Here are some of his feats: - Has a 49-0 win streak, longer than his opponent Larry Holmes, equal with Rocky Marciano's. - Beat a 47-year-old Larry Holmes by SD. - Beat former world champions: - aforementioned Larry Holmes (WBC, IBF, Ring) - James Smith (WBA) - Tim Witherspoon (WBC, WBA) - Tony Tubbs (WBA) - Orlin Norris (WBA - cruiserweight) - Uriah Grant (IBF - cruiserweight) - Carlos De Leon (WBC, Ring - cruiserweight) - Jeff Lampkin (IBF - cruiserweight)- Fought against former world champions: - Mike Tyson (Undisputed, 2x WBA & WBC) - went 5 rounds with Tyson - Evander Holyfield (Undisputed - heavyweight & cruiserweight, 3x WBA, 3x IBF, 1x WBF - minor title) - went 10 rounds with Holyfield - Won Bronze at the 1992 Olympics (as super-heavyweight) - Beat 1988 Olympic light heavyweight gold medalist Andrew Maynard (in the pros) - Beat world title contenders: - Jeremy Williams - Lionel Butler (IBO minor title champion, fought Lennox Lewis in a WBC eliminator) - Crawford Grimsley - James Pritchard
He was a decent fighter but he had some potential gift decisions and from what I heard even some fixed fights. It’s hard to rate someone with that reputation very highly
His record is almost as padded as LaMar Clark, he did not go through the wars that Holmes and Marciano went through to get their undefeated streaks. Everyone he faced was extremely washed. The fact that you mention beating a 47 year old Holmes (BARELY) as a testament to his accomplishments already speaks volumes about what we need to know.
I agree, a Lamar Clark barnstormer. Another barnstormer was Dicky Ryan, who stopped Nielsen in 4 rounds. Nielsen made his bones on old fighters, washed up fighters and fighters in free-fall who would likely agree to do anything for a buck. One more thing, I scored Holmes-Nielsen for Larry 117-113.
his record is much better than he really was... he is not underrated, he is forgotten - no one simply remembers his great victories and great fights because they never happened.
He did not go through the wars Marciano and Holmes did because he so badly outclassed his contemporaries. Neilsen has a strong argument for top 15.
I bet you hadn't seen Nielsen vs 47-years-old Holmes fight because if you did you would never say Nielsen "beat" Holmes. It was Lewis vs Holyfield I level of robbery. Even worse - Lewis at least didn't get a L in his record
