A much better performance from Johnny Nelson tonight, and he managed to pick up a result in Germany, just!, I had it 117-113.
Kev
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Nelson retains title
I thought Nelson clearly won the fight and having a German judge and no British judge was a disgrace, his 114:114 scorecard reduced the sport to it's usual post fight mockery. Nelson started off well but started to paw with the jabs and some of Petkovic's body shots seemed to have him ruffled at times but on the whole Petkovic was a dire challenger and Nelson was always a couple of decent flurries away from having him trouble or even stopping him. It was only Nelson's fitness concerns and occasionally lack of activity that kept the fight poised, Petkovic simply lumbered forward and did very little particuarly towards the end which was supposedly to be his best time of the fight. He was flat footed and one paced and reminded me of Sven Ottke against Anthony Mundine a little as Nelson danced around him. The scoring was ridiculously close as expected but overrall a good fight and the right man won!
Matt Skelton blew away a suspect opponent to keep himself busy, we saw nothing new from him but it was a keep busy fight. And Jamie Arthur looked a little rushed and over eager at times but eventually put away his man with an impressive barrage of shots in the third. I was hoping SKY would show Abdullaev's fight but they didn't.
Matt Skelton blew away a suspect opponent to keep himself busy, we saw nothing new from him but it was a keep busy fight. And Jamie Arthur looked a little rushed and over eager at times but eventually put away his man with an impressive barrage of shots in the third. I was hoping SKY would show Abdullaev's fight but they didn't.
Hate to put a dampener on a good day for British Sports, yes I agree Nelson won the fight very confotably (I only gave the opponent 2 rounds), but was I the only won screaming at the tele? For me, he had the prime opportunity to really shine against a very poor mandatory challenger (fair play for Nelson in the interview with Darke, he didn't give any B/S about his opponent). It was plain as day that every time Nelson landed with some even intend this guys legs buckled.
The guy was slow, ponderous didn't seem to hit hard had poor balance, leg speed and was generally one of Nelson's worst challengers (sorry to be blunt, but he wasn't even in Bruce Scotts class). Nelson could have and perhaps should have (given the venue of the fight) gone for the KO.
Don't want to sound to negative cause Johnny has done a number on a guy many posed as a thread in Germany and really he must be applauded. However, his opponent didn't belong in the same ring (another terrible WBO mandatory) and Nelson should have made sure of it in half the time. It was a great opportunity to shine and for people to take notice, but for me he didn't take it.
Johnny showed that there still life in him, the speed and everything is still there and he looks a quick as the day he won the title. Just disappointed he didn't go for the KO. Fair play though, I thought he spoke well in the interview.
Bet Carl Thompson was gutted that the descision didn't go Petkovic's way. Cause Carl would have done a number on him and got his old belt back. If he's supposedly a world class cruiser I'm going to start eating more pies.
But Well done Johnny, hope you get a match with Wayne Braithwaite - if you beat him I'll take my hat off.
The guy was slow, ponderous didn't seem to hit hard had poor balance, leg speed and was generally one of Nelson's worst challengers (sorry to be blunt, but he wasn't even in Bruce Scotts class). Nelson could have and perhaps should have (given the venue of the fight) gone for the KO.
Don't want to sound to negative cause Johnny has done a number on a guy many posed as a thread in Germany and really he must be applauded. However, his opponent didn't belong in the same ring (another terrible WBO mandatory) and Nelson should have made sure of it in half the time. It was a great opportunity to shine and for people to take notice, but for me he didn't take it.
Johnny showed that there still life in him, the speed and everything is still there and he looks a quick as the day he won the title. Just disappointed he didn't go for the KO. Fair play though, I thought he spoke well in the interview.
Bet Carl Thompson was gutted that the descision didn't go Petkovic's way. Cause Carl would have done a number on him and got his old belt back. If he's supposedly a world class cruiser I'm going to start eating more pies.
But Well done Johnny, hope you get a match with Wayne Braithwaite - if you beat him I'll take my hat off.
Good points Stu, Petkovic highlighted the poor quality of the Cruiser division at the moment. He was pretty dire and i think it was only stamina concerns (and a touch of over elaborate showboating) that kept Nelson from finishing this limited foe, i could see a Carl Thompson fired up and raring to go stopping this guy Petkovic within 4. Nelson preferred a different route and his lesson in the noble art was there for all to see and be impressed by, if it was a little unorthodox at times. The division is weak however but with Jirov, Mormeck and Braithwaite all around there is still something left to aim for before retiring.