One of the great FW Wars: Sanchez TKO15 Nelson

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by McGrain, Mar 25, 2009.


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  1. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    The first round: Azumah is SO full of confidence from the outshot and it is unreal...why is he so confident?? Has anyone ever seen anyone so green step up to world class looking this confident?

    I think his rushes are well timed, and he's not over-commited at all at this stage. He's throwing wide, but he has such fast hands it doesn't look that desperate...however, Sanchez also looks so cool. Despite being repeatedly bulled he never forgets his footwork. A couple of times he is OUT so fast Nelson can't match him, when he gets pinned, he keeps his balance beautifully.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29mbF-nQ2uo&feature=channel_page


    2, 3, 4. Sanchez is sucking up Nelsons rushes and countering beautifully. His punches to the body are beautiful, and underated by the commentary team - including Larry Holmes - and his counters to the head are hurtful. I think Nelson is shading these early rounds - your feelings? - but I don't think he's necessarily winning them all, they are close rounds with a lot of Sanchez's great work going unnoticed - and it's in the bank, too:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwS1A71r8Rg&feature=related


    Rounds 5,6 and 7, including Nelson's best round of the fight. He is really wading in with combinations, especially to the body, exposing one of Sanchez's rare weaknesses, a lack of elusiveness when in the pocket. This is countered, to a degree, by his coolness of purpose and punch resistance, but Nelson wins 5 big.

    Do you think Sanchez was "confused"? I'm unsure. He IS one of the definitive 15 round fighters - he's in against a guy with no experience of the 15 round distance, who's using up huge amounts of energy whilst Sanchez himself banks shots to the body. I think he's still in his fight plan, demonstrated by the establisment of the jab/his timing in the following round.

    What are your thoughts on this? Did Sanchez solve Nelson in the ring, or was it all a part of the plan? Nelson shows mad toughness in there.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tA1rz6v_WHg&feature=channel_page



    Just a wee thing - but keep an eye out or 55 seconds on this part of the video. Nelson throws out a jab to the torso, and Sanchez just spoons it away, parries it gently and turns his body. It's beautiful. If it had had a hard counter behind it, my favourite action in boxing, maybe! Anyway, what's keeping Nelson up in these rounds? Still punching, too. Fearless.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQijwkkILMU&feature=related




    11,12 and 13. Check the parry at 2.10. The Mexican seems now in near total control as to where, when, how. He's just dominated Nelson with generalship. Nelson is so game though, and i think these are three of the most lovely, surprising rounds in boxing:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTXKdSkaM2g&feature=channel_page




    The end:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmEzPJ17sH0&feature=channel_page


    Nelson has the heart of a lion.
     
    McGrain, Mar 25, 2009
    McGrain, Mar 25, 2009
    #1
  2. WhataRock

    WhataRock Loyal Member Full Member

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    A true classic between two truly great fighters...The kind of fight that reminds me why I love the lighter weights so much.
     
    WhataRock, Mar 25, 2009
    WhataRock, Mar 25, 2009
    #2
  3. Bummy Davis

    Bummy Davis Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Azuma was young but so was Sal....these are fights like Monzon/Briscoe 1.....before the greatness was talked of
     
    Bummy Davis, Mar 25, 2009
    Bummy Davis, Mar 25, 2009
    #3
  4. DINAMITA

    DINAMITA Guest

    I watched this fight again only a couple of days ago. McGrain did you not think that Sanchez was in trouble at the end of the 11th? (at least I think it was the 11th, there was one round round about then when Sal really seemed hurt before the bell rang, but I don't see mention of it in your synopsis. Do you know what I'm referring to or have I seen something that wasn't actually there?)

    This is one of my favourite fights of all-time. I have seen it suggested that this fight is actually an example of Sanchez's limitations rather than his ability, and on a surface level I can see the logic to that. Nelson had only had 13 fights, young, green, wholly inexperienced, and for a few rounds at least over the piece he is the man in control. He penetrates Sanchez's defence again and again, showboats a lot displaying supreme confidence that he will emerge victorious, and as the commentators continually state, he has Sanchez 'confused'.

    But personally, I am of the opposite opinion entirely. Nelson would have beaten a helluva lot of great featherweights that night. Coming from nowhere, with so much belief, so much energy, so much will, so much resilience, so much heart and, crucially, some serious skill and strength - green or not, he was a formidable force (Evander Holyfield had around the same number of fights when he took the cruiserweight title from the excellent Dwight Muhammad Qawi - some guys are born fighters and don't need 30-40 turkeyshoots before challenging for a real title).

    Watching that fight, there are instances where I feel as if Nelson's momentum is going to see him overwhelm Sanchez, but Sal never loses his grip. He stays ice-cool even when under intense pressure, maintains his belief that his superior skills will tell in the end, and of course they do. I think it is nothing short of a magnificent performance - by both men but especially Sanchez. His chin/resilience really is something to behold in this fight, his ring generalship, his accuracy and all-round game... truly a Lord Of The Ring! (excuse the dire pun, you get my meaning surely - the guy was a craftsman)
     
    DINAMITA, Mar 25, 2009
    DINAMITA, Mar 25, 2009
    #4
  5. WhataRock

    WhataRock Loyal Member Full Member

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    Nicely said Dina.

    Nelson had been a top notch amateur before his turned pro..He only had 60 or so fights in the unpaid ranks but a Commonwealth gold medal showed his promise.
    He may have been a novice as a pro but I think he was really hitting his prime very quickly and working out a style that would work for him to complement his impressive physical gifts.

    Wasnt long after this fight he mowed through Gomez and destroyed Cowdell to show this performance was far from a fluke.
     
    WhataRock, Mar 25, 2009
    WhataRock, Mar 25, 2009
    #5
  6. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Yeah, Nelson was pretty hurt at the end of 11.

    I think the fight does reveal some weaknesses in Sanchez's game, but his is a long-strategy, always was. He's investing in body punching throughout, keeping things economical throughout, parrying throughout, forcing Nelson to move more throughout. If his strategy was anything other than late KO i'd be astonished.

    On the other hand, we were a couple of minutes from a decision unlikley to have gone in Nelson's way, but it didn't seem impossible...i don't think even Sanchez is that cool.
     
    McGrain, Mar 25, 2009
    McGrain, Mar 25, 2009
    #6
  7. DINAMITA

    DINAMITA Guest

    WhataRock, McGrain: who do you think was the greater exponent of the 15-round 'long game', Sanchez or Arguello?
     
    DINAMITA, Mar 25, 2009
    DINAMITA, Mar 25, 2009
    #7
  8. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Sanchez. I believe Sanchez played this game by design - nothing stopping him taking off after Nelson on the numerous occasions he has him hurt, but he sticks to the plan. Recognising his advantages he uses generlship to manipulate his man.

    Arguello played the long game through neccesity because he was a bit plodding but held his power well.
     
    McGrain, Mar 25, 2009
    McGrain, Mar 25, 2009
    #8
  9. DINAMITA

    DINAMITA Guest

    Do you think Griffith was a 15-round strategist like Sanchez, or someone who went the distance through necessity and fought minute-by-minute?
     
    DINAMITA, Mar 25, 2009
    DINAMITA, Mar 25, 2009
    #9
  10. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Griffith falls more firmly into the general category. He showed good adaptions against opponents. He had a little bit of help with his stratagies of course, but whateveryou make of the decision, his Tiger efforts were perfect efforts. Conn-Louis style perfect planning.
     
    McGrain, Mar 25, 2009
    McGrain, Mar 25, 2009
    #10
  11. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Thank you for this thread.I just got chills watching it again and reading about it as well.Unbelievably classic stuff.I'll never forget it.
     
    Clinton, Mar 25, 2009
    Clinton, Mar 25, 2009
    #11
  12. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Aye, you're welcome.
     
    McGrain, Mar 25, 2009
    McGrain, Mar 25, 2009
    #12
  13. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    Really is a fantastic fight, a lot of people try to discredit this victory by saying Nelson was 'green', but by watching it you can see he's the same fighter, but even more aggressive!!!! I guess his inexperience showed in the final round, but I had him ahead by two rounds going into the 15th (including the previous KD) though if it had gone the distance Sal would've ended up winning by a point due to the two KD's in the final round.

    But seriously, what a scrap.
     
    Flea Man, Mar 26, 2009
    Flea Man, Mar 26, 2009
    #13
  14. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    I mean, yeah, I agree with you guys that a style this fundamental as Nelson's isn't going to benifit experience as much - but still. I mean Pep would have shut this guy out.

    How do you boys think Barrera and Morales go in Sanchez's seat?
     
    McGrain, Mar 26, 2009
    McGrain, Mar 26, 2009
    #14
  15. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    You think Pep would've shut Sanchez out?

    Barrera and Morales wouldn't have beaten Sanchez imo. I say he stops both of them, even in 12 rounders, and probably Pac as well.
     
    Flea Man, Mar 26, 2009
    Flea Man, Mar 26, 2009
    #15
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