Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:...the man himself is promising you all a 'masterclass'.
Went down the gym and had a good chat with him. He gave me his views on Enzo, Haye-Thompson and some other stuff.
It's over at http://www.britishboxing.net but seeing how most of you don't respect the man's craft, you might give it a miss! 8)
Johnny is a master in the art of hitting people without getting hit i.e. boxing, but boxing is also about entertainment and his style is not entertaining.
I came away with the feeling that Johnny Nelson is ready to box on for some time yet but not if he has to endure the frustration of inactivity he has suffered over the last few years. A very skilful and underrated boxer who always keeps himself in shape, I believe he is a credit to his sport and a great example to the younger kids that come to Ingle's Wincobank gym.
Decent article, but I disagree with him about teh Rothmann - Thompson fight. If a guy's getting shaken to his boots by jabs, you've got to look at stepping in. You've got Thompson's health to think about, you can't just wait for him to take loads of unnecessary punishment just because he hits hard.
To close matters, I ask what anyone would ask a 37-year-old who has been boxing for 18 years. Retirement? "Actually, the new weight limit (an increase of ten pounds to 14st 4lb) has given me another two or three years - if I want it."
Didn't Johnny announce his retirement to the media at ringside after Enzo's last fight? Must be having second thoughts.
Can't he just make up his mind and stick to it? More flips-flops than a Jamaican hotel's lost property box.
For the record i like Nelson as a bloke and have a lot of respect for his skills, dedication, and the longevity of his career. However, the nick-name of "the entertainer" is like Tyson calling himself "Mr Mellow", or Thompson using "Iron jaw".
He always keeps himself in good shape and knows how to win at home or away
My criticism of him is that he only ever just does enough to win ( makes me think of a post Watson Eubank ) and never really steps in to finish a fight early as he knows he has the skills and endurance to win just about any fight out there on points
His route to financial security was through a long career of "safe" fights. That's fine and his right, but entertaining, it aint
If he wants to be more active then he needs to force this fight more, if he does his usual routine then he'll be out of the ring for another 12 months. If he took it to May I think he'd knock him out.
I doubt anybody here hates Nelson, certainly not in the manner people seem to loathe Farnell and Arthur.
It's just a shame that such a personable, articulate, skilled boxer with a handy dig in either hand and a great chin produces so many tedious, depressingly cautious performances.
I'd still take him over Haye. And he'd humiliate Enzo.
Nelson on paper should still have too much for Haye or Enzo, but at his age and being a relfex based fighter, he is vulnerable.
I respect Nelson very much as a professional, but it's like listening to a soloist playing Kylie Minogue tunes on a stradivarius violin, whilst the tone of the instrument may be superb and the skill of the violinist undeniable, the tune simply isn't to my liking.
The problem with Nelson is his saftey first mindset.... boxing skill is great but Nelson always seems to do just enougth to win... this allied to the fact that his opposition is mediocre makes for mindnumbingly boring and predicatable fights!. I respect what he has done for himself in the game but the fact that he has recently been inactive and that tv has lost interest in him is largely his own fault... I would love to see him box Enzo though as he'd burst his bubble pretty easily I think... and it may even make for an interesting fight.
I think Nelson is quite a clever fellow,he has a style that looks like he can be beat but never has there is never a shortage of contenders,maybe if the punching power he has was combined with the elusive skills i dont think he would get many fights.IMO he does the right thing I think he stops MAY in 8-9 rounds.Then fights MAC AND beats him in 8
It's worth remember the godawful draw he had against Guillermo Jones not so long ago, back when everyone said he was finished. He found a second wind to win against Petkovic when many thought he was going to get done, but he is still pushing it for a fighter who relies on movement and reflexes.
Amazingly though, Nelson hasn't lost a decision to a fellow cruiserweight since 1992!