BoxRec

loaded_gloves wrote:Bundana, thank you for giving us an insight into how things are in Denmark. Can I ask you an off-topic question - I often read that Brian Nielsen is highly regarded over there and is considered a 'great fighter' - is this true? Surely fans knowledgeable enough to appreciate Kessler know that a guy like Nielsen is a pure Buuterbean-style novelty act?

Like Kessler today, Brian Nielsen was (and still is!) hugely popular over here... and known by everybody. All his fights have been shown on TV here, and when he faced Holmes, Tyson and Holyfield, it was some of the biggest 'events' ever staged in Denmark.

Unlike Kessler, Brian was of course never a true world-class athlete. He had no punch to speak of, was always heavily overweight - and with his bouncing boobs actually looked like a bit of a joke. But I believe, this was exactely what made him so loveable. I mean, here you have this pathetic-looking guy, with no punch and only average skills, trying to make it, against all odds, as a professional boxer... and actually doing a pretty good job at it! Sure, he never made it to the absolute top, but given what he had to work with... I'd say he did alright.

And, no... he was never considered a 'great' fighter, even here in Denmark. As you say, knowledgeable fans knew his limitations - but kind of admired him for his big heart, and for always trying his best.

And i will be paying about £500 all in with ticket, train, hotel and drink. Not remember a thing and have to pay the £17.95 the next day when i get home to see what happened!

Bundana wrote:

loaded_gloves wrote:Bundana, thank you for giving us an insight into how things are in Denmark. Can I ask you an off-topic question - I often read that Brian Nielsen is highly regarded over there and is considered a 'great fighter' - is this true? Surely fans knowledgeable enough to appreciate Kessler know that a guy like Nielsen is a pure Buuterbean-style novelty act?

Like Kessler today, Brian Nielsen was (and still is!) hugely popular over here... and known by everybody. All his fights have been shown on TV here, and when he faced Holmes, Tyson and Holyfield, it was some of the biggest 'events' ever staged in Denmark.

Unlike Kessler, Brian was of course never a true world-class athlete. He had no punch to speak of, was always heavily overweight - and with his bouncing boobs actually looked like a bit of a joke. But I believe, this was exactely what made him so loveable. I mean, here you have this pathetic-looking guy, with no punch and only average skills, trying to make it, against all odds, as a professional boxer... and actually doing a pretty good job at it! Sure, he never made it to the absolute top, but given what he had to work with... I'd say he did alright.

And, no... he was never considered a 'great' fighter, even here in Denmark. As you say, knowledgeable fans knew his limitations - but kind of admired him for his big heart, and for always trying his best.

Thanks for the reply mate, very interesting and, to be honest, surprising. Is he recognised as a world champion for those two titles he picked up? Did fans and the media ever question why every name he beat had to be 40 years old (Bonecrusher, Tubbs, Bounty Hunter, Holmes, Witherspoon) and how they always seemed to lose by the same process - ham-acting a mysterious injury, then suddenly pull-out at the end of the round (Tubbs, Hunter, Phil Jackson, Spoon). It always looked incredibly suspicious to me. The Holmes gift also left a bad taste in my mouth, as did the Bonecrusher headbutt 'win'.

I watched the Tyson fight with keen interest, given his dubious career. I wasn't at all surprised to see him decked in the third then start falling around the ring claiming a lowblow and trying to find a way out as quickly as possible. Seemed fitting that he pulled out at the end with a injury that seemed every bit as fake as Tubbs, Hunters, Jacksons et al.

loaded_gloves wrote:

Bundana wrote:

loaded_gloves wrote:Bundana, thank you for giving us an insight into how things are in Denmark. Can I ask you an off-topic question - I often read that Brian Nielsen is highly regarded over there and is considered a 'great fighter' - is this true? Surely fans knowledgeable enough to appreciate Kessler know that a guy like Nielsen is a pure Buuterbean-style novelty act?

Like Kessler today, Brian Nielsen was (and still is!) hugely popular over here... and known by everybody. All his fights have been shown on TV here, and when he faced Holmes, Tyson and Holyfield, it was some of the biggest 'events' ever staged in Denmark.

Unlike Kessler, Brian was of course never a true world-class athlete. He had no punch to speak of, was always heavily overweight - and with his bouncing boobs actually looked like a bit of a joke. But I believe, this was exactely what made him so loveable. I mean, here you have this pathetic-looking guy, with no punch and only average skills, trying to make it, against all odds, as a professional boxer... and actually doing a pretty good job at it! Sure, he never made it to the absolute top, but given what he had to work with... I'd say he did alright.

And, no... he was never considered a 'great' fighter, even here in Denmark. As you say, knowledgeable fans knew his limitations - but kind of admired him for his big heart, and for always trying his best.

Thanks for the reply mate, very interesting and, to be honest, surprising. Is he recognised as a world champion for those two titles he picked up? Did fans and the media ever question why every name he beat had to be 40 years old (Bonecrusher, Tubbs, Bounty Hunter, Holmes, Witherspoon) and how they always seemed to lose by the same process - ham-acting a mysterious injury, then suddenly pull-out at the end of the round (Tubbs, Hunter, Phil Jackson, Spoon). It always looked incredibly suspicious to me. The Holmes gift also left a bad taste in my mouth, as did the Bonecrusher headbutt 'win'.

I watched the Tyson fight with keen interest, given his dubious career. I wasn't at all surprised to see him decked in the third then start falling around the ring claiming a lowblow and trying to find a way out as quickly as possible. Seemed fitting that he pulled out at the end with a injury that seemed every bit as fake as Tubbs, Hunters, Jacksons et al.

Think you hit a few things there right on the button!

Promoter Mogens Palle of course knew, that Brian couldn't be matched against elite heavyweights (in which case his career would have been very short!), so he was fed a steady diet of over-the-hill ex-champions... who were all given the big build-up, to make them look, like they actually posed a threat to the Dane. And since every Nielsen fight was front page news, and sold lots of newspapers, everybody wanted to see him go on winning for as long as possible.

So, yes... with the media only too happy to play along, Nielsen's title fights were actually treated like 'real' world title fights. Which knowledgeable boxing fans of course knew to be complete nonsense!

As for some of his fights looking suspicious... well, I can't really give my honest opinion on that one, as we have strong libel laws here in Denmark. But I think you get my drift!!

And, yes... I too thought the Holmes win was a gift. And I also felt he chickened out against Tyson. Which was very disappointing, as it was the only time he just gave up.