# Azumah Nelson

Azumah Nelson (born 19 July 1958, affectionately known as the Professor) 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, 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 (SWAG) 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 fifteenth-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

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 six-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 beaten on points in twelve rounds.

## Legacy

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

## 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 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. 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.

## Professional boxing record

| 46 fights | 38 wins | 6 losses |
| By knockout | 27 | 1 |
| By decision | 11 | 5 |
| Draws | 2 | 2 |
| No | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 46 | Loss | 38–6–2 | Jeff Fenech | MD | 10 | 24 Jun 2008 | Hisense Arena, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | |
| 45 | Loss | 38–5–2 | Jesse James Leija | UD | 12 | 11 Jul 1998 | Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | |
| 44 | Loss | 38–4–2 | Genaro Hernández | SD | 12 | 22 Mar 1997 | Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. | Lost WBC super-featherweight title |
| 43 | Win | 38–3–2 | Jesse James Leija | TKO | 6 (12), 1:58 | 1 Jun 1996 | Boulder Station, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
| 42 | Win | 37–3–2 | Gabriel Ruelas | TKO | 5 (12), 1:12 | 1 Dec 1995 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. | Won WBC super-featherweight title |
| 41 | Loss | 36–3–2 | Jesse James Leija | UD | 12 | 7 May 1994 | MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Lost WBC super-featherweight title |
| 40 | Draw | 36–2–2 | Jesse James Leija | SD | 12 | 10 Sep 1993 | Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
| 39 | Win | 36–2–1 | Gabriel Ruelas | MD | 12 | 20 Feb 1993 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico | Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
| 38 | Win | 35–2–1 | Calvin Grove | UD | 12 | 7 Nov 1992 | Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S. | Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
| 37 | Win | 34–2–1 | Jeff Fenech | TKO | 8 (12), 2:20 | 1 Mar 1992 | Princes Park Football Ground, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
| 36 | Draw | 33–2–1 | Jeff Fenech | SD | 12 | 28 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 |
| 35 | Win | 33–2 | Daniyal Mustapha Ennin | KO | 4 (10) | 16 Mar 1991 | Polideportivo Principal Felipe, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain | |
| 34 | Win | 32–2 | Juan Laporte | UD | 12 | 13 Oct 1990 | Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
| 33 | Loss | 31–2 | Pernell Whitaker | UD | 12 | 19 May 1990 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | For WBC and IBF lightweight titles |
| 32 | Win | 31–1 | Jim McDonnell | KO | 12 (12), 1:40 | 5 Nov 1989 | Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England | Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
| 31 | Win | 30–1 | Mario Martínez | TKO | 12 (12), 1:18 | 25 Feb 1989 | Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S | Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
| 30 | Win | 29–1 | Sidnei Dal Rovere | KO | 3 (12), 2:04 | 10 Dec 1988 | Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana | Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
| 29 | Win | 28–1 | Lupe Suarez | TKO | 9 (12), 0:27 | 25 Jun 1988 | Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Retained WBC super-featherweight title |
| 28 | Win | 27–1 | Mario Martínez | SD | 12 | 29 Feb 1988 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | Won vacant WBC super-featherweight title |
| 27 | Win | 26–1 | Marcos Villasana | UD | 12 | 29 Aug 1987 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | Retained WBC featherweight title |
| 26 | Win | 25–1 | Mauro Gutierrez | KO | 6 (12), 0:33 | 7 Mar 1987 | Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Retained WBC featherweight title |
| 25 | Win | 24–1 | Danilo Cabrera | TKO | 10 (12), 2:31 | 22 Jun 1986 | Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico | Retained WBC featherweight title |
| 24 | Win | 23–1 | Marcos Villasana | MD | 12 | 25 Feb 1986 | Inglewood Forum, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | Retained WBC featherweight title |
| 23 | Win | 22–1 | Pat Cowdell | KO | 1 (12), 2:24 | 12 Oct 1985 | National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, West Midlands, England | Retained WBC featherweight title |
| 22 | Win | 21–1 | Juvenal Ordenes | TKO | 5 (12), 2:45 | 6 Sep 1985 | Tamiami Park, Miami, Florida, U.S. | Retained WBC featherweight title |
| 21 | Win | 20–1 | Wilfredo Gómez | KO | 11 (12), 2:58 | 8 Dec 1984 | Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico | Won WBC featherweight title |
| 20 | Win | 19–1 | Hector Cortez | UD | 10 | 9 Mar 1984 | Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 19 | Win | 18–1 | Kabiru Akindele | KO | 9 (15) | 25 Nov 1983 | National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria | Retained Commonwealth featherweight title |
| 18 | Win | 17–1 | Alberto Collazo | TKO | 2 (10), 1:40 | 23 Sep 1983 | Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 16–1 | Alvin Fowler | TKO | 2 (10), 0:41 | 17 Aug 1983 | Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 15–1 | Ricky Wallace | UD | 10 | 12 Feb 1983 | Public Auditorium, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 14–1 | Irving Mitchell | TKO | 5 (10), 2:24 | 31 Oct 1982 | Great Gorge Resort, McAfee, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 14 | Loss | 13–1 | Salvador Sánchez | TKO | 15 (15), 1:49 | 21 Jul 1982 | Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, U.S. | For WBC and The Ring featherweight titles |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Mukaila Bukare | TKO | 6 (10) | 26 Jun 1982 | Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Charm Chiteule | TKO | 10 (15) | 28 Feb 1982 | Woodlands Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia | Retained Commonwealth featherweight title |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Kabiru Akindele | KO | 6 (15) | 4 Dec 1981 | Siaka Stevens National Stadium, Freetown, Sierra Leone | Retained Commonwealth featherweight title |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Brian Roberts | TKO | 5 (15) | 26 Sep 1981 | Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana | Won vacant Commonwealth featherweight title |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Miguel Ruiz | TKO | 4 (10) | 18 Aug 1981 | Stadium, Bakersfield, California, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Don George | KO | 5 (10), 0:54 | 2 May 1981 | Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Aziza Bossou | PTS | 8 | 6 Mar 1981 | Lomé, Togo | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Joe Skipper | TKO | 10 (12) | 13 Dec 1980 | Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana | Won African featherweight title |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | David Capo | PTS | 10 | 4 Oct 1980 | Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Abdul Rahman Optoki | TKO | 8 (12) | 2 Aug 1980 | Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana | Retained Ghanaian featherweight title |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Henry Saddler | TKO | 9 (12) | 1 Mar 1980 | Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana | Won Ghanaian featherweight title |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Nii Nuer | TKO | 3 (8) | 2 Feb 1980 | Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Billy Kwame | PTS | 10 | 1 Dec 1979 | Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana | |