I actually think that this fight could be competetive for some rounds .. But i think Brian would stop Bean in the 7th or something.. But i would have loved to see this fight
Nielsen TKO7. Nielsen, although never a top top HW was a former Olympic medalist and has wins over Tubbs, Holmes etc.
How big a puncher was Nielsen? I don't really know that much about him. If they fought over 4 rounds (the Bean's natural territory) then I'd give I'd give Esch a puncher's chance, over 10 then it would be Nielsen all the way probably with a stoppage around the 8th.
He was not a big puncher. He had very good stamina though and usually just ran over the opponent midway throwing punches from all angles (textbook punches or not).
Bit of a mismatch, Butterbean was only a 4 round fighter, the one time he did fight more than 4 rounds he was dominated by an ancient Larry Holmes over 10 rounds. Nielsen was clearly the better fighter he gave a younger, better version of Holmes a decent fight though personally I though he lost that fight. Arreola vs Nielsen would be a better match up of the overweight national hype jobs.
Prime for prime I think Nielsen would outpoint Arreola. Nielsen fought in a much tougher division than Arreola did. Arreola is probably a bigger puncher, but Nielsen could take quite a few.
Nielsen has better technique, though neither of them a technical geniuses... but I don't see Arreola getting an Olympic medal any day soon. I think it would be a war with Nielsen winning in the end because I think he had better stamina. Arreola hits a bit harder, but Nielsen would not be KOd by those slow punches - so it would go to the score cards. I think Haye would beat Nielsen. Someone very athletic and fast has a good chance at winning. Someone tough and strong.... would meet their match usually.
Nielsen in his prime was actually quite decent fighter. Unfortunately he preferred to fight easy opposition (mostly tomato cans, mixed with some good names on their way to retirement) in his homeyard instead of trying to achieve something real. His fight with Butterbean would be a mismatch, and the puncher chance someone gave to Butterbean would be quite small - if Tyson couldn't knock down already declining Nielsen, I doubt Butterbean would do it.
Frightening to think that a prime Nielsen fighting today just might crack the top 10. I'm danish and I liked the guy, but he was a limited fighter. He'd beat a guy like Butterbean, though, and I see a fight between him and Arreola as a bit of a toss-up at this point.
I gave butterbean a puncher's chance only if they'd met on the Bean's terms over 4 rounds, Nielsen takes a ten rounder every day of the week...