BoxRec

Here's one that could have happened. They just missed out on each other at Jr Lightweight.

Chavez's fistic exploits are well known and Nelson might just be Africa's greatest fighter.

Chavez wins, probably by KO after round 8. Chavez was at his best at 130 (or maybe 135, though I prefer 130). He had excellant footwork, boxed very well from outside, and, of course, threw the same left hook to the body. Very effective with uppercuts from both hands and that and the straight would prove to be Nelson's undoing.

Yeah, for me Chavez is the best 130lb in history.

Check out his fight with Edwin Rosario, Chavez gave him a sytematic beating.

Chavez would have beaten Nelson by late stoppage at 130.

Take nothing away from Nelson, he was great.

Chavez - Nelson at 130 would have been one fighter nearing his bst against another that was past his own best. An unfair matchup that Chavez would have won. P4P would have been a hell of a matchup and a toss-up as to a winner. Nelson was an incredibly underrated fighter

Both were Don King fighters, too bad that like Julian Jackson they all suffered due to King's complete attention toward Tyson at the time. All three should have been household names by 1990, but it wasn't until Tyson went to prison and they then became King's main money-makers, especially Chavez.

KO Atrist wrote:Yeah, for me Chavez is the best 130lb in history.

Check out his fight with Edwin Rosario, Chavez gave him a sytematic beating.

Chavez would have beaten Nelson by late stoppage at 130.

Take nothing away from Nelson, he was great.

Chavez and Rosario fought at 135lbs, for Rosarios lightweight title.

I don't think anyone would have stopped Nelson when he was competitive, and he was at 130lbs.

My favorite at 130lbs was Alexis Arguello, a class act inside and outside the ring. Same can't be said about Chavez, just ask his wife.

cheers M.O.

I see there's a lot of pro-Chavez posts and understandably so at 130... BUT I can't see Cahvez stopping Nelson. Nelson lost to Sanchez on a 15th round KO in a fight in which he came in as a sub... At the point this match could have been made Nelson was very wily and smart in the ring. Maybe Chavez comes out in front in a 5 fight series.

I think Chavez definately wins the bout, but I certainly don't believe he would have knocked Nelson out...Azumah was just to tough!

I cant see Chavez stopping a fully prepared Azumah Nelson to be honest. Two great fights that would bring out the best in each other.

I could see these two spiltting a couple of points victories, although to be honest I actually lean slightly Nelson to come out on top on points. Always felt Nelson was mentaly stronger.

I don't believe that Nelson could finish against Chavez. I saw, live, Chavez pummel Mario 'Azabache' Martinez; I also saw Nelson get dropped and defeated by the same Martinez, only to get on of the gift decisions in my memory. In the rematch Martinez was TKO'd in the 12th; he'd fought for many rounds with a compound fracture of his right hand. Nelson couldn't hurt Chavez- nobody else did either, for many years- and Chavez, like Sanchez, Martinez, Leija, and others could and would hurt Nelson, and he'd stop jhim @the 9th or 10th. Don't forget, by the way, that Chavez was a very mobile fighter at 130; he'd fight on his terms and Nelson would get beat.

lumpymo wrote:

KO Atrist wrote:Yeah, for me Chavez is the best 130lb in history.

Check out his fight with Edwin Rosario, Chavez gave him a sytematic beating.

Chavez would have beaten Nelson by late stoppage at 130.

Take nothing away from Nelson, he was great.

Chavez and Rosario fought at 135lbs, for Rosarios lightweight title.

I don't think anyone would have stopped Nelson when he was competitive, and he was at 130lbs.

My favorite at 130lbs was Alexis Arguello, a class act inside and outside the ring. Same can't be said about Chavez, just ask his wife.

cheers M.O.

What impressed you most about Arguello outside the ring?

His drug and alcohol problems after he retired or the two times he was caught soliciting a prostitute in nicaragua?

we all have a dark side which should not diminish the accomplishments inside the Ring.

Nelson was a special fighter, but he was a notch below Chavez. Chavez was at his best at 130 and 135. I was at the Nelson-Martines I fight and also thought the decision went the wrong way. I was also at the first fight with Marcos Villasana when he won a SD and thought he lost that one too. but he always dominated the rematches, the only one he could not get was Leija but that was well past his prime.

Chavez in 8-10

Nelson was a special fighter, but he was a notch below Chavez. Chavez was at his best at 130 and 135.

Both excellent fighters, but at the weights 130-135 Roberto Duran in his prime would have beaten them both on the same night. Probably could have beaten them both at the same time.

I would expect Chavez to get the decision as he had the better skills. Nelson was a determined tough nut though.

Chavez late tko. Nelson pisses blood for a week after.