Manny Pacquiao vs. Azumah Nelson @ 130lbs

[Roger Mellie]

Very even fight IMO, I don't see a strength or stamina advantage either way, Nelson was the better boxer but he had a tendency to throw very very wide shots when exchanging and leaving himself open. At the same time Manny had a tendency to put his head down and just throw when he was exchanging so they both have their own set of defensive liabilities, but I think the difference would be the workrate of Manny, Nelson at times would throw one punch at a time while Manny with Manny, if you were in front of him he would let go with both hands. I could see it going down to whether a judge would favor cleaner punching (Nelson) or a higher landing ratio (Pacquiao) but I think manny would look to make the fight and come forward more. Nelson would keep it competitive with his counters and hold his own in the exchanges but I would favor Pacquiao to get the decision in a close fight. I don't think either of them would be knocked down, either could rock each other if hit just right but both men know how to stay on their feet when hurt and both have excellent recuperative powers.

Thats another really good way of seeing the fight,good analysis. Would you not have said that Nelson was the harder puncher though?

[BennyST]

Pac was very beatable at any of those weights. An amazing fighter for the fact that he is as good as he's ever been this high but he was certainly beatable and guys like Sanchez and Nelson had perfect styles to do it.

Both were excellent counter punchers and boxers with great stamina and who could take shots with the best of them and give back more than their own share. Both of them were better boxers than Barrera, in my opinion (though Barrera didn't exactly look flash in their first fight), and if we're talking at their best then I think they would take it.

While Pac is great I think at 130/126 I would favour both Sanchez and Nelson over Pac. Although, you know what, if him and Nelson had a first fight it's possible Pac would beat him but then Nelson would demand a rematch and then honestly dominate him with amazing boxing skills.

Nelson was truly one of the greatest rematch fighters in the history of the sport I think. He would often underestimate an opponent and would either be beaten closely, or beat them closely, but in a rematch he would utterly embarrass them or completely dominate them. He was a freak like that.

Both would be very exciting fights either way though. Kind of like Morales/Pac I.

[IMDAZED]

Nelson was a better fighter at those weights IMO but it's one hell of an amazing style match-up. The version who fought Wilfredo Gomez looked damn near unbeatable. I don't know, man. I've been thinking about this fantasy matchup for months now.

[BOLLOCKS]

Sanchez schools Pac at 126.

[Roger Mellie]

Nelson was a better fighter at those weights IMO but it's one hell of an amazing style match-up. The version who fought Wilfredo Gomez looked damn near unbeatable. I don't know, man. I've been thinking about this fantasy matchup for months now.

I think Nelson's performance against Gomez actually enhances Nelson's credentials. He had only had eleven or twelve fights and was in the fight all the way up to the end. I think he gives Pacquiao an absolute nightmare.

[DonTaseMeBrah]

I think Nelson's performance against Gomez actually enhances Nelson's credentials. He had only had eleven or twelve fights and was in the fight all the way up to the end. I think he gives Pacquiao an absolute nightmare.

you mean vs salvador. but yes absolutely a very green & inexperienced nelson lasting that long & doing so well vs a all time great in sanchez who is my favorite fighter of all time enhances him.

126 i think i favor nelson, 130 i lean towards pac who is starting to use the right hand more. Anything over 130 pac is taking it.

[Joey Giardello]

At super feather nelson breaks manny over 15. the guy is a under rated bad ass

[Silencers]

I'd actually go with Pacquiao in this one, I think Nelson would be the one stalking forward while Pacquiao darts from side to side, if there was one thing Nelson wasn't great at, it was cutting off the ring. Pacquiao's in and out and lateral movement I think would win this for him but Nelson would definitely have his moments because he was an excellent counterpuncher. This would have to be the Pacquiao we have now in a 130 pound body though, if we're talking about the more one dimensional Pacquiao then Nelson would win.

[Roger Mellie]

I'd actually go with Pacquiao in this one, I think Nelson would be the one stalking forward while Pacquiao darts from side to side, if there was one thing Nelson wasn't great at, it was cutting off the ring. Pacquiao's in and out and lateral movement I think would win this for him but Nelson would definitely have his moments because he was an excellent counterpuncher. This would have to be the Pacquiao we have now in a 130 pound body though, if we're talking about the more one dimensional Pacquiao then Nelson would win.

****,yeah Sanchez. I had only just woken up! lol. The main motivation for this thread was,like IMDAZED said,the style match up is mouthwatering.

[Roger Mellie]

I'd actually go with Pacquiao in this one, I think Nelson would be the one stalking forward while Pacquiao darts from side to side, if there was one thing Nelson wasn't great at, it was cutting off the ring. Pacquiao's in and out and lateral movement I think would win this for him but Nelson would definitely have his moments because he was an excellent counterpuncher. This would have to be the Pacquiao we have now in a 130 pound body though, if we're talking about the more one dimensional Pacquiao then Nelson would win.

Thats also a good analysis,but whilst I agree that Nelson wasnt particularly great at cutting the ring off,he was a pretty cunning fighter who could draw most fighters into a brawl if he had to,and Manny loves to fight. We seem to be split on the opinions front in here,which I guess goes to show what a tremendous fantasy fight this is.