| Azumah Nelson | |
| Nickname: |
|
| Weight: | |
| Height: | 5 ft 5 in[2] |
| Reach: | 68 in |
| Birth Date: | 19 July 1958 |
| Birth Place: | Accra, Ghana |
| Style: | Orthodox |
| Total: | 47 |
| Wins: | 39 |
| Ko: | 28 |
| Losses: | 6 |
| Draws: | 2 |
Azumah Nelson (born 19 July 1958, affectionately known as the Professor)[3] 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,[4] [5] he is currently ranked as the 69th greatest pound for pound boxer of all time by BoxRec.[6]
Nelson competed at the 1978 All-Africa Games and 1978 Commonwealth Games,[7] winning gold medals in featherweight at both events. He was awarded Amateur Boxer of the year by the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) that same year.[8]
However, Nelson was virtually unknown outside Ghana.[9] 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.[9] Nelson lost the fight by fifteenth-round technical knockout.
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.[10] Behind on the three judges' scorecards, Nelson rallied in that round to become champion in Puerto Rico.
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.[11]
On 1 December 1995, defeated world champion Gabriel Ruelas in the fifth round to claim the title.[12]
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. That was the only fight Nelson had in 1996, as had become his custom.[13]
In 1997, Nelson lost the Lineal & WBC titles to Genaro Hernandez when beaten on points in twelve rounds.[14]
The Azumah Nelson Sports Complex at Kaneshie in Accra was named after him.[15]
In 2014 the 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.
Nelson has 6 children; David Nelson, Dorinda Nelson, Doris Nelson, Dylis Nelson, Dalvin Nelson, Deloris Nelson, the son, Dalvin Azumah Nelson Junior, whom Nelson is training as a boxer.[16] His mother was known as Madam Comfort Atwei Quarcoo, his brother was Joseph Awudu Nelson and his sisters are Beatrice Abiana, Theresa Louisa, Lakia Felecia and Oboshie Susana. 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 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.[17]
| No | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | Loss | 38–6–2 | Jeff Fenech | MD | 10 | 24 Jun 2008 | |||
| 45 | Loss | 38–5–2 | Jesse James Leija | UD | 12 | 11 Jul 1998 | |||
| 44 | Loss | 38–4–2 | Genaro Hernández | SD | 12 | 22 Mar 1997 | |||
| 43 | Win | 38–3–2 | Jesse James Leija | TKO | 6 (12), | 1 Jun 1996 | |||
| 42 | Win | 37–3–2 | Gabriel Ruelas | TKO | 5 (12), | 1 Dec 1995 | |||
| 41 | Loss | 36–3–2 | Jesse James Leija | UD | 12 | 7 May 1994 | |||
| 40 | Draw | 36–2–2 | Jesse James Leija | SD | 12 | 10 Sep 1993 | |||
| 39 | Win | 36–2–1 | Gabriel Ruelas | MD | 12 | 20 Feb 1993 | |||
| 38 | Win | 35–2–1 | Calvin Grove | UD | 12 | 7 Nov 1992 | |||
| 37 | Win | 34–2–1 | Jeff Fenech | TKO | 8 (12), | 1 Mar 1992 | |||
| 36 | Draw | 33–2–1 | Jeff Fenech | SD | 12 | 28 Jun 1991 | |||
| 35 | Win | 33–2 | Daniyal Mustapha Ennin | KO | 4 (10) | 16 Mar 1991 | |||
| 34 | Win | 32–2 | Juan Laporte | UD | 12 | 13 Oct 1990 | |||
| 33 | Loss | 31–2 | Pernell Whitaker | UD | 12 | 19 May 1990 | |||
| 32 | Win | 31–1 | Jim McDonnell | KO | 12 (12), | 5 Nov 1989 | |||
| 31 | Win | 30–1 | Mario Martínez | TKO | 12 (12), | 25 Feb 1989 | |||
| 30 | Win | 29–1 | Sidnei Dal Rovere | KO | 3 (12), | 10 Dec 1988 | |||
| 29 | Win | 28–1 | Lupe Suarez | TKO | 9 (12), | 25 Jun 1988 | |||
| 28 | Win | 27–1 | Mario Martínez | SD | 12 | 29 Feb 1988 | |||
| 27 | Win | 26–1 | Marcos Villasana | UD | 12 | 29 Aug 1987 | |||
| 26 | Win | 25–1 | Mauro Gutierrez | KO | 6 (12), | 7 Mar 1987 | |||
| 25 | Win | 24–1 | Danilo Cabrera | TKO | 10 (12), | 22 Jun 1986 | |||
| 24 | Win | 23–1 | Marcos Villasana | MD | 12 | 25 Feb 1986 | |||
| 23 | Win | 22–1 | Pat Cowdell | KO | 1 (12), | 12 Oct 1985 | |||
| 22 | Win | 21–1 | Juvenal Ordenes | TKO | 5 (12), | 6 Sep 1985 | |||
| 21 | Win | 20–1 | Wilfredo Gómez | KO | 11 (12), | 8 Dec 1984 | |||
| 20 | Win | 19–1 | Hector Cortez | UD | 10 | 9 Mar 1984 | |||
| 19 | Win | 18–1 | Kabiru Akindele | KO | 9 (15) | 25 Nov 1983 | |||
| 18 | Win | 17–1 | Alberto Collazo | TKO | 2 (10), | 23 Sep 1983 | |||
| 17 | Win | 16–1 | Alvin Fowler | TKO | 2 (10), | 17 Aug 1983 | |||
| 16 | Win | 15–1 | Ricky Wallace | UD | 10 | 12 Feb 1983 | |||
| 15 | Win | 14–1 | Irving Mitchell | TKO | 5 (10), | 31 Oct 1982 | |||
| 14 | Loss | 13–1 | TKO | 15 (15), | 21 Jul 1982 | ||||
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Mukaila Bukare | TKO | 6 (10) | 26 Jun 1982 | |||
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Charm Chiteule | TKO | 10 (15) | 28 Feb 1982 | |||
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Kabiru Akindele | KO | 6 (15) | 4 Dec 1981 | |||
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Brian Roberts | TKO | 5 (15) | 26 Sep 1981 | |||
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Miguel Ruiz | TKO | 4 (10) | 18 Aug 1981 | |||
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Don George | KO | 5 (10), | 2 May 1981 | |||
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Aziza Bossou | PTS | 8 | 6 Mar 1981 | |||
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Joe Skipper | TKO | 10 (12) | 13 Dec 1980 | |||
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | David Capo | PTS | 10 | 4 Oct 1980 | |||
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Abdul Rahman Optoki | TKO | 8 (12) | 2 Aug 1980 | |||
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Henry Saddler | TKO | 9 (12) | 1 Mar 1980 | |||
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Nii Nuer | TKO | 3 (8) | 2 Feb 1980 | |||
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Billy Kwame | PTS | 10 | 1 Dec 1979 |
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