Azumah Nelson


Azumah Nelson is a Ghanaian former professional boxer who competed from 1979 to 2008. He was a two-weight world champion, having held the World Boxing Council 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 International Boxing Federation 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, he is currently ranked as the 69th greatest pound for pound boxer of all time by BoxRec.

Career

Nelson competed at the 1978 All-Africa Games and 1978 Commonwealth Games, winning gold medals in featherweight at both events. He was awarded Amateur Boxer of the year by the Sports Writers Association of Ghana that same year.
However, Nelson was virtually unknown outside Ghana. 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. Nelson lost the fight by 15th-round technical knockout.

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. Behind on the three judges' scorecards, Nelson rallied in that round to become champion in Puerto Rico.

Super-featherweight champion

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.
On 1 December 1995, defeated world champion Gabriel Ruelas in the fifth round to claim the title.
His first defense took place almost a year later, when he and Jesse James Leija had their third bout. Nelson retained the title with a sixth-round knockout. That was the only fight Nelson had in 1996, as had become his custom.
In 1997, Nelson lost the Lineal & WBC titles to Genaro Hernandez when he beaten on points after twelve rounds.

Legacy

The Azumah Nelson Sports Complex at Kaneshie in Accra was named after him.

Biography

In 2014, a biography of Azumah Nelson was published. Written by Ashley Morrison, it was titled "The Professor - The Life Story of Azumah Nelson" was published by Strategic Book Publishing.

Personal life

Nelson has six children. Currently married to Priscilla Boakye Nelson.
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 formers sports ministers Nii Lante Vanderpuiye and Nii Amarkai Amarteifio, the British High Commissioner to Ghana Ian Walker, 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.

Professional boxing record

NoResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
46LossJeff FenechMD1024 Jun 2008 Hisense Arena, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
45Loss38–5–2Jesse James LeijaUD1211 Jul 1998 Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
44Loss38–4–2Genaro HernándezSD1222 Mar 1997 Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.Lost WBC super-featherweight title
43Win38–3–2Jesse James LeijaTKO6, 1:581 Jun 1996 Boulder Station, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC super-featherweight title
42Win37–3–2Gabriel RuelasTKO5, 1:121 Dec 1995 Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.Won WBC super-featherweight title
41Loss36–3–2Jesse James LeijaUD127 May 1994 MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Lost WBC super-featherweight title
40Draw36–2–2Jesse James LeijaSD1210 Sep 1993 Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.Retained WBC super-featherweight title
39Win36–2–1Gabriel RuelasMD1220 Feb 1993 Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, MexicoRetained WBC super-featherweight title
38Win35–2–1Calvin GroveUD127 Nov 1992 Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC super-featherweight title
37Win34–2–1Jeff FenechTKO8, 2:201 Mar 1992 Princes Park Football Ground, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaRetained WBC super-featherweight title
36Draw33–2–1Jeff FenechSD1228 Jun 1991 The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC super-featherweight title;
WBC awarded Fenech retrospectively the title on 7 Nov 2022 after WBC's recount
35Win33–2Daniyal Mustapha EnninKO4 16 Mar 1991 Polideportivo Principal Felipe, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain
34Win32–2Juan LaporteUD1213 Oct 1990 Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaRetained WBC super-featherweight title
33Loss31–2Pernell WhitakerUD1219 May 1990 Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.For WBC and IBF lightweight titles
32Win31–1Jim McDonnellKO12, 1:405 Nov 1989 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, EnglandRetained WBC super-featherweight title
31Win30–1Mario MartínezTKO12, 1:1825 Feb 1989 Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.SRetained WBC super-featherweight title
30Win29–1Sidnei Dal RovereKO3, 2:0410 Dec 1988 Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, GhanaRetained WBC super-featherweight title
29Win28–1Lupe SuarezTKO9, 0:2725 Jun 1988 Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Retained WBC super-featherweight title
28Win27–1Mario MartínezSD1229 Feb 1988 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Won vacant WBC super-featherweight title
27Win26–1Marcos VillasanaUD1229 Aug 1987 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Retained WBC featherweight title
26Win25–1Mauro GutierrezKO6, 0:337 Mar 1987 Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC featherweight title
25Win24–1Danilo CabreraTKO10, 2:3122 Jun 1986 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto RicoRetained WBC featherweight title
24Win23–1Marcos VillasanaMD1225 Feb 1986 Inglewood Forum, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Retained WBC featherweight title
23Win22–1Pat CowdellKO1, 2:2412 Oct 1985 National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, West Midlands, EnglandRetained WBC featherweight title
22Win21–1Juvenal OrdenesTKO5, 2:456 Sep 1985 Tamiami Park, Miami, Florida, U.S.Retained WBC featherweight title
21Win20–1Wilfredo GómezKO11, 2:588 Dec 1984 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto RicoWon WBC featherweight title
20Win19–1Hector CortezUD109 Mar 1984 Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
19Win18–1Kabiru AkindeleKO9 25 Nov 1983 National Stadium, Lagos, NigeriaRetained Commonwealth featherweight title
18Win17–1Alberto CollazoTKO2, 1:4023 Sep 1983 Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio, U.S.
17Win16–1Alvin FowlerTKO2, 0:4117 Aug 1983 Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
16Win15–1Ricky WallaceUD1012 Feb 1983 Public Auditorium, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
15Win14–1Irving MitchellTKO5, 2:2431 Oct 1982 Great Gorge Resort, McAfee, New Jersey, U.S.
14Loss13–1Salvador SánchezTKO15, 1:4921 Jul 1982 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, U.S.For WBC and The Ring featherweight titles
13Win13–0Mukaila BukareTKO6 26 Jun 1982 Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana
12Win12–0Charm ChiteuleTKO10 28 Feb 1982 Woodlands Stadium, Lusaka, ZambiaRetained Commonwealth featherweight title
11Win11–0Kabiru AkindeleKO6 4 Dec 1981 Siaka Stevens National Stadium, Freetown, Sierra LeoneRetained Commonwealth featherweight title
10Win10–0Brian RobertsTKO5 26 Sep 1981 Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, GhanaWon vacant Commonwealth featherweight title
9Win9–0Miguel RuizTKO4 18 Aug 1981 Stadium, Bakersfield, California, U.S.
8Win8–0Don GeorgeKO5, 0:542 May 1981 Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana
7Win7–0Aziza BossouPTS86 Mar 1981 Lomé, Togo
6Win6–0Joe SkipperTKO10 13 Dec 1980 Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, GhanaWon African featherweight title
5Win5–0David CapoPTS104 Oct 1980 Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana
4Win4–0Abdul Rahman OptokiTKO8 2 Aug 1980 Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, GhanaRetained Ghanaian featherweight title
3Win3–0Henry SaddlerTKO9 1 Mar 1980 Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, GhanaWon Ghanaian featherweight title
2Win2–0Nii NuerTKO3 2 Feb 1980 Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana
1Win1–0Billy KwamePTS101 Dec 1979 Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana