Is Johnny Nelson good for British Boxing...?

Jedi Knight · Post by **Jedi Knight** » 09 Aug 2004, 12:56

On one hand, 37 years old, lost 12 fights, cannot get a venue in the UK anymore due to snooze fests and lack of interest.

And on the other hand, Undefeated for 9 years, succesfully stepped up to heavyweight in 2001, be it a minor title. 11 straight defenses of his WBO crown.....so what's the verdict..??

I personally think that Johnny has capitalised on an extremely dull division with a severe lack of good oppostion. His style (IMO) is almost un watchable and for me he is virtually unpromotable today.

I much prefer him as a boxing pundit and to be quite honest he is lucky to have his title after his daylight robbery against Jones who clearly won the fight.

I respect how Nelson has taken advantage of the division but good for British boxing...mmmm...I doubt it.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 09 Aug 2004, 15:36

I think that is a little harsh, whilst I believe Nelson wouldn't have stood a chance against the likes of Mormeck, Hill (when champ) and Gomez, to say he is bad for British boxing is harsh.

Now, I'm not Nelson's greatest fan and I did lose some respect for him when he didn't hold his hands up and admitt than Jones beat him, similarly when he claimed that he knew exactly what he was doing vs Sellars (he almost needed a KO to win on points at that stage). However, that win on top of other good wins (Thomspon, Scott, Dominguez) have shown that he is a world class fighter, and while stylewise he's not the greatest to watch - we in Britain need as many world class fighters as we can, even if they are not fighting the best.

Its not as if Johnny Nelson vs TBA is the worst headline fight that Sky have shown, this thread could be applied to anyone - even Danny Williams before his last fight.

Loftgroov · Post by **Loftgroov** » 09 Aug 2004, 17:53

Johnny who?

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 09 Aug 2004, 18:31

In a word, no.

If Nelson at least went for it, in terms of opposition, then despite his unappealing style you could at least have some interest towards his career.

Mine however expired some years ago....

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 10 Aug 2004, 07:38

Euthanasia springs to mind.

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 10 Aug 2004, 09:40

I know I'm in the minority but I find myself having to defend Johnny again. I quite like watching him. He could hardly be called all-action and sometimes has been no action...talking myself out of it here...but I do admire how his career has gone.

I can understand the other point of view though.

BubiScholz · Post by **BubiScholz** » 10 Aug 2004, 09:47

so it will be a nice fight when Nelson faces Rüdiger May, the worst german boxer.......

J · Post by J » 10 Aug 2004, 11:25

Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:I know I'm in the minority but I find myself having to defend Johnny again. I quite like watching him. He could hardly be called all-action and sometimes has been no action...talking myself out of it here...but I do admire how his career has gone.

I can understand the other point of view though.

Ian whats happened to you mate? You nomally have an opinion on all of it?
Now youve gone all "southern soft cock"

on us , you can understand vivian harris and hatton, you can understand slating Johnny and liking him, aint running for parlimant are ya?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 10 Aug 2004, 11:31

I find myself becoming similarly flaccid of late. Everyone seems to talk shit on every side, after a while, you find yourself becoming disinterested with it all. I'm really arsed off with boxing over here right now.

Most of our fighters don't seem to have the desire to really put their bollocks on the line when it counts most. Luckily we have Haye v Thompson to get our teeth in to, but at the moment, at least amongst our top flight it seems pretty meagre offering over the next couple of months. Harrison postponed, Calzaghe I fear facing another Super Middle mystery man, and Hatton, well, Spadafora or N'dou would be ok I guess, but they are not what we hoped for. I know Harris was the one who pulled out initially, but I just don't get the retraction of the #1 mandatory status, unless they have something we all don't know about up their sleeves of course.

It's all so dissapointing. I've been writing for years about how Hatton and Calazaghe are going to take that final step up, and for years it just hasn't happened, and I feel pretty dissapointed by it all.

At least Danny Williams had the bollocks to make his move, Hatton would probably have expected Tyson to come over here and take the short end of the purse, claiming that 'I am the draw, Tyson couldn't draw flies to a turd.'

J · Post by J » 10 Aug 2004, 11:35

me too but im getitng some blue tablets next week ooops!

in seriousness I knwo what you mean: motivation at present is an all time low.
Its arse.

But I know a fight like haye / thompson through experience will get the juices the flowing.

then the missus will get it

Chris the fighter · Post by **Chris the fighter** » 10 Aug 2004, 11:40

Johnny has always been a safety first fighter he does enough to win a fight and thats all and good luck to him if he leaves the game with a bit in the bank and with all his marbles intact. I admire him I suppose for that.

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 10 Aug 2004, 12:02

johnny nelson has one of the most formidable resumés in the world.

That alone is worth 10X more than you can say about every other british fighter at the moment.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 10 Aug 2004, 12:05

You are joking surely? He's a good pro, but hardly has one of the most formidable resumes ever.

knockout · Post by **knockout** » 10 Aug 2004, 12:10

jamesmcdonnell wrote:You are joking surely? He's a good pro, but hardly has one of the most formidable resumes ever.

his level of competition in his wilderness years was good...

Saunder, Akinwande (2 ex world champs)
Dennis Andries, Kulpin, Bott, all decent fighters

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 10 Aug 2004, 12:14

Does anyone ever remember James Warring nearly knocking him down? It ranks up there as one of my more memorable boxing memories. Nelson fails disastrously to win genuine world titles so settles for the WBO title and defences against the likes of Willard Lewis - later to be stopped by Robin Reid.

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 10 Aug 2004, 12:22

He was also robbed (apparentley) versus the big Cuban and the Marcel Dominguez and Carl Thompson wins were credible at the time.

Ok so it aint Jirov, Braxton and Toney but ya know.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 10 Aug 2004, 12:29

The bottom line is: Nelson can fight but doesn't want to. The only time I've really seen him go for it is against Lou Gent (who made racial remarks before the fight) and Carl Thompson (for the WBO title of course). But Nelson isn't comfortable in that role. I remember after he outbored Alex Vassilev for 12 rounds at York hall, the crowd booed at the final bell and you saw Nelson say to his corner: "Why are they booing?"
He really doesn't get it.

Jedi Knight · Post by **Jedi Knight** » 10 Aug 2004, 12:32

Riddick Blowe wrote:johnny nelson has one of the most formidable resumés in the world.

That alone is worth 10X more than you can say about every other british fighter at the moment.

Don't quite know How you can class Nelson's resume as being one of the best....He lost his first three fights , 5 out of the first 11. As soon as he stepped up in class he lost 3 in a row, finally after 12 losses he figured out he wasn't getting anywhere at heavyweight then went to cruiser.

I agree his record looks good after going down but what about the first 9 years of his carreer?

Sorry my friend, you havn't convinced me.

knockout · Post by **knockout** » 10 Aug 2004, 12:48

bennie wrote:I remember after he outbored Alex Vassilev for 12 rounds at York hall, the crowd booed at the final bell and you saw Nelson say to his corner: "Why are they booing?"
He really doesn't get it.

damn, i was there that night, had to endure that fight.... lots of people left early

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 10 Aug 2004, 13:41

Jedi Knight wrote:
Riddick Blowe wrote:johnny nelson has one of the most formidable resumés in the world.

That alone is worth 10X more than you can say about every other british fighter at the moment.
Don't quite know How you can class Nelson's resume as being one of the best....He lost his first three fights , 5 out of the first 11. As soon as he stepped up in class he lost 3 in a row, finally after 12 losses he figured out he wasn't getting anywhere at heavyweight then went to cruiser.

I agree his record looks good after going down but what about the first 9 years of his carreer?

Sorry my friend, you havn't convinced me.

I'm talking NAMES, man.

as well as deleon, dominguez, thompson, sellars and many more at cruiser, including i'm sure two more guys who are currently in the top 10, that italian, aurino? he has fought more names at HEAVYWEIGHT than any of the jokers on the scene today. Sanders, Akinwande, rodriguez X2, he hung with ALL of them. sure many were boring fights and he lost a few but my original point was HE HAS ONE OF THE MOST FORMIDABLE RESUMéS IN THE WORLD. doesn't mean he won them all. Does mean he has had 100% more STONES than 99% of british fighters. Ergo- Johnny Nelson GOOD for british boxing.

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 10 Aug 2004, 14:09

J wrote:
Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:I know I'm in the minority but I find myself having to defend Johnny again. I quite like watching him. He could hardly be called all-action and sometimes has been no action...talking myself out of it here...but I do admire how his career has gone.

I can understand the other point of view though.
Ian whats happened to you mate? You nomally have an opinion on all of it?
Now youve gone all "southern soft cock" on us , you can understand vivian harris and hatton, you can understand slating Johnny and liking him, aint running for parlimant are ya?

No, certainly not mate. It's just in both these cases I can understand why people hate his style and as I've said to me old mate MightyWarrior, the likes of him, bennie, myself and many others have his awful nights against Warring and DeLeon soldered onto our minds. His style is an acquired taste and I don't blame people for disliking him.

As for Hatton-Harris, as James says, there is so much shit talked lately that rarely is anything black and white. I felt Harris had a point as it was his right to allow it to go to purse bids but also thought Warren had a point when he agreed to pay him $750,000.

Having to wade through the quicksand of shit has temporarily tired me out!

And J, keep off those fornicating drugs!

J · Post by J » 11 Aug 2004, 05:21

HAHA FAIR ENOUGH MATE.
was yanking your chain! I know what you mean this constant bullshit is battering even the most ardent boxing fan into a submission of apathy.

no drugs, just say no, !!! just beer! (well yesterday anyway!!!)