Yes it's somewhat of a black mark that Pacquiao went life and death with Marquez. I think a fighter of Pacquiao's caliber should have handled Marquez instead of settle for a controversial draw and split decision victory. But he didn't. Likewise I think a fighter of Chava's caliber should have had a much easier go against Nelson and shouldn't have taken 15 round to finish him and shouldn't have been hit so often by Nelson.
Nelson was never stopped again and he moved up how many times? I would take Azumah over JMM at 126 and 130 any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Yes I agree that JMM is H2H less dangerous than Nelson. I do think that both Chava and Pacquiao would have the style advantage in this fight though if that makes sense. Pacquiao doesn't like to be countered and would no doubt be getting tagged. But Sanchez was more comfortable against boxer-punchers and boxers than he was against pressure fighters and brawlers.
either way, it would be a hell of a fight, and it did make me rewatch the Sanchez - Gomez fight last night. Great fight while it lasted.
Agree with everything written so far other than rating Nelson above JMM, but I might need to watch more of the professor. Pac can knock out any FW but stylistically Sanchez had enough nouse to do what JMM did certainly. I favour Sanchez in an 8-4 type fight. Loving watching fights at this weight class.
Ehhh well both Nelson and JMM were good enough to cause problems for anybody. For me personally the struggles that Pacquiao had against Marquez were overblown. First of all he knocked him down many times. Secondly the fight at 126 was a draw. The fight at 130 was an actual victory for Pacquiao. Pacquiao struggled against Marquez most definitely, but he didn't actually lose until he got his ass handed to him at 147. Of course Pacquiao lost by knockout at 147, but that is completely irrelevant to Pacquiao's capabilities at 126. Where this matchup would take place. Morales was the man who matched up better than anybody Pacquiao ever faced.
They aren't overblown at all. Pacman showed himself an inferior boxer to Marquez but one who was able to hurt him at any point in a fight. Would he be able to catch Sanchez with the same shots? Not in my minds eye. Whilst Morales did defeat Pac comprehensively by timing him, landing that straight right and backing him up, he did fail the 2nd and 3rd time when Pac was able to catch up to him. All tell the same story that Pacman could be outboxed but he could hurt even the most durable of boxers. So with Sanchez it's the same story again, he should outbox Pac but if Pacman can hurt he can beat him.