JOHNNY NELSON- WHY THE STRANGE LACK OF AMBITION?

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 11 Aug 2006, 10:03

Why is Johnny Nelson saying he will beat Macca & walk away from boxing?

Doesnt he yearn for a big career defining fight like his buddys Hatton & Calzaghe? Why is he not interested in going to NYC or Vegas for one last hurrah v the Undisputed Champ under the bright lights, media attention and big HBO worldwide audience?

Or even one last crack at the heavys, since the division is wide open?

Its a bit disappointing for me Nelson has such low ambition, fighting a guy like Macca is the finale he sees for his career. Odd, dontcha think...?

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 11 Aug 2006, 10:06

Maybe the knee wont allow him to continue? Will be interesting to see how much mobility he has in the Enzo fight.

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 11 Aug 2006, 10:10

But thats unusual for a top level boxers, dont you think? They never think that way.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 11 Aug 2006, 10:13

Has Nelson ever really thought like a real boxer? He's cautious by nature!

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 11 Aug 2006, 10:15

Well, he's been the WBO champion for so long & hasn't been required to face top 10 fighters since Thompson and Dominguez. & also let's not forget this - he has frozen on big occasions. even at his best he has a remarkably high reluctance to trade punches. so if he were to be given a big stage he could freeze up, or stink the place out, or put on a masterclass of defensive boxing. with johnny, there is a very fine line to separate these.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 11 Aug 2006, 10:28

overhand_right wrote:Why is Johnny Nelson saying he will beat Macca & walk away from boxing?

Doesnt he yearn for a big career defining fight like his buddys Hatton & Calzaghe? Why is he not interested in going to NYC or Vegas for one last hurrah v the Undisputed Champ under the bright lights, media attention and big HBO worldwide audience?

Or even one last crack at the heavys, since the division is wide open?

Its a bit disappointing for me Nelson has such low ambition, fighting a guy like Macca is the finale he sees for his career. Odd, dontcha think...?

Nelson hasn't got the firepower for heavyweight, he can go the distance with heavyweights, but not beat them.

Nelson has never been enough of a draw to tempt any of the other champs into fighting him, and the same is true of most of the history of the division, it's only recently that the division has shown any signs of unifying. Nelson is a peripheral champ, a fighter who has done a lot with a relativlely low level of natural talent, a fine technician who has eked the most out of his career. I'd have liked to have seen him mix it with the big names in the division, but it was not to be.

He is wise to walk away after this fight, at 40 odd, he's not going to get any better and hasn't taken any real punishment.

Neri · Post by **Neri** » 11 Aug 2006, 12:26

It's sad when current and previous champs at cruiser such as Bell and Mormeck talked about unifying, Nelson's name is never mentioned.

He has been wasted on that WBO title.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 11 Aug 2006, 12:56

Neri1983 wrote:It's sad when current and previous champs at cruiser such as Bell and Mormeck talked about unifying, Nelson's name is never mentioned.

He has been wasted on that WBO title.

if he'd been in the Jirov/Toney/JC Gomez/Tiozzo and then Mormeck/Bell mix he certainly wouldn't still e champion. But he would almost certainly have had at least one very big win. He's a very clever boxer who finds ways to win.

Neri · Post by **Neri** » 11 Aug 2006, 13:54

viciousmaussa wrote:
Neri1983 wrote:It's sad when current and previous champs at cruiser such as Bell and Mormeck talked about unifying, Nelson's name is never mentioned.

He has been wasted on that WBO title.
if he'd been in the Jirov/Toney/JC Gomez/Tiozzo and then Mormeck/Bell mix he certainly wouldn't still e champion. But he would almost certainly have had at least one very big win. He's a very clever boxer who finds ways to win.

Yes he would certainly be matched tough and probably lose a few but it would have been nice. Always good to see our home fighters fight the best, shame when it doesn't happen.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 11 Aug 2006, 18:23

I do find it frustating the Nelson talks like a fighter when doing the analysis, but doesn't fight like one most of the time.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 11 Aug 2006, 18:28

Nelson fights to his strengths and on his own terms, and that is why he has been successful for so long.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 12 Aug 2006, 06:28

I hear Nelson is having a crack at the world record for running backwards.

JimJim · Post by **JimJim** » 12 Aug 2006, 06:33

Over the past year I've got the impression that Nelson knows his time is fast running out, and this has made him appreciate, more than ever, the status of being world champ, even if its just the WBO title holder. Once he is retired, which could well be after his next fight, it will be a very strange experience for him - he's been a pro for just over twenty years, afterall.

Obviously the knee injury was a freak occurence but I think Johnny has enjoyed being out of action, as it has prolonged his status as world champion. He's made no secret of wanting a big payday to face Enzo and I can't see Nelson doing enough work in that fight to earn a decision, nor can I see him stopping Enzo. Johnny is a realist and I think he can see the writing on the wall, so he's just enjoying the twilight.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 12 Aug 2006, 06:34

This has shades of Khan v Kindelan all over it I wonder if Nelson will get a sweetener to 'die quietly'?

JimJim · Post by **JimJim** » 12 Aug 2006, 06:41

I think that Johnny is having deja vue; when he faced Carl Thompson, who was WBO champ at the time, a Nelson win was the most favourable outcome for the promoter and probably for the WBO too, in my opinion. The premature stoppage did nothing to dissuade that opinion and I've heard interesting things from people close to Carl Thompson, regarding what happened that night, but anyway, I digress.

Now, several years later, the situation has come full circle and Nelson finds himself as the stumbling block. I'm sure the promoter and the WBO would prefer a younger, exciting puncher like Enzo to win the belt, and Nelson stands in the way of that.

When he challenged Thomson, Nelson had a lot of things in his favour. When he eventually defends against Enzo, I think the deck will be stacked against him.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 12 Aug 2006, 06:48

Yes, I'd go along with that. Enzo would certainly make the WBO a lot more money in sanctioning fees than the boring and inactive Nelson. Nelson is a great fighting machine, but he's not fun to watch unless you're a bit of a purist.

I wonder, we may see Nelson sit down on his punches a bit. He's not a banger, but he's a sneaky hitter and is a big strong man, he's an absolutely fornicating huge bloke with shoulders like a barn door.

Enzo can certainly be hit, but I think the experience of his last two fights is going to stand him in very good stead, and I wouldn't be surprised if he stops Nelson, who is looking more vulnerable as the years go by.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 12 Aug 2006, 07:17

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Yes, I'd go along with that. Enzo would certainly make the WBO a lot more money in sanctioning fees than the boring and inactive Nelson. Nelson is a great fighting machine, but he's not fun to watch unless you're a bit of a purist.

I wonder, we may see Nelson sit down on his punches a bit. He's not a banger, but he's a sneaky hitter and is a big strong man, he's an absolutely smeg huge bloke with shoulders like a barn door.

Enzo can certainly be hit, but I think the experience of his last two fights is going to stand him in very good stead, and I wouldn't be surprised if he stops Nelson, who is looking more vulnerable as the years go by.

I'm a purist and he's not fun to watch.

If Cantatore can drop and hurt Nelson then Enzo is certainly in with a shout of doing the same or more.

I agree jimjim I think Warren would love Enzo to take the reins, Nelson might have to win every round to get a draw!

revporl · Post by **revporl** » 15 Aug 2006, 11:29

is there a date set for this one or is it just a possibility?

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 15 Aug 2006, 12:41

Johnny Nelson at times has bored me as much as any Ronan Keating or James Blunt song ever will (well maybe that's going too far but you get my drift).

But I still can't help but like and respect the man. I think Nelson an intelligent guy looks as Boxing as a business pure and simple.

It's all about the ££££££'s.

Twinkle Toes · Post by **Twinkle Toes** » 15 Aug 2006, 18:06

I am pretty sure Enzo will take care of Nelson.

I wouldn't have called it that way 12 months ago, but Enzo has grown a hell of a lot as a fighter this past year, and although he still has lots of flaws I reckon he will outhustle Nelson who in turn will give us one of his dire showings.

Wales · Post by **Wales** » 15 Aug 2006, 18:09

Nelsons style is pants but he gets the job done, later days of hopkins anyone?

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 16 Aug 2006, 04:31

Come on Hopkins is a legend and will go down in history, Nelson is an absolute bore. There is a huge difference between Hopkins' cagey defensive style and Nelson's running backwards!

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 16 Aug 2006, 04:44

.... And Hopkins undisputed reigns & Nelsons WBOs rains.... Not to even mention quality of opposition & consistency.

JOHNNY NELSON- WHY THE STRANGE LACK OF AMBITION?

JOHNNY NELSON- WHY THE STRANGE LACK OF AMBITION?

Re: JOHNNY NELSON- WHY THE STRANGE LACK OF AMBITION?