Nelson-Petkovic: a preview

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 12 Nov 2003, 10:26

SHEFFIELD'S Johnny Nelson, recently the victim of a kidnap threat, returns to the ring for the first time in a year when he makes the 11th defence of his WBO cruiserweight title against mandatory challenger Alexander Petkovic in Bayreuth, Germany, this Saturday (November 15).
Germany is a daunting destination for defending champions nowadays (think of Byron Mitchell and Eric Lucas recently), but after what Nelson has been through, it will probably feel like a walk in the park. The boxer and his family were afforded round the clock police protection in the Summer after police were tipped off of the possible threat to Nelson. The surveillance included staking out his home in north Derbyshire and the use of sophisticated surveillance equipment.
South Yorkshire Police believe the chance of any kidnap has lessened and arrests have been made, but their operations are continuing.
"I thought this is ridiculous, it can't be true - it's like something you read in the papers about someone else," said Nelson when he first heard the news.
"When they started going into more detail, I still thought there might have been a mistake.
"But when I saw the helicopter hovering above the house taking photos and the armed police round the back - then I realised it was serious."
The father-of-two said the security measures put in place included installing thousands of pounds worth of cameras and panic buttons as well as having police officers assigned to protect him.
He added: "At first it was a big, big shock and then I just got used to them being around.
"I was more angry than anything else that anyone would even consider doing this to me."
Nelson's promoter allegedly said at the time: "Obviously I'm concerned for him. I heard about it a couple of weeks ago and was quite shocked.
"I understand the police are looking after him but it's a worrying time for him and his family."
Brendan Ingle, long-time trainer and mentor of the WBO champion, said: "I always knew there has been something not quite right. It has just been a nightmare really."
It hasn't been much easier in the ring either of late.
In his last defence in November 2002, Johnny looked distinctly fortunate to salvage a draw against Panama's Guillermo Jones at Derby and before that also struggled - and was floored - by the hard-hitting American Ezra Sellers, before pulling the fight out of the bag with an eighth round kayo.
And he was booed by boxing fans at York Hall for a tepid, safety-first display when capturing the vacant WBU heavyweight title Alex Vassilev in November 2001, a belt, incidentally, he never defended (Georgie Kandelaki is the current holder).
Those three fights could encapsulate Nelson's career in a nutshell. The man has the ability and the power to take opponents out of there when really pushed, but too often he's content to do just enough to win. He was nearly hustled out of it by the light-hitting Jones as a consequence and the knowledgeable York Hall crowd clearly expected more from the impressively-built Yorkshireman against Vassilev.
Nelson would say look at the results.
And, yes, 10 defences of the WBO title he won with an impressive fifth round stoppage of Carl Thompson in 1999 speaks for itself. Other victims include Peter Oboh, Dennis Andries, Tom Collins, Sione Asipeli and Marcelo Dominguez. He also went the full 10 rounds with former WBO heavyweight champion, Corrie Sanders. He won British and European cruiserweight titles almost as he pleased.
Now 36, and with a record of 42-12-2 [28], the champion's economy of style has seen him remarkably well preserved for a boxer of his age, especially when you consider he spent many years campaigning in the heavyweight division.
He still has plenty of fights left in him.
This is his third defence away from home, but the first time he actually faces a man in his own backyard. The Sellers defence came in Copenhagen, and was thus a neutral affair, and while Sione Aspineli was based in the States prior to facing Nelson in Las Vegas, he was born and bred in Tonga and seemed to have few fans in the Mandalay Bay Arena in Las Vegas as he slumped to a massive points defeat.
Bristol's Glenn Catley is the last Brit to have won in Germany - when he stopped defending WBC super-middleweight champion Markus Beyer with just seven seconds remaining of their 12-rounder in May 2000. Before that, Carl Thompson outpointed Ralf Rocchigiani there in 1997 for the same WBO cruiserweight title, which will give Nelson heart. More specifically, the man nicknamed "the Entertainer" took on Markus Bott in Germany for the vacant European cruiserweight title in 1990 and scored an impressive 12th round stoppage over the local man. Been there, done it, as they say, though that was 13 years ago and trying to win in Germany nowadays is altogether a different proposition. Not even the mighty Roy Jones Junior contemplated going there for what looked like a 'natural' with former WBO light-heavyweight champion Dariusz Michalczewski, though Julio Gonzalez's win over the same man recently proves it's not mission impossible to win in that country.
Nelson travelled the globe during his listless campaign at heavyweight in the 90's (the upshot of his bore draw with Carlos DeLeon in 1990 when he was forced him on the road to find work) - and will hardly be unnerved by fighting in Germany. He took on and beat big heavyweights such as Nikolai Kulpin in Thailand and Jimmy Thunder in New Zealand, and stopped fellow cruiserweight Dave Russell in 11 rounds in Australia. He also kayoed Patrice Aouissi in seven rounds in France to win the European cruiserweight title. He's proved time and again he can deliver the goods away from home.
And now he has another tough away day against the unbeaten Petkovic, 28-0-3 (15), who will be fighting in front of his own fans.
A tall, aggressive fighter, Petkovic's style might play into the hands of the champion, who likes his opponents to come to him. Certainly the German didn't impress in his last fight against Argentina's Sergio Martin Beaz, who took him the full eight rounds in August (Baez had earlier been stopped in three by Clinton Woods).
Still only 23, the challenger is a product of the same Klaus-Peter Kohl and Michael Timm manager/trainer team that plotted the downfall of Danny Williams so spectacularly in February against Sinan Samil Sam. He's well-schooled, orthodox, with a good punch range, and got himself in world class when he climbed off the floor to stop experienced Frenchman Alain Simon in the ninth round for the vacant WBC international title earlier this year. It's probably his best result, along with a 12-round draw with Rudiger May (who Nelson has been sparring in Sheffield for this fight) in an earlier crack at the same title. But those names apart, there's not too many other recogniseable figures on his record and one of his first better opponents, Silvio Meinel, got a draw with him when he looked to have clearly won. In truth, Petkovic doesn't really deserve his WBO number one ranking - and certainly hasn't fought anyone in Nelson's class.
The knockdown he suffered against Simon was nothing serious. The cagey Frenchman, stopped in six rounds by Carl Thompson over here, tagged him with a short left hook which surprised more than hurt his man. But Nelson is also good at landing surprise shots - shots that do hurt. Think of the sneak right uppercut that accounted for Austalian Adam Watt for example. That power will only be enhanced by the WBO's decision to increase the cruiserweight limit a whopping 10 pounds from 13st 8lbs to 14st 4lbs recently (in line with most other governing bodies). He might need it in Germany of course. It's hardly the easiest of places for a 36-year-old who's been out of action for a year following a disappointing performance to venture to. But 10 successful defences also says a lot. Nelson has the experience to ride out the rough patches in this one and come through very much as he did in Denmark against Ezra Sellers; perhaps trailing on points when he finds a match-winning shot.

Michaeljpoole · Post by **Michaeljpoole** » 12 Nov 2003, 14:06

[quote]

A Bennie said

A tall, aggressive fighter, Petkovic's style might play into the hands of the champion, who likes his opponents to come to him. Certainly the German didn't impress in his last fight against Argentina's Sergio Martin Beaz, who took him the full eight rounds in August (Baez had earlier been stopped in three by Clinton Woods).

I agree I saw this fight on Eurosport, and Idont believe Nelson will be in much danger of losing this fight. Victory for Nelson by ko 6 if he comes out of his shell, or a wide UD if not. But then agains this is Germany, so I will say a narrow UD

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 12 Nov 2003, 14:22

Yes, I saw the fight, too, Cat and wasn't impressed. However, according to Dutch Windmill (a European boxing expert), Petkovic's fight with Baez was one of his worst career performances. So that could prove a bit misleading for this weekend's fight.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 12 Nov 2003, 15:25

I think Dutch Windmill's view on this fight would be particularly interesting. Johnny's there for the taking a believe, he's obviously gone through some major problems (now, don't go there!!) and I hope he's over them. Also has been inactive (due to the problem) this might affect his performance.

I aint heard anything of his opponent, but I think a lot of guys could capture this belt. If Coral are doing the betting for this fight (they didn't for Starie vs Ottke - Thank god!) then I'll go for the younger man.

Its weird Nelson has been a (fairly) prestigious world champion but recent displays have made him almost as forgotten as when he went through his almost enforced exile. Come to think of it, this fight is in foreign soil - I wonder if he could fill the small halls now after he last display.

Where is Jones' rematch!!

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 12 Nov 2003, 15:28

stujones wrote:Where is Jones' rematch!!

Jones was a naughty boy and failed a dope test after the fight. I can't remember what he took, but he had built himself up from light-middleweight to cruiser, so I assume it was steroids.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 12 Nov 2003, 15:34

Yeah Bennie - good shout I do remember now!

Still not sure that he's banned though, still in the world bodies top ten and websites like here, fightnews etc. Maybe just the WBO kicked him out.

Find it hard that it would have been steriods looking at the build of the guys, I thought it is probably more likely that he took diuretics to make Light Middle, cause he did have a good cruiserweight frame.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 13 Nov 2003, 06:39

Is there for the taking now, he's old, inactive and he's a relflexes based fighter.

It's a shame Nelson never got it on with the other Cruiser title holders, because there was a point where he could have beaten all of them, but now he's just asking for a kicking. He looked awful in his last two fights, and he's as old as god's dog.

This might not be the night where he gets exposed, but it's coming soon.

Loftgroov · Post by **Loftgroov** » 13 Nov 2003, 06:43

Perhaps the domestic era of Nelson is drawing to a close, and the era of Haye is thus beginning.......

Priff · Post by **Priff** » 13 Nov 2003, 07:09

stujones wrote:Come to think of it, this fight is in foreign soil - I wonder if he could fill the small halls now after he last display.

I'd have to agree with this. I don't think he can headline a domestic bill after the last shocker.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 13 Nov 2003, 18:44

Dutch Windmill has done a preview of the bill over a Current Scene, here's what he had to say about the Nelson fight. Its quite interesting.

From Dutch Windmill (with premission).

Nelson vs Petkovic.

I've seen Petkovic many times, he's not world class. I have not seen taking him any dodgy decisions though. I gave the fight with the fraud Rudiger May to Petkovic. Despite having fought 31 contests Petkovic is only 23 years old

He got floored by Alain Simon but that was nothing serious, a short left hook he didn't see, he wasn't hurt at all, more surprised. He won all rounds except that one against Simon in my opinion.

Simon is past his best but still a very good measuring stick(he was scheduled to fight rising Italian Giacobbe Fragomeni, unfortunately that fight fell through)
Petko's defense is OK, his feet are a bit awkward, but he's pretty schooled overall. He packs a nice punch but can be too cautious at times, watching him can be frustrating, he could've finished off much more opponents.
He's a bit like Rudiger May in a way, he needs opponents to come to him. Surprisingly the fight between those counter punchers was very good, and the best fight Rudiger May was ever in.

I would say his last fight with Sergio Martin Baez was his worst fight in a long time. He's still very green despite those 31 fighs

Anyway, Nelson hasn't fought in a year when he fights Petkovic, and at that age that can be a BIG disadvantage. And his last showing was everything but impressive. Also taken into account that we are in Germany...tough night for Nelson to say the least

The REAL McCoy · Post by **The REAL McCoy** » 13 Nov 2003, 19:04

McCoy has a feeling Nelson will win this one, because he has more experience & that could cost Petkovic