he had ought for. Ive got to check out some of his later fights then to see how he fought. Did he still have good power? Yeah he had got punched in his throat. Yeh i read an article with Genaro, and it said that he didnt want to win like that, by getting Azumah Dq'd, But i also read that he thought he may lose the fight if he doesnt continue (but the interview just may have been a little misunderstood). Its amazing when you think about Azuah then, he fought Sal Sanchez, all the way through to Jeff Fenech topernell whitaker to leija. I mean that he fought well in different era's.
One of my criteria for greatness is longevitynot every great fighter has it for vaarious reasons ,but it helps to cement a boxers legacy imo,using that Nelson could be considered great,I would have picked him to beat Mcguigan at their respective peaksIll say McGuigan was very good ,and Nelson was very very good,but then Im a bit parsimonious with the word great.
