| Azumah Nelson | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) |
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| Weight(s) |
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| Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Reach | 173 cm (68 in) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Ghanaian | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 19 July 1958 Accra, Ghana | |||||||||||||||||||
| Stance | Orthodox | |||||||||||||||||||
| Boxing record | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total fights | 47 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 39 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Wins by KO | 28 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Losses | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Draws | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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.svg.png "Gold medal – first place"){kind=icon}
Azumah Nelson (born 19 July 1958) is a Ghanaian former professional boxer who competed from 1979 to 2008. He was a two-weight world champion, having held the WBC featherweight title from 1984 to 1987 and the WBC super-featherweight title twice between 1988 and 1997. He also challenged once for the unified WBC and IBF lightweight titles in 1990. At regional level he held the ABU, and Commonwealth featherweight titles between 1980 and 1982. Widely considered one of the greatest African boxers of all time,[2][3] he is currently ranked as the 31st greatest pound for pound boxer of all time by BoxRec.[4]
Amateur career
Nelson competed at the 1978 All-Africa Games and 1978 Commonwealth Games,[5] winning gold medals in the featherweight class at both events. He was awarded Amateur Boxer of the year by the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) that same year.[6]
Professional career
Despite all his early achievements and being undefeated in 13 fights, Nelson was virtually unknown outside Ghana.[7] Because of this, he was a decisive underdog when, on short notice, he challenged WBC featherweight champion Salvador Sánchez on 21 July 1982 at the Madison Square Garden in New York.[7]
World featherweight champion
Nelson won all four of his fights in 1983, and he began 1984 by beating Hector Cortez by decision on 9 March in Las Vegas. Then, on 8 December of that year, he became boxing royalty by knocking out Wilfredo Gómez in round 11 to win the WBC featherweight championship.[8] Behind on the three judges' scorecards, Nelson rallied in that last round to become champion in Puerto Rico.
Super featherweight
Nelson began 1988 by defeating Mario Martinez by a split decision over 12 rounds in Los Angeles to win the vacant WBC super featherweight title. Nelson was dropped in the 10th round of their encounter and the decision was not well received.[9]
On 1 December 1995, defeated world champion Gabriel Ruelas in the fifth round to claim the title.[10]
His first defense took place almost a year later, when he and Leija had their third bout. Nelson retained the title with a six-round knockout. As had become his common practice, that was the only time Nelson fought in 1996.[11]
In 1997, Nelson lost the Lineal & WBC titles to Genaro Hernandez when beaten on points in twelve rounds.[12]
Professional boxing record
| 39 Wins (28 Knockouts), 6 Defeats (1 Knockout), 2 Draws[13] | |||||||
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Type | Rd., Time | Date | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 39–6–2 | .svg.png){kind=small} Jeff Fenech | MD | 10 | 2008-06-24 | Victoria | |
| Loss | 39–5–2 |  Jesse James Leija | UD | 12 | 1998-07-11 | Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas | |
| Loss | 39–4–2 | Genaro Hernández | SD | 12 | 1997-03-22 | Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas | Lost WBC super-featherweight title |
| Win | 39–3–2 | Jesse James Leija | TKO | 6 (12), 1:58 | 1996-06-01 | Boulder Station, Las Vegas, Nevada | Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
| Win | 38–3–2 |  Gabriel Ruelas | TKO | 5 (12), 1:12 | 1995-12-01 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California | Won WBC super-featherweight title |
| Loss | 37–3–2 | Jesse James Leija | UD | 12 | 1994-05-07 | MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada | Lost WBC super-featherweight title |
| Draw | 37–2–2 | Jesse James Leija | SD | 12 | 1993-09-10 | Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas | Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
| Win | 37–2–1 | Gabriel Ruelas | MD | 12 | 1993-02-20 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Distrito Federal | Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
| Win | 36–2–1 | Calvin Grove | UD | 12 | 1992-11-07 | Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada | Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
| Win | 35–2–1 | Jeff Fenech | TKO | 8 (12), 2:20 | 1992-03-01 | Princes Park Football Ground, Melbourne, Victoria | Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
| Draw | 34–2–1 | Jeff Fenech | SD | 12 | 1991-06-28 | The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada | Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
| Win | 34–2 |  Daniel Mustapha | KO | 4 | 1991-03-16 |  Polideportivo Principal Felipe, Zaragoza, Aragón | |
| Win | 33–2 |  Juan Laporte | UD | 12 | 1990-10-13 | Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, New South Wales | Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
| Loss | 32–2 | Pernell Whitaker | UD | 12 | 1990-05-19 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada | For WBC and IBF lightweight titles |
| Win | 32–1 |  Jim McDonnell | TKO | 12 (12) | 1989-11-05 | Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London | Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
| Win | 31–1 | Mario Martínez | TKO | 12 (12), 1:18 | 1989-02-25 | Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada | Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
| Win | 30–1 |  Sidnei Dal Rovere | TKO | 3 (12), 2:04 | 1988-12-10 | Accra Sports Stadium, Accra | Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
| Win | 29–1 | Lupe Suarez | TKO | 9(12), 0:27 | 1988-06-25 | Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey | Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
| Win | 28–1 | Mario Martínez | SD | 12 | 1988-02-29 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California | Won vacant WBC super-featherweight title |
| Win | 27–1 | Marcos Villasana | UD | 12 | 1987-08-29 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | Retained WBC featherweight title |
| Win | 26–1 | Mauro Gutierrez | KO | 6 (12), 0:33 | 1987-03-07 | Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada | Retained WBC featherweight title |
| Win | 25–1 | Aaron Duribe | KO | 6 | 1986-12-13 | Accra | |
| Win | 24–1 |  Danilo Cabrera | TKO | 10 (12), 2:31 | 1986-06-22 | Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan | Retained WBC featherweight title |
| Win | 23–1 | Marcos Villasana | MD | 12 | 1986-02-25 | Inglewood Forum, Los Angeles, California | Retained WBC featherweight title |
| Win | 22–1 | Pat Cowdell | KO | 1 (12), 2:24 | 1985-10-12 | National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, West Midlands | Retained WBC featherweight title |
| Win | 21–1 |  Juvenal Ordenes | TKO | 5 (12), 2:45 | 1985-09-06 | Tamiami Park, Miami, Florida | Retained WBC featherweight title |
| Win | 20–1 | Wilfredo Gómez | KO | 11 (12), 2:58 | 1984-12-08 | Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan | Won WBC featherweight title |
| Win | 19–1 |  Hector Cortez | UD | 10 | 1984-03-09 | Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| Win | 18–1 |  Kabiru Akindele | KO | 9 (15) | 1983-11-23 | Lagos | Retained Commonwealth featherweight title |
| Win | 17–1 | Alberto Collazo | TKO | 2 (10), 1:40 | 1983-09-23 | Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio | |
| Win | 16–1 | Alvin Fowler | TKO | 2 | 1983-08-17 | Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| Win | 15–1 | Ricky Wallace | TKO | 2 | 1983-02-12 | Public Auditorium, Cleveland, Ohio | |
| Win | 14–1 | Irving Mitchell | TKO | 5 (10) | 1982-10-31 | Great Gorge Resort, McAfee, New Jersey | |
| Loss | 13–1 | Salvador Sánchez | TKO | 15 (15), 1:49 | 1982-07-21 | Madison Square Garden, New York, New York | For WBC featherweight title |
| Win | 13–0 | Mukaila Bukare | TKO | 6 | 1982-06-26 | Accra | |
| Win | 12–0 |  Charm Chiteule | TKO | 10 (15) | 1982-02-28 | Woodlands Stadium, Lusaka | Retained Commonwealth featherweight title |
| Win | 11–0 | Kabiru Akindele | KO | 6 (15) | 1981-12-04 |  Freetown | Retained Commonwealth featherweight title |
| Win | 10–0 | Brian Roberts | TKO | 5 (15) | 1981-09-26 | Accra Sports Stadium, Accra | Won vacant Commonwealth featherweight title |
| Win | 9–0 | Miguel Ruiz | TKO | 3 | 1981-08-18 | Bakersfield Civic Auditorium, Bakersfield, California | |
| Win | 8–0 | Don George | KO | 5 (10), 0:54 | 1981-05-02 | Accra Sports Stadium, Accra | |
| Win | 7–0 |  Aziza Bossou | PTS | 10 | 1981-02-24 | Stade General Eyadema, Lomé | |
| Win | 6–0 | Joe Skipper | PTS | 10 | 1980-12-13 | Accra Sports Stadium, Accra | Won African featherweight title |
| Win | 5–0 | David Capo | PTS | 10 | 1980-07-04 | Accra | |
| Win | 4–0 | Abdul Rahman Optoki | KO | 8 (12), 1:11 | 1980-04-19 | Accra | Retained Ghanaian featherweight title |
| Win | 3–0 | Henry Saddler | KO | 9 (12) | 1980-03-03 | Accra | Won Ghanaian featherweight title |
| Win | 2–0 | Nii Nuer | KO | 3 (8) | 1980-02-02 | Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra | |
| Win | 1–0 | Billy Kwame | PTS | 6 | 1979-12-01 | Accra Sports Stadium, Accra | |
Legacy
The Azumah Nelson Sports Complex at Kaneshie in Accra was named after him.[14]
Biography
In 2014 the biography of Azumah Nelson was published. Written by Ashley Morrison it was titled "The Professor - The Life Story of Azumah Nelson" (ISBN 978-1628571059) was published by Strategic Book Publishing.
Personal life
Nelson has a son, Azumah Nelson Junior, whom Nelson is training as a boxer.[15]
In July 2018, Azumah organized a fight night to celebrate his 60th birthday at the Bukom Boxing Arena. This event brought together fighters from highly rated gyms in the country to fight contenders in their divisions. Some dignitaries including Nii Lante Vanderpuiye and Nii Amarkai Amarteifio who are two former sports ministers, Ian Walker the British High Commissioner to Ghana and Peter Zwennes the president of the Ghana Boxing Authority, graced the occasion. In all there were five bouts, three of which were won by knockout.[16]
See also
- List of featherweight boxing champions
- List of super featherweight boxing champions
- List of WBA world champions
- List of WBC world champions
References
- ^ "BOXING; A Fight for Recognition and 2 Titles". Nytimes.com. 19 May 1990. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- ^ Errol Barnett (11 August 2012). "Is Azumah Nelson Africa's greatest boxer?". CNN. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
- ^ Timothy W. Smith (11 July 1998). "Story: BOXING: The Best Boxer Nobody Knows; After 19 Years, the Career of a Ghanaian Legend Nears an End". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
- ^ "BoxRec: Ratings". Boxrec.com. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
- ^ "Boxing 57kg - Men Edmonton 1978 | Commonwealth Games Federation". thecgf.com. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ "Ike Quartey". mobile.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- ^ a b Michael Katz (22 July 1982). "SANCHEZ KNOCKS OUT NELSON IN THE 15TH". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
- ^ "Nelson takes Title". The New York Times. 10 December 1984.
- ^ GUSTKEY, EARL (1 March 1988). "Age and Zaragoza Catch Up With Zarate : Nelson Takes Unpopular Split Decision for Super-Featherweight Title". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
- ^ Steve Springer (2 December 1995). "Ruelas Is KO'd by Nelson, Specter : Boxing: Champion loses his WBC title to 37-year-old challenger after "seeing" boxer who died after his previous fight". LA Times. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
- ^ Tim Kawakami (2 June 1996). "Nelson Retains WBC Title With a Sixth-Round TKO". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
- ^ "Azumah Nelson - Lineal Jr. Lightweight Champion". The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia.
- ^ "Azumah Nelson's Professional Boxing Record". BoxRec. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
- ^ "Sporting facilities and events renamed". BusinessGhana. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
- ^ "Azumah Nelson backs son to become world champion". 21 August 2017. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
- ^ "Knockout galore as Azumah crowns 60th anniversary with Azumah Nelson Fight Night". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
External links
| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Wilfredo Gómez | WBC Featherweight Champion 8 December 1984 – 1988 Vacated | Vacant Title last held by Jeff Fenech |
| Vacant Title last held by Julio César Chávez | WBC Super Featherweight Champion 29 February 1988 – 7 May 1994 | Succeeded by Jesse James Leija |
| Preceded by Gabriel Ruelas | WBC Super Featherweight Champion 1 December 1995 – 22 March 1997 | Succeeded by Genaro Hernández |
| Awards | ||
| Previous: Buster Douglas KO10 Mike Tyson | The Ring Magazine Upset of the Year KO8 Jeff Fenech 1992 | Next: Simon Brown KO4 Terry Norris |