Re-evaluating Azumah Nelson's career
Posted: 17 Jun 2008, 19:53
Nelson was one of my favorite fighters of the last few decades, and a fighter I had a heck of a high regard for.
It was hard not be hugely impressed by his comeback/upset knockouts of Fenech, Ruelas, and even Leija. After seeing those fights (especially the Ruelas one), I thought Nelson might well have been one of the very best fighters of his era.
But when I think back about Nelson's career, I find myself a bit disappointed that more big fights didn't happen with him.
From 1984 (when he beat Wilf Gomez) until he KO'd Ruelas more than ten years later, he didn't fight a single co-champion in either of the divisions he was in.
I know the McGuigan fight collapsed because McGuigan lost to Cruz (and personally, I never thought McGuigan was all that eager to fight Nelson anyway).
But jr. lightweight was pretty deep at that time, and it seemed like there was a lot of potential big fights that could've been made.
When he moved up, he fought Mario Martinez (never more than a contender, albeit a good one) for a vacant title, rather than champions Rocky Lockridge or Brian Mitchell. Mitchell continued to be a distinguished co-champion throughout Nelson's reign, as was Tony Lopez. Just behind them was John John Molina, who briefly held Lopez's title and later succeeded Mitchell. Notice that Lockridge, Lopez, Molina, and Mitchell all managed to have at least a couple of fights against another on that list. Lopez actually had 2-3 fights against each one.
I think Lopez, Mitchell, or Molina would have been bigger/better fights than guys that Nelson actually did fight, like Martinez, Fenech (who was coming up in weight, and was only semi-active then), McDonnell (who had already lost to Mitchell), LaPorte (who had lost to Molina), Ruelas (the first fight), or Leija. At that time, Nelson was generally considered the best in his division, and at that time I thought so too. But as I look back now, I begin to wonder how he would've fared against the likes of Mitchell, or even Lopez or Molina.
Nelson has shown a willingness to pursue big fights/challenges in his career. He took a fight with Sal Sanchez very early in his career and on short notice, he went up to lightweight to fight a peak Pernell Whitaker (at Whitaker's best weight IMO), he went to England to force a showdown with McGuigan (by fighting Cowdell), and he went down to Australia to fight Fenech, where nobody thought he could possibly win.
Still, with these other fights not happening, I can't help but feel there's some kind of hole in his legacy.
What do you folks here think of this? Why did those other fights not happen?
It was hard not be hugely impressed by his comeback/upset knockouts of Fenech, Ruelas, and even Leija. After seeing those fights (especially the Ruelas one), I thought Nelson might well have been one of the very best fighters of his era.
But when I think back about Nelson's career, I find myself a bit disappointed that more big fights didn't happen with him.
From 1984 (when he beat Wilf Gomez) until he KO'd Ruelas more than ten years later, he didn't fight a single co-champion in either of the divisions he was in.
I know the McGuigan fight collapsed because McGuigan lost to Cruz (and personally, I never thought McGuigan was all that eager to fight Nelson anyway).
But jr. lightweight was pretty deep at that time, and it seemed like there was a lot of potential big fights that could've been made.
When he moved up, he fought Mario Martinez (never more than a contender, albeit a good one) for a vacant title, rather than champions Rocky Lockridge or Brian Mitchell. Mitchell continued to be a distinguished co-champion throughout Nelson's reign, as was Tony Lopez. Just behind them was John John Molina, who briefly held Lopez's title and later succeeded Mitchell. Notice that Lockridge, Lopez, Molina, and Mitchell all managed to have at least a couple of fights against another on that list. Lopez actually had 2-3 fights against each one.
I think Lopez, Mitchell, or Molina would have been bigger/better fights than guys that Nelson actually did fight, like Martinez, Fenech (who was coming up in weight, and was only semi-active then), McDonnell (who had already lost to Mitchell), LaPorte (who had lost to Molina), Ruelas (the first fight), or Leija. At that time, Nelson was generally considered the best in his division, and at that time I thought so too. But as I look back now, I begin to wonder how he would've fared against the likes of Mitchell, or even Lopez or Molina.
Nelson has shown a willingness to pursue big fights/challenges in his career. He took a fight with Sal Sanchez very early in his career and on short notice, he went up to lightweight to fight a peak Pernell Whitaker (at Whitaker's best weight IMO), he went to England to force a showdown with McGuigan (by fighting Cowdell), and he went down to Australia to fight Fenech, where nobody thought he could possibly win.
Still, with these other fights not happening, I can't help but feel there's some kind of hole in his legacy.
What do you folks here think of this? Why did those other fights not happen?
