Azumah Nelson
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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 | Accra, Ghana | 19 July 1958|||||||||||||||||||
Stance | Orthodox | |||||||||||||||||||
Boxing record | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total fights | 47 | |||||||||||||||||||
Wins | 39 | |||||||||||||||||||
Wins by KO | 28 | |||||||||||||||||||
Losses | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||
Draws | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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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 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[]
46 fights | 38 wins | 6 losses |
By knockout | 27 | 1 |
By decision | 11 | 5 |
Draws | 2 |
No | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
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46 | Loss | 38–6–2 | ![]() |
MD | 10 | 24 Jun 2008 | ![]() |
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45 | Loss | 38–5–2 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | 11 Jul 1998 | ![]() |
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44 | Loss | 38–4–2 | ![]() |
SD | 12 | 22 Mar 1997 | ![]() |
Lost WBC super-featherweight title |
43 | Win | 38–3–2 | ![]() |
TKO | 6 (12), 1:58 | 1 Jun 1996 | ![]() |
Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
42 | Win | 37–3–2 | ![]() |
TKO | 5 (12), 1:12 | 1 Dec 1995 | ![]() |
Won WBC super-featherweight title |
41 | Loss | 36–3–2 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | 7 May 1994 | ![]() |
Lost WBC super-featherweight title |
40 | Draw | 36–2–2 | ![]() |
SD | 12 | 10 Sep 1993 | ![]() |
Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
39 | Win | 36–2–1 | ![]() |
MD | 12 | 20 Feb 1993 | ![]() |
Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
38 | Win | 35–2–1 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | 7 Nov 1992 | ![]() |
Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
37 | Win | 34–2–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 8 (12), 2:20 | 1 Mar 1992 | ![]() |
Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
36 | Draw | 33–2–1 | ![]() |
SD | 12 | 28 Jun 1991 | ![]() |
Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
35 | Win | 33–2 | ![]() |
KO | 4 (10) | 16 Mar 1991 | ![]() |
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34 | Win | 32–2 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | 13 Oct 1990 | ![]() |
Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
33 | Loss | 31–2 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | 19 May 1990 | ![]() |
For WBC and IBF lightweight titles |
32 | Win | 31–1 | ![]() |
KO | 12 (12), 1:40 | 5 Nov 1989 | ![]() |
Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
31 | Win | 30–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 12 (12), 1:18 | 25 Feb 1989 | ![]() |
Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
30 | Win | 29–1 | ![]() |
KO | 3 (12), 2:04 | 10 Dec 1988 | ![]() |
Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
29 | Win | 28–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 9 (12), 0:27 | 25 Jun 1988 | ![]() |
Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
28 | Win | 27–1 | ![]() |
SD | 12 | 29 Feb 1988 | ![]() |
Won vacant WBC super-featherweight title |
27 | Win | 26–1 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | 29 Aug 1987 | ![]() |
Retained WBC featherweight title |
26 | Win | 25–1 | ![]() |
KO | 6 (12), 0:33 | 7 Mar 1987 | ![]() |
Retained WBC featherweight title |
25 | Win | 24–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 10 (12), 2:31 | 22 Jun 1986 | ![]() |
Retained WBC featherweight title |
24 | Win | 23–1 | ![]() |
MD | 12 | 25 Feb 1986 | ![]() |
Retained WBC featherweight title |
23 | Win | 22–1 | ![]() |
KO | 1 (12), 2:24 | 12 Oct 1985 | ![]() |
Retained WBC featherweight title |
22 | Win | 21–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 5 (12), 2:45 | 6 Sep 1985 | ![]() |
Retained WBC featherweight title |
21 | Win | 20–1 | ![]() |
KO | 11 (12), 2:58 | 8 Dec 1984 | ![]() |
Won WBC featherweight title |
20 | Win | 19–1 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 9 Mar 1984 | ![]() |
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19 | Win | 18–1 | ![]() |
KO | 9 (15) | 25 Nov 1983 | ![]() |
Retained Commonwealth featherweight title |
18 | Win | 17–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 2 (10), 1:40 | 23 Sep 1983 | ![]() |
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17 | Win | 16–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 2 (10), 0:41 | 17 Aug 1983 | ![]() |
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16 | Win | 15–1 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 12 Feb 1983 | ![]() |
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15 | Win | 14–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 5 (10), 2:24 | 31 Oct 1982 | ![]() |
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14 | Loss | 13–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 15 (15), 1:49 | 21 Jul 1982 | ![]() |
For WBC and The Ring featherweight titles |
13 | Win | 13–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 6 (10) | 26 Jun 1982 | ![]() |
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12 | Win | 12–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 10 (15) | 28 Feb 1982 | ![]() |
Retained Commonwealth featherweight title |
11 | Win | 11–0 | ![]() |
KO | 6 (15) | 4 Dec 1981 | ![]() |
Retained Commonwealth featherweight title |
10 | Win | 10–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 5 (15) | 26 Sep 1981 | ![]() |
Won vacant Commonwealth featherweight title |
9 | Win | 9–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 4 (10) | 18 Aug 1981 | ![]() |
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8 | Win | 8–0 | ![]() |
KO | 5 (10), 0:54 | 2 May 1981 | ![]() |
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7 | Win | 7–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 8 | 6 Mar 1981 | ![]() |
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6 | Win | 6–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 10 (12) | 13 Dec 1980 | ![]() |
Won African featherweight title |
5 | Win | 5–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 10 | 4 Oct 1980 | ![]() |
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4 | Win | 4–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 8 (12) | 2 Aug 1980 | ![]() |
Retained Ghanaian featherweight title |
3 | Win | 3–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 9 (12) | 1 Mar 1980 | ![]() |
Won Ghanaian featherweight title |
2 | Win | 2–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 3 (8) | 2 Feb 1980 | ![]() |
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1 | Win | 1–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 10 | 1 Dec 1979 | ![]() |
Legacy[]
The Azumah Nelson Sports Complex at Kaneshie in Accra was named after him.[13]
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.[14]
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.[15]
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.
- ^ Jump up to: 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.
- ^ "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. 22 July 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
External links[]
- 1958 births
- Boxers at the 1978 Commonwealth Games
- Featherweight boxers
- Super-featherweight boxers
- Lightweight boxers
- Living people
- International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees
- World boxing champions
- World Boxing Council champions
- African Boxing Union champions
- Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Ghana
- Sportspeople from Accra
- Ga-Adangbe people
- Ghanaian male boxers
- Commonwealth Games medallists in boxing
- African Games gold medalists for Ghana
- African Games medalists in boxing
- Competitors at the 1978 All-Africa Games