Nelson reigned as WBO world champion from 1999 until 2005, racking up an impressive total of 12 successful defences before retiring on top. Haye unified the WBC, WBA and WBO world titles in 2008, holding them only briefly before moving up to heavyweight. Let's say both men fight while in the peak of their careers. Both are very similar in terms of size, Nelson with just a few inches extra in the reach department. Who do we think wins this bout - the London native or the Sheffield man?
Good match up. Nelson turned into a cracking fighter, once he found his feet. Haye was awesome at cruiserweight. There aren’t many I would pick to beat Nelson at his peak, nor Haye. I would go with Nelson to out box Haye.
Haye completely destroys Nelson. This one is a complete mismatch. Haye was world elite level at CW and Nelson was barely European. Haye would have done to Nelson what he did to Enzo.
The WBO wasn't recognised as a legitimate world title by all sanctioning bodies until the mid to late 2000's. It wasn't required to become undisputed. When Nelson initially obtained the belt, it was far from being spoken of in the same breath as the WBA, IBF and WBC. His achievements these days look better than they did back then, because people seem to forget this. He was hardly fighting the cream of the crop in his record title defences. Nelson was indeed European level, or thereabouts, and he was crap to watch flailing around in his skirt.
This would have been an incredibly frustrating fight for Haye. I think Nelson would spoil and make it really ugly, in an attempt to steal it on points. Haye by wide points decision.
Prime Haye who rearranged Enzos haircut? Or the shot to pieces hobbling old one legged ghost who lost to bellew twice? both versions beat Nelson, handily.
Haye eventually gets the job done either by way of a late TKO following a flurry of unanswered punches or a points decision that became wide via Hayes dominance in the second half of the fight.
One taste of Haye's power and The Entertainer goes into survival mode, Nelson was very elusive and tricky against a certain level of opponent but Haye's handspeed and timing would figure Nelson fairly quickly. Haye by wide UD in a terrible fight or maybe a mid-late rounds TKO.
