The Top 100 Greatest Boxers Pound per Pound of All-Time

[Onetimeonly]

Who was the best fighter that Nelson beat before he got a title shot? Simple question.

Don't bother, he'll never answer it. I don't even remember that other guy. Why he's part of Nelson's bio is perplexing in its own right.

[elmersalsa]

Who was the best fighter that Nelson beat before he got a title shot? Simple question.

None. He only had 13 fights. He was unknown out of Ghana. He was a SUBSTITUTE of Mario Miranda. The fight had to be made. Don King already invested too much money for the fight to happen.

[Onetimeonly]

Who was the best fighter that Nelson beat before he got a title shot? Simple question.

None. He only had 13 fights. He was unknown out of Ghana. He was a SUBSTITUTE of Mario Miranda. The fight had to be made. Don King already invested too much money for the fight to happen.

Too much money in what? Miranda?

[elmersalsa]

Who was the best fighter that Nelson beat before he got a title shot? Simple question.

None. He only had 13 fights. He was unknown out of Ghana. He was a SUBSTITUTE of Mario Miranda. The fight had to be made. Don King already invested too much money for the fight to happen.

Too much money in what? Miranda?

In the promotion. Promoting fights cost a lot of money, you know.

[Onetimeonly]

None. He only had 13 fights. He was unknown out of Ghana. He was a SUBSTITUTE of Mario Miranda. The fight had to be made. Don King already invested too much money for the fight to happen.

Too much money in what? Miranda?

In the promotion. Promoting fights cost a lot of money, you know.

[elmersalsa]

Too much money in what? Miranda?

In the promotion. Promoting fights cost a lot of money, you know.

And what is funny?

[elmersalsa]

Azumah Nelson starts the year 1990 in a bad note. He faces then WBC/IBF World Lightweight Champion Pernell Whitaker of Norfolk, VA.

Whitaker gave Nelson a boxing lesson. If Azumah calls himself The Professor, the Sweet Pea was his Principal or his Master.

I have never seen Nelson so dominated by any other fighter. If Nelson won 2 rounds in that fight, then it was enough.

People forgot how strong Whitaker is in the inside fighting. Nelson, a strong guy himself, could not move him, nor push Whitaker around. Whitaker with the edge on speed and weight, proved that it is tough for a guy coming to your weight class to try to beat you.

Should have The Professor had about 5 tune up fights at lightweight before challenging a champion like Whitaker? Or was that Whitaker was too good for him?

It was the first time in 7 and a half years that Nelson lost a fight. That happened after 18 bouts after losing to the great Salvador Sanchez in 1982.

[Jaywheel]

Oscarito starts the fall 2004 in a bad note. He faces then WBA/IBF/WBO World Middleweight Champion Bernard Humphrey Hopkins Jr of Philly, PA.

Hopkins gave Oscarito a boxing lesson. If Oscarito calls himself The Oscarito, the great Alien was his Principal or his Master.

I have never seen Oscarito so dominated by any other fighter. If Oscarito won 2 rounds in that fight, then it was enough.

People forgot how strong the great Alien from Philly is in the inside fighting. Oscarito, a strong guy himself, could not move him, nor push the Alien around. The Alien with the edge on speed and weight, proved that it is tough for a guy coming to your weight class to try to beat you.

Should have The Great Oscarito had about 5 tune up fights at midlleweight before challenging a champion like Bernard Humphrey Hopkins Jr of Philly, PA? Or was that Bernard Humphrey Hopkins Jr of Philly, PA was too good for him?

It was the first time in 12 months that Oscarito lost a fight. That happened after 2 bouts after being robbed to the great Shane Balco Mosley of Lynwood, Ca.

[elmersalsa]

Azumah Nelson vs Juan La Porte

The fight was made in Australia of all places. It was an entertaining fight.

LaPorte from Puerto Rico via Brooklyn, NY, ALWAYS was a tough performer and a formidable opponent for anybody. By the time he fought The Professor, he already fought the very best fighters of the world at featherweight and jr lightweight: Salvador Sanchez, Rocky Lockridge, Eusebio Pedroza, Ruben Castillo, Julio Cesar Chavez, Wilfredo Gomez and Barry McGuigan. He lost to most of them, but he gave those guys hell. Here in the Nelson fight, it was no exception. He gave Nelson all he could handle.

But, Nelson a great champion, solved the puzzle. He outbox and use his boxing skills, proving to the world that he is a complete fighter. He's very versatile.

Nelson beat La Porte by decision. Some argued that it could have gone either way.

Since 1989, The Professor started to fight twice a year. He started 1990 with a loss to the master Pernell Whitaker and ended up the year beating LaPorte.

[elmersalsa]

Azumah Nelson started the year 1991 beating an unknown fighter named Danyiel Mustapha Enni. Mustapha is from Ivory Coast. The fight was made in Zaragoza, Spain of all places!

Nelson won an easy fight by knockout in round 4 in a non-title affair.


On June 27, on the undercard of the Mike Tyson vs Razor Ruddock rematch, Nelson defended his WBC World Jr Lightweight crown against former triple crown world titlist Jeff Fenech of Australia.

Fenech at 27, was known by the boxing public as The Thunder from Down Under. No Australian boxer has ever won 3 world crowns in 3 different weight classes in the 20th century. He was also undefeated in 25 fights!

This was going to be Fenech's 4th world title try in his fourth weight class. He already won the bantamweight, the super bantamweight and the featherweight crowns with such ease. This fight was going to be the biggest and hardest fight of his career against a real world class opponent.

The bell rang under Las Vegas' sun and they went at it like two pit bulls that wanted to kill each other. Especially in the 3rd and 4th rounds when they were throwing blows at a frenetic pace. Unbelievable! Where do these two men had the stamina and energy under the hot climate of Las Vegas desert? Both looked that were in great shape and Fenech was outscoring the champion believe it or not. He was stronger and on The Professor's face at all times.

In round 10, Nelson's corner could not find the mouthpiece. Did they did it on purpose to buy time? Or did they really lost the mouthpiece? On top of all that, the warrior's spirit on Nelson wanted to go out there without that mouth protector and fight, but the referee Joe Cortez of Puerto Rico did not let him out without the mouthpiece. And when it was found, it resumed the fight with a terrific pace. By the end of that round Fenech pushed Nelson and threw him to the floor like a linebacker sacking a quarterback. Nelson could have claim a fake injury on his shoulder if he wanted to, but there was no punk in him. He is a warrior in every sense of the word. That is why his other nickname is The Mighty Warrior. He just doesn't quit!

The fight was so great that there were some exchanges after the bell. This guy, Fenech, was something. He was dirty, rough, tough, strong and with unbelievable stamina. He dominated the slugfest. By the time the 12th round came, he was still on top of Nelson which was on the ropes most of the fight. Nelson was getting an ass whupping!

By the end of round 12, Fenech hit Nelson with some shots that I don't know what kept him standing. Was it his will to win or his great chin? I don't know, but he was out on his feet. Somehow, he was still in his feet by the last bell.

Everybody at ringside had the thought that Fenech was the new champion after 12 hard fought rounds. He deserved the decision. But, the judges robbed him of his 4th crown and his best performance of his career by scoring it a "draw".

Fenech got furious. And he should be. He wanted a rematch right then, right now. It was another of American promoter Don King's scams?

How can the judges be so blind and score it a draw? To make it a rematch? For much more money?

On the other hand, Nelson gracious on the decision said that he didn't feel strong in the fight because he had malaria fever? How could that be? And still performed at a high level being sick? Is it an excuse, or a lie that he was sick? Because, boy! At the pace that he was fighting under those weather conditions and at age 33 he must be in a hell of a shape! No doubt about it. He said that he wanted a rematch to prove that he is the best. Well, in that fight Fenech was. Nelson fought great, but was totally dominated by the Australian. Fenech kicked his ass!

[elmersalsa]

Jeff Fenech's first appearance in America was his extraordinary performance against the great Azumah Nelson in Las Vegas on June 27, 1991.

The fight was scored a draw by the judges, which was one of the biggest robberies I have seen in boxing. Fenech overwhelmed the champion pretty much. He deserved Nelson's title. Nelson had never been dominated in a fight.

But, there are things called rematches to settle tge score. And the rematch was in Melbourne, Australia. On Fenech's home turf on March 8, 1992.

This time, it was a total different fight. Nelson came in shape at age 33 with a total different strategic plan.

Many people and boxing writers thought that this going to be Nelson's last day as a world champion. He was written off. He was finished by some experts. If Fenech dominated him in America, what would the outcome be in Fenech's hometown? In his country. In his backyard. It's going to be worse, right? So we thought. (At least, I thought that way).

Well, to our BIG SURPRISE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, Nelson dropped Fenech in the first round. The full capacity crowd of the football stadium was surprised. Stunned. But, Fenech got up and finished the first round. In round 2, Fenech went down again. But, in reality, it was a slip. But, American referee, the great Arthur Mercante of all people, called it a knockdown and gave Fenech a mandatory 8-count. Fenech, who was ahead in the first fight, this time is way behind with these 2 knockdowns. He got to get up to work quickly and he did. In round 3 Fenech pressured Nelson to the ropes just like the first fight and scored well. The same he did in round 4. He looked like he was back on track. Rounds 5 and 6 could have gone either way. Round 7 was all Fenech's. He was gaining ground on Nelson after being way behind in the first 2 rounds.

Everything was looking normal like the first fight by round 8, but Nelson, the Professor full of tricks and surprises, surprised us once more by dropping Fenech with a terrific left hook. Fenech was out, and combinations by Nelson, who is one of boxing's greatest finishers, made referee Mercante to stop the fight.

The crowd was stunned. There was some small rain in the forecast to top it off. Australia's boxing hero had been defeated by a great champion in front of their eyes. It was Fenech's first taste of defeat in 27 contests.

The Ghanians that went to Australia to support their hero Nelson went wild and euphoric. Their king has won again and in extraordinary fashion. It was the biggest and defining fight that cemented The Professor as one of boxing's 100 pound per pound all-time greats.

[Counter-puncher]

Oscarito starts the fall 2004 in a bad note. He faces then WBA/IBF/WBO World Middleweight Champion Bernard Humphrey Hopkins Jr of Philly, PA.

Hopkins gave Oscarito a boxing lesson. If Oscarito calls himself The Oscarito, the great Alien was his Principal or his Master.

I have never seen Oscarito so dominated by any other fighter. If Oscarito won 2 rounds in that fight, then it was enough.

People forgot how strong the great Alien from Philly is in the inside fighting. Oscarito, a strong guy himself, could not move him, nor push the Alien around. The Alien with the edge on speed and weight, proved that it is tough for a guy coming to your weight class to try to beat you.

Should have The Great Oscarito had about 5 tune up fights at midlleweight before challenging a champion like Bernard Humphrey Hopkins Jr of Philly, PA? Or was that Bernard Humphrey Hopkins Jr of Philly, PA was too good for him?

It was the first time in 12 months that Oscarito lost a fight. That happened after 2 bouts after being robbed to the great Shane Balco Mosley of Lynwood, Ca.

[elmersalsa]

The Professor vs Calvin Grove of Philadelphia, PA was a good technical contest.

Grove was a former IBF World Featherweight Champion with 41 wins. He had the experience necessary to beat the great Azumah Nelson.

In round 1, Grove received a perfect left hook from Nelson for a mandatory 8-count. He was not hurt, a little surprised that he went down.

After round 1, Grove went to work and outboxed Nelson beautifully for 4 rounds straight. Then, Nelson stepped it up and won the next 5. The fight was on the balance in rounds 11 and 12. It seemed to me that Grove was content to reach the distance than winning the fight. He didn't finish strong.

This time, the judges got it right in an excellent fight. Nelson won by unanimous decision.

[Ambling Alp II]

Just for clarification; when Ayub Kalue beat Sumbu Kalambay, Kalambay was too inexperienced. He had won 37 fights at that time. When Grove had 41 wins, he had enough experience.

So how many wins is enough? Is 38 enough? Or does it have to be 39? Or 40? Or does it have to be 41?

[margaret thatcher]

TBF, there is more to experience than just the number of fights, like level of opposition. Sumbu hadn't really even fought in a euro title fight going into that, while Groves was later on in his career and had been around the block at world level already. Pretty easy to see the gap there even if total fights was close.

Compare Deontay Wilder after 30 fights to Lomachenko after half that, it's Loma who obviously has much better experience

[Ambling Alp II]

Of course big time fights helps gives you experience. But still:


95 amatuer fights.
29 years old
Pro for 5 years
40 pro fights.
Won the Italian championship and according to elmer, any title is a big deal (Unless won by Ray Leonard.)

Not exactly a green inexperienced youngster. You have to move up at some point and have it count. I would think at this point, fighting a guy past his prime is not a fight where you get to use the not enough experience card.

[margaret thatcher]

He had a lot of pro fights but clearly little of substance, whatever excuses are legit or not there was obviously a big difference between his 40 and Grove's 40 or whatever it was , it's true though that guys win regularly giving up more than that in experience, and Kalule was a logical step up at that time in his career rather than being an obviously over ambitious step

[Ambling Alp II]

It was an embarrassing loss to a guy thought to be shot. He was closer to his prime than Kalue was to his.

I was just playing around with elmer about the sheer number of wins; I just thought it was funny how he rates people.
Obviously one guy can have the about the same number of fights as another guy and be vastly more experienced.

However, at a certain point, you just can't use the too inexperienced excuse regardless of your competition. You ought to be learning a lot fighting and training for that long. At a certain point, you just can't use the too inexperienced excuse regardless of your competition. Kalambay had clearly reached that point.

[margaret thatcher]

I hear ya bruhther

[oogiebe]

We're at 25 pages of posts here. What number are we down to?

[Ambling Alp II]

We are already at #81. elmer has been giving us crucial information that nobody knew about time and time again.
He has been going on about Azumah Nelson since June 16.
elmer started this thread on May 29........ 2019.

[oogiebe]

We are already at #81. elmer has been giving us crucial information that nobody knew about time and time again.
He has been going on about Azumah Nelson since June 16.
elmer started this thread on May 29........ 2019.

[elmersalsa]

We are already at #81. elmer has been giving us crucial information that nobody knew about time and time again.
He has been going on about Azumah Nelson since June 16.
elmer started this thread on May 29........ 2019.

We got to re-educate ourselves.

[Onetimeonly]

We are already at #81. elmer has been giving us crucial information that nobody knew about time and time again.
He has been going on about Azumah Nelson since June 16.
elmer started this thread on May 29........ 2019.

[tiny_acres]

We are already at #81. elmer has been giving us crucial information that nobody knew about time and time again.
He has been going on about Azumah Nelson since June 16.
elmer started this thread on May 29........ 2019.

I'm old and have numerous health issues.
I'll never see the end of this countdown.
At this rate it will be after the 2024 election before we get the top 10.