Johnny Nelson


Ivanson Ranny "Johnny" Nelson is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1986 to 2005. He held the World Boxing Organization cruiserweight title from 1999 to 2006, and remains the cruiserweight champions|longest reigning cruiserweight world champion of all time]. Nelson defended the title against thirteen different opponents, more than any other cruiserweight in history, and holds a joint-record of most consecutive cruiserweight title defences. He also never lost the title in the ring. At regional level, he held the British cruiserweight title twice between 1989 and 1997, and the European cruiserweight title twice between 1990 and 1998.

Professional career

Nelson began training at Wincobank gym in Sheffield under trainer Brendan Ingle who also went on to train Naseem Hamed and Kell Brook. He began his career losing ten of his thirteen bouts contested as an amateur.
Nelson's 15th defence of his WBO cruiserweight title was scheduled to be against Welshman Enzo Maccarinelli on the undercard for the Joe Calzaghe versus Jeff Lacy WBO/IBF unification bout on 6 March 2006, but a knee injury picked up by Nelson during sparring forced the fight to be cancelled and Nelson announced his decision to retire from professional boxing a few months later on 22 September 2006.

Life after boxing

Nelson currently works as an analyst for Sky Sports. Since retirement he has spent some time working with the prison service helping inmates with life management skills. He has also done some charity work, agreeing to fight a charity match against Jos Battle.
Nelson was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to boxing and to young people in South Yorkshire.
His likeness as well as commentary is featured in the 2024 video game Undisputed as a cruiserweight boxer. His voice was also featured in the 2024 documentary, Four Kings.

Personal life

Nelson's mother was Cuban-Jamaican, his father was Dominican. Nelson's parents split up when he was a young child and he did not reunite with his biological father until he was in his thirties. In 2010, Nelson published his autobiography, Hard Road to Glory.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
59WinVincenzo CantatoreSD1226 Nov 2005Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, ItalyRetained WBO cruiserweight title
58Win44–12–2Rüdiger MayTKO7, 2:294 Sep 2004Grugahalle, Essen, GermanyRetained WBO cruiserweight title
57Win43–12–2Alexander Petkovic1215 Nov 2003Oberfrankenhalle, Bayreuth, GermanyRetained WBO cruiserweight title
56Draw42–12–2Guillermo JonesSD1223 Nov 2002Storm Arena, Derby, EnglandRetained WBO cruiserweight title
55Win42–12–1Ezra SellersKO8, 2:396 Apr 2002Circus Building, Copenhagen, DenmarkRetained WBO cruiserweight title
54Win41–12–1Alexander VasilievUD1224 Nov 2001York Hall, London, EnglandWon vacant WBU heavyweight title
53Win40–12–1Marcelo DomínguezUD1221 Jul 2001Ponds Forge, Sheffield, EnglandRetained WBO cruiserweight title
52Win39–12–1George AriasUD1227 Jan 2001York Hall, London, EnglandRetained WBO cruiserweight title
51Win38–12–1Adam WattKO5, 2:127 Oct 2000The Dome Leisure Centre, Doncaster, EnglandRetained WBO cruiserweight title
50Win37–12–1Pietro AurinoTKO7, 2:238 Apr 2000York Hall, London, EnglandRetained WBO cruiserweight title
49Win36–12–1Christophe GirardKO4, 2:346 Nov 1999Kingsway Leisure Centre, Widnes, EnglandRetained WBO cruiserweight title
48Win35–12–1Sione AsipeliUD1218 Sep 1999Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, USRetained WBO cruiserweight title
47Win34–12–1Willard LewisTKO4, 3:007 Aug 1999Goresbrook Leisure Centre, London, EnglandRetained WBO cruiserweight title
46Win33–12–1Bruce ScottUD1215 May 1999Ponds Forge, Sheffield, EnglandRetained WBO cruiserweight title
45Win32–12–1Carl ThompsonTKO5, 1:4227 Mar 1999Storm Arena, Derby, EnglandWon WBO cruiserweight title
44Win31–12–1Peter Oboh6, 3:0018 Jul 1998Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England
43Win30–12–1Dirk WallynTKO1, 1:1310 Nov 1997Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, EnglandRetained European cruiserweight title
42Win29–12–1Michael MurrayPTS419 Jul 1997Wembley Arena, London, England
41Win28–12–1Patrice AouissiKO7 22 Feb 1997Berck, FranceWon vacant European cruiserweight title
40Win27–12–1Dennis AndriesTKO7, 1:5014 Dec 1996Sheffield, EnglandWon vacant British cruiserweight title
39Win26–12–1Tony BoothKO2, 2:0720 Jan 1996Leisure Centre, Mansfield, England
38Loss25–12–1Adílson RodriguesUD123 Dec 1995Ginásio Carlos Nélson Bueno, Mogi Guaçu, BrazilFor WBF heavyweight title
37Loss25–11–1Adílson RodriguesPTS1222 Aug 1995Osasco, BrazilLost WBF heavyweight title
36Win25–10–1Nikolay Kulpin125 Nov 1994Chiangrai Stadium, Chiang Rai, ThailandRetained WBF heavyweight title
35Loss24–10–1Henry AkinwandePTS104 May 1994York Hall, London, England
34Win24–9–1Jimmy ThunderUD1219 Nov 1993Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland, New ZealandWon WBF heavyweight title
33Loss23–9–1Franco Wanyama10 10 Jan 1993Waregem, BelgiumLost WBF cruiserweight title;
Nelson disqualified for repeated fouls
32Win23–8–1Tom CollinsTKO1 4 Nov 1993Leisure Centre, Mansfield, EnglandRetained WBF cruiserweight title
31Win22–8–1Dave RussellTKO11 30 Apr 1993Festival Hall, Melbourne, AustraliaWon WBF (Federation) cruiserweight title
30Loss21–8–1Corrie SandersUD1024 Oct 1992Morula Sun Casino, Mabopane, South Africa
29Loss21–7–1Norbert EkassiTKO3 14 Aug 1992Ajaccio, France
28Loss21–6–1James Warring1216 May 1992Hugo's Nightclub, Bealeton, Virginia, USFor IBF cruiserweight title
27Win21–5–1Yves MonsieurTKO8, 2:353 Dec 1991Leisure Centre, Mansfield, EnglandRetained European cruiserweight title
26Win20–5–1Markus BottTKO12 14 Dec 1990Europahalle, Karlsruhe, GermanyWon vacant European cruiserweight title
25Win19–5–1Andre SmithPTS89 May 1990Brighton Centre, Brighton, England
24Win18–5–1Arthur WeathersTKO2, 0:2527 Jun 1990Royal Albert Hall, London, England
23Win17–5–1Lou GentKO4, 1:4928 Mar 1990York Hall, London, EnglandRetained British cruiserweight title
22Win16–5–1Dino HomseyTKO7 14 Feb 1990International Centre, Brentwood, England
21Draw15–5–1Carlos de León1227 Jan 1990City Hall, Sheffield, EnglandFor WBC cruiserweight title
20Win15–5Ian BullochKO2 10 Feb 1989Victoria Hall, Hanley, EnglandRetained British cruiserweight title
19Win14–5Andy StraughnTKO8 21 May 1989Finsbury Park Majestic Ballroom, London, EnglandWon British cruiserweight title
18Win13–5Steve MorminoTKO2, 1:564 Apr 1989City Hall, Sheffield, England
17Win12–5Danny LawfordTKO2, 0:5326 Oct 1988City Hall, Sheffield, EnglandWon vacant Central Area cruiserweight title
16Win11–5Andrew GerrardPTS831 Aug 1988Kings Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, England
15Win10–5Lennie HowardKO2 6 Jun 1988Hilton, London, England
14Win9–5Crawford AshleyPTS85 Apr 1988Midlands Sporting Club, Solihull, England
13Win8–5Kenny JonesKO1, 1:4025 Apr 1988Montrose Club, Liverpool, England
12Win7–5Cordwell Hylton1 24 Feb 1988City Hall, Sheffield, England
11Loss6–5Dennis BaileyPTS82 Jan 1988Derngate Theatre, Northampton, England
10Win6–4Jon McBeanTKO6 14 Dec 1987The Tower Ballroom, Birmingham, England
9Win5–4Byron PullenTKO3 6 Mar 1987Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre, London, England
8Loss4–4Brian SchumacherPTS828 Apr 1987North Bridge Leisure Centre, Halifax, England
7Win4–3Sean Daly1, 0:524 Oct 1987The Ritz, Manchester, England
6Win3–3Doug YoungPTS63 Feb 1987Ladbroke Mercury Hotel, Huddersfield, England
5Win2–3George CarmenPTS619 Jan 1987Grosvenor House Hotel, London, England
4Win1–3Chris LittlePTS620 Nov 1986Quaffers Club, Bredbury, England
3Loss0–3Magne HavnaaPTS43 Oct 1986Idrætshuset, Copenhagen, Denmark
2Loss0–2Tommy TaylorPTS615 May 1986Brierley Hill Civic Hall, Dudley, England
1Loss0–1Peter Brown618 Mar 1986Westfield Country Club, Hull, England