BoxRec

What does the forum think of Johnny Nelson both as a boxer and then your thoughts on him in his role at Sky Sports Boxing.

I have known Johnny for years… he is a regular on this forum and the numerous others in the years gone by.

I thought Johnny did amazingly well As a boxer, surpassing by a massive margin what Ithought he was capable of.

I also thought for years he did an outstanding job as a Sky Sports pundit …

There is a but … in my opinion he has gone down hill rapidly involving himself numerous spats on social media and thus showing what a hideously bad attitude he has.

I text him my thoughts on the standard of sky boxing and all i got back was this …



Soy attitude to you Johnny is **** you

Has a boxer , well what can you say , he tried , stuck at it and reached the highest level , Kudo's all the way and i hope he made a lot of money .

Has a pundit , he's has good has any and better than most , but we can't forget he does have a boss to answer too , so i actually think he does'nt do bad he calls it has he see's it TO AN EXTENT , like i said he does have people to answer to , unlike say Kugan who is the boss and will not involve himself in anything except shit stirring

Sounds like your gripe is more personal Spud

coneye wrote: ↑06 Mar 2024, 08:54 Has a boxer , well what can you say , he tried , stuck at it and reached the highest level , Kudo's all the way and i hope he made a lot of money .

Has a pundit , he's has good has any and better than most , but we can't forget he does have a boss to answer too , so i actually think he does'nt do bad he calls it has he see's it TO AN EXTENT , like i said he does have people to answer to , unlike say Kugan who is the boss and will not involve himself in anything except shit stirring

Sounds like your gripe is more personal Spud

Not at all pal.

I think Johnnys attitude has changed

You can’t fault his career as a fighter. He was rubbish but won a world title then looked after it for years quite nicely. He beat absolutely nobody but definitely made the most of himself.

As a pundit, he’s abysmal. Like most boxing pundits he’s a hype man for his own channel and fails to probe or ask meaningful questions about anything remotely relevant. He stands next to Macklin yet has never questioned his colleagues link to drug dealing murderers. Nor does he question the drug failures of many UK fighters including those at his own gym.

I can’t watch any boxing punditry because it’s full of hypocrisy and Nelson is an easy example of that.

Monzon83 wrote: ↑06 Mar 2024, 10:25 You can’t fault his career as a fighter. He was rubbish but won a world title then looked after it for years quite nicely. He beat absolutely nobody but definitely made the most of himself.

As a pundit, he’s abysmal. Like most boxing pundits he’s a hype man for his own channel and fails to probe or ask meaningful questions about anything remotely relevant. He stands next to Macklin yet has never questioned his colleagues link to drug dealing murderers. Nor does he question the drug failures of many UK fighters including those at his own gym.

I can’t watch any boxing punditry because it’s full of hypocrisy and Nelson is an easy example of that.

Tend to agree with most of the comments here.

I prefer to listen to independent pundits as most such as Nelson and Squeaky bollocks Bunce, stay in align with the channel they are employed by and only say positive things about certain boxers. I guess it's the forced narrative by who pays their wages.

I like to listen to pundits and commentators who say it as it is.

umm - I would say Johnny Nelson was a "late bloomer" as opposed to "rubbish" - I think people forget that he was only in his early twenties when he was considered by lots as one of the best Cruisers in the world and an uncrowned champion. People seem to forget how highly he was regarded before his disasterous world title challenges where he choked.

I would though have liked to have seen him challenge / test himself more when he came of age. Dodgy stoppage aside vs Thompson, what that dodgy stoppage did was make people forget just how utterly dominant he was vs Thompson. I would have liked to have seen him try to Unify and hell, perhaps have a serious run at Heavyweight. I think Nelson post Thompson could have given alphabet holder like Ruiz and Chris Byrd a real fight.

He definitely lost vs Jones though.

Quality fighter, did it the hard way, as a pundit he does what he needs to to earn, have microphone will travel!
Knows the game inside out, has done it all, the good the bad and the ugly!

Ivanson aka Johnny reckons he’d have beat Usyk so I’d say he’s delusional lol.

Joking aside he was far more successful than he looked like he’d be so you can only admire that. As a pundit he does come out with some nonsense but as others say he probably can’t say what he wants to say so has to toe the line if he wants the pundit work.

He’s as entertaining a pundit as he was a boxer.

talented fighter with a career path you rarely see from brits these days - kinda more like a mexican record with a lot of losses littered in in tough fights, particularly early, before winning out

classic early wbo title reign though, pretty woeful standard of opponents he defended against and the standout fighter among his defenses clearly deserved the win.

dont think he woulda done any better than jc gomez at heavyweight even in his prime. maybe get a title shot but not really be a serious contender

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑06 Mar 2024, 12:03 talented fighter with a career path you rarely see from brits these days - kinda more like a mexican record with a lot of losses littered in in tough fights, particularly early, before winning out

classic early wbo title reign though, pretty woeful standard of opponents he defended against and the standout fighter among his defenses clearly deserved the win.

Many of his defenses were short notice jobs to save TV dates

i guess tthat's why they were utter sh!te then

I've not really followed him much of late, as I don't watch much boxing, it's just an expensive luxury I can ill afford these days.

However, Jonny is an intelligent thoughtful man, and some of his more recent output that I've seen on youtube, seems better than I recall.

As a fighter, he definitely gets my respect for what he achieved, even if his monicker 'the entertainer' is about as appropriate as wearing a wetsuit in the gobi desert.

Boring fighter in a boring division. Shame really, because the cruiserweight division could have been a good one in Nelson's era if the four belt holders would have fought eachother, but then again, you can say that about every division since the late 70s.

Nelson made the best of his physical attributes and came across as very sensible regarding his money and lifestyle. All I can say is, if you're a pundit, you are asking for trouble by being on social, or should I say, Anti-social Media.

Seriously saying to boxing fans that James Tennyson could beat Tank Davis says it all about him. A complete donkey of a pundit.

As a fighter, you can only respect him though. Horrid performances which deserve the utmost criticism due to coming to the ring to stink out the joint but that was the Ingle style for many of the products of that gym. Became world champ and deserves immense credit and respect.

Eddie Hearn going around calling Nelson a "company man", like a smarmy pr*ck, does grate me though. Yes Nelson is a sham of a pundit and 100% company man but Hearn was given a multi million pound (billion?) company by his dad and set up with so much money that he couldn't realistically fail. To then go around like an arrogant tosspot trying to demean fighters (who have paid for his luxury through their blood, sweat, tears and CTE) is very annoying. What an absolute w*nker!!!

Absolutely! I once heard EH in an interview say that he could name all the British fighters in the Boxing Monthly rankings when he was a schoolboy. So could I. Only difference is, my Dad didn't own a very successful multi-sport promotions and management company.

Monzon83 wrote: ↑06 Mar 2024, 10:25 You can’t fault his career as a fighter. He was rubbish but won a world title then looked after it for years quite nicely. He beat absolutely nobody but definitely made the most of himself.

As a pundit, he’s abysmal. Like most boxing pundits he’s a hype man for his own channel and fails to probe or ask meaningful questions about anything remotely relevant. He stands next to Macklin yet has never questioned his colleagues link to drug dealing murderers. Nor does he question the drug failures of many UK fighters including those at his own gym.

I can’t watch any boxing punditry because it’s full of hypocrisy and Nelson is an easy example of that.

I agree. Same goes for boxing writers. If Yiu do not toe the line you lose access to fighters and access to press conferences and shows.

I like him. Very honest autobiography, worked really hard, won titles. Well managed by Warren. Does loads of community work and did so when a boxer too. Just set a community foundation up. Met him when I was about 12 at Donny Dome, he was super kind and chatted even though I was a little berk.

Spud wrote: ↑06 Mar 2024, 08:07 What does the forum think of Johnny Nelson both as a boxer and then your thoughts on him in his role at Sky Sports Boxing.

I have known Johnny for years… he is a regular on this forum and the numerous others in the years gone by.

I thought Johnny did amazingly well As a boxer, surpassing by a massive margin what Ithought he was capable of.

I also thought for years he did an outstanding job as a Sky Sports pundit …

There is a but … in my opinion he has gone down hill rapidly involving himself numerous spats on social media and thus showing what a hideously bad attitude he has.

I text him my thoughts on the standard of sky boxing and all i got back was this …



Soy attitude to you Johnny is **** you

Thanks for sharing this. What was he like with you Spud?

Bercli wrote: ↑06 Mar 2024, 14:37

Monzon83 wrote: ↑06 Mar 2024, 10:25 You can’t fault his career as a fighter. He was rubbish but won a world title then looked after it for years quite nicely. He beat absolutely nobody but definitely made the most of himself.

As a pundit, he’s abysmal. Like most boxing pundits he’s a hype man for his own channel and fails to probe or ask meaningful questions about anything remotely relevant. He stands next to Macklin yet has never questioned his colleagues link to drug dealing murderers. Nor does he question the drug failures of many UK fighters including those at his own gym.

I can’t watch any boxing punditry because it’s full of hypocrisy and Nelson is an easy example of that.

I agree. Same goes for boxing writers. If Yiu do not toe the line you lose access to fighters and access to press conferences and shows.

You don't need any access to anything to write about boxing, better to have zero access, and write what you want, than be a toady.

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑06 Mar 2024, 16:47

Bercli wrote: ↑06 Mar 2024, 14:37

Monzon83 wrote: ↑06 Mar 2024, 10:25 You can’t fault his career as a fighter. He was rubbish but won a world title then looked after it for years quite nicely. He beat absolutely nobody but definitely made the most of himself.

As a pundit, he’s abysmal. Like most boxing pundits he’s a hype man for his own channel and fails to probe or ask meaningful questions about anything remotely relevant. He stands next to Macklin yet has never questioned his colleagues link to drug dealing murderers. Nor does he question the drug failures of many UK fighters including those at his own gym.

I can’t watch any boxing punditry because it’s full of hypocrisy and Nelson is an easy example of that.

I agree. Same goes for boxing writers. If Yiu do not toe the line you lose access to fighters and access to press conferences and shows.

You don't need any access to anything to write about boxing, better to have zero access, and write what you want, than be a toady.

That would just make it an opinion. That's not boxing writing imo. You need to be in the gyms,talk to people,mix at press conferences,weigh ins,be ringside. You to live and breathe it.

Bercli wrote: ↑06 Mar 2024, 17:11

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑06 Mar 2024, 16:47

Bercli wrote: ↑06 Mar 2024, 14:37
I agree. Same goes for boxing writers. If Yiu do not toe the line you lose access to fighters and access to press conferences and shows.

You don't need any access to anything to write about boxing, better to have zero access, and write what you want, than be a toady.

That would just make it an opinion. That's not boxing writing imo. You need to be in the gyms,talk to people,mix at press conferences,weigh ins,be ringside. You to live and breathe it.

I disagree, but hey. Press conference are a load of old bollix, as are press releases.

You can see with your own eyes what a fighters' attributes are, it depends on what you consider boxing writing to be about. Some of the best boxing writing is about the psychology of fighting and fighters. I've intereviewed quite a few fighters over the years, and in many cases they don't reveal a great deal.

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑06 Mar 2024, 17:16

Bercli wrote: ↑06 Mar 2024, 17:11

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑06 Mar 2024, 16:47

You don't need any access to anything to write about boxing, better to have zero access, and write what you want, than be a toady.

That would just make it an opinion. That's not boxing writing imo. You need to be in the gyms,talk to people,mix at press conferences,weigh ins,be ringside. You to live and breathe it.

I disagree, but hey. Press conference are a load of old bollix, as are press releases.

You can see with your own eyes what a fighters' attributes are, it depends on what you consider boxing writing to be about. Some of the best boxing writing is about the psychology of fighting and fighters. I've intereviewed quite a few fighters over the years, and in many cases they don't reveal a great deal.

You have certainly done that, more than most!

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑06 Mar 2024, 16:47

Bercli wrote: ↑06 Mar 2024, 14:37

Monzon83 wrote: ↑06 Mar 2024, 10:25 You can’t fault his career as a fighter. He was rubbish but won a world title then looked after it for years quite nicely. He beat absolutely nobody but definitely made the most of himself.

As a pundit, he’s abysmal. Like most boxing pundits he’s a hype man for his own channel and fails to probe or ask meaningful questions about anything remotely relevant. He stands next to Macklin yet has never questioned his colleagues link to drug dealing murderers. Nor does he question the drug failures of many UK fighters including those at his own gym.

I can’t watch any boxing punditry because it’s full of hypocrisy and Nelson is an easy example of that.

I agree. Same goes for boxing writers. If Yiu do not toe the line you lose access to fighters and access to press conferences and shows.

You don't need any access to anything to write about boxing, better to have zero access, and write what you want, than be a toady.

That would just make it an opinion. That's not boxing writing imo. You need to be in the gyms,talk to people,mix at press conferences,weigh ins,be ringside. You to live and breathe it.

Don’t know why this is s topic tbh.

Met this guy a few times (usually pre-show)
Always got time for me and fans,

Maximising his talent.

Now disliked because he does well on SKY Sports.

Think he does well on “Gloves are off” esp.

Mind you, I don’t text him.