BoxRec

What is happening to his career, is he still fighting?

I was viewing some of the very old threads here (including one by a certain poster who said he wouldn't post much on here!). Anyway, I have noticed in the just under 2 years that this forum has been going the opinion of Johnny has changed.

Alot of people now seem to respect him more now than back then and you know there were a few UK P4P lists that didn't include Johnny, now if you didn't have Johnny in your top 8 you would be considered harsh.

He has fought twice in since the forum has opened, one against his old sparring partner and the other against a protected mandatory. Although yes, took a bit of balls for him to fight in away from home.

So I ask, why the change in perception - is it due to these fights? The subsequent achievements of Carl Thompson in the last two years? The fact he is a good commentator? Or because others have dissapointed more?

How long a we prepared to wait for a match and when are the WBO going to force this Cantatore issue a bit more stronger - its over a year and a half since he last faced his mandatory.

Is he already in semi retirement?

I think he should take the Maccarinelli fight, sometime next year. If he does then I can see him losing that, then retiring.

I think Maccrinelli is the most viable option for a fighter pushing 40 to make money, but surely not next year. He cannot remain inactive surely.

I think he's moved into a Lennox-esque period of one-fight-per-year semi-retirement. I thought he was looking pretty ropey when he scraped past Ezra Sellars and Guillermo Jones but he looked much better against Petkovic and Rudiger May, although they were admittedly easier opponents. I'd like to see him fight Maccarinelli before the year is out though, and I think Warren will offer him enough money for that to happen. I suppose whether he gets stripped out of his WBO title for inactivity all depends on who is knocking on the door wanting a mandatory. If there isn't anyone then he hasn't got a problem.

Cantatore is no longer the mandatory. He got fired or something like that and is therefore not longer WBO mandatory.

Freiheit wrote:Cantatore is no longer the mandatory. He got fired or something like that and is therefore not longer WBO mandatory.

so who is number 1 then?

REAL_DEAL wrote:

Freiheit wrote:Cantatore is no longer the mandatory. He got fired or something like that and is therefore not longer WBO mandatory.

so who is number 1 then?

Cantatore was still #1 for May, Enzo at #2

I've always respected johnny. It's just frustrating that he obviously doesn't care at this point about getting a final, big international fight.

Riddick Blowe wrote:It's just frustrating that he obviously doesn't care at this point about getting a final, big international fight.

I'm not sure he's ever cared that much, if he did it was only for a few years after he beat Thompson and first got the WBO belt. He's done pretty well with what he's got, and he hasn't had to take much punishment in the process, but I don't think he's been trying to make a big fight for a few years now at least.

Nelson would definitely beat Enzo Mac LOL....

This was the news about cantatore as reported by Per Aake Persson on june 12th here: http://www.knock-out.dk/news.show.asp?newsid=1684
"Italian cruiser Vincenzo Cantatore, out of his
contract with OPI 2000 and apparently out of his fight
with Johnny Nelson as well, have signed with Rosanna
Conti Cavini and debutes for his new promoter July 16
in Rome."

Hesketh wrote:

Riddick Blowe wrote:It's just frustrating that he obviously doesn't care at this point about getting a final, big international fight.

I'm not sure he's ever cared that much, if he did it was only for a few years after he beat Thompson and first got the WBO belt. He's done pretty well with what he's got, and he hasn't had to take much punishment in the process, but I don't think he's been trying to make a big fight for a few years now at least.

It isn't Nelson's job to make big fights, that's what promoters are for.

However, as much as I admire Nelson's professionalism and his undeniable skills, he's fornicating boring to watch, and that my friend is why the big fights never happened, and it's why allegedly hasn't made the big fights, as good as Nelson is, nobody is even vaguely interested in fighting him.

Nelson actually fought Henry Akinwande once. That must have been the ultimate fight that nobody wanted.

Yes, I believe the fight posters for it were titled.

"Insomniancs delight."

A bit like rappers delight, but different.,

Hesketh wrote:Nelson actually fought Henry Akinwande once. That must have been the ultimate fight that nobody wanted.

It turned out.... alot worse. It was shown on Grandstand - horiible fight.

I think one of the main reasons that Nelson hasn't been in any big fights since he beat Thompson for the WBO belt is that he is that good he can make any fighter in the division look awful. The other title holders in the cruiserweight division would find him a very difficult opponent and as long as there is no need to fight him I’d imagine they would stay clear, especially as the fight wouldn't propel them into bigger things.

I don't know anyone that cares about this division. And why would they????

RJJ totally skipped the division, he knew he wasn't a real heavyweight and could probably only mix it with a couple of guys (Ruiz and probably Byrd), against the bigger guys he would struggle and that's why he moved back down. He could quite easily have moved to the cruiserweight division and cleaned up but there’s no money in it.

Same with James Toney, he won the IBF belt and then vacated it straight away because he wanted the big fights.

Wolfman91 wrote:...The other title holders in the cruiserweight division would find him a very difficult opponent

I think that was probably true once, but he looked eminently beatable in his two most serious challenges of late, against Sellars and Jones. I don't think Mormeck and Co are running scared of him, he just brings nothing but his belt to the table.

Hesketh wrote:

Wolfman91 wrote:...The other title holders in the cruiserweight division would find him a very difficult opponent

I think that was probably true once, but he looked eminently beatable in his two most serious challenges of late, against Sellars and Jones. I don't think Mormeck and Co are running scared of him, he just brings nothing but his belt to the table.

I have to agree with you on that. Johnny brings nothing but his belt, and a good chance of you losing yours.

I've always been a fan of Johnny's. Got to give him big repsect for hanging in there like he has. I believe his amateur record was something like 4-16, yet he still persevered. Even after his no show against De Leon he kept at it.

Also the few times I have seen him as an analyst he comes across very well. Defintiely could do TV after his fighting days.

I'm not so sure he beats Enzo to be honest. He has definitely slowed a step or two and this inactivity can only be bad for him.

I'd hate to see him going out KO'd but it could well happen.

If he doesn't want to fight anymore he should just retire, pointless him carrying on fighting once a year IMO.

He's coming up to 10 months inactivity which isn't good but he looked very impressive in his last 2 contests, as good as he did 4 or 5 years ago.

I still reckon Enzo would have to wait another 2 or 3 years at least before he could get Johnny. What on earth does the young lad have that Nelson hasn't dealt with before?

I reckon Nelson may well knock Macca out if they fought.

Yep.

Kilburn wrote:....but he looked very impressive in his last 2 contests, as good as he did 4 or 5 years ago.

He certainly looked a lot better but than he did in the 2 fights before that, but Petkovic and May were soft fights against non-threatening opponents. Against Sellars and Jones he looked very dodgy indeed, Sellars could have easily knocked him out that night and Jones was unlucky not to get that decision. Personally I do think those fights point to a decline in Nelson that the most recent 2 fights didn't expose.

stujones wrote:So I ask, why the change in perception - is it due to these fights? The subsequent achievements of Carl Thompson in the last two years? The fact he is a good commentator? Or because others have dissapointed more?

I think the reason Johnny Nelson is a bit more respected these days is in part due to his commentating and studio work with SKY. He comes across as such a down to earth and intelligent Boxing pundit and a genuine nice guy. Even other fighters seem to like him such as Enzo Maccrinelli and the volatile Herbie Hide who was quoted in a recent interview "I don't like many people, but I like Johnny he is my friend".

Well I really dont see it as an easy win for Nelson as some suggest. His last 2 fights were against placid opponents, look back to the Jones and Sellers fights and he did not look too hot under pressure. May and Petkovic put absoutely no pressure on him and let him fight his own fight. Enzo will at least pressure him, then we'll see what he has left.