Azumah Nelson: One of boxing’s best all-time super featherweights

By Boxing News - 08/03/2013 - Comments

By Gerardo Granados: When talking to my friend, we discussed about fights that never got signed, the Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. was mentioned among others, as the Meldrick Taylor vs. Pernell Whitaker at light welterweight, the Erik Morales vs. Juan Manuel Marquez at super feather, the Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Virgil Hill at light heavyweight and the Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. vs. Azumah Nelson at super featherweight.

I was not surprised that my friend didn´t knew who Azumah Nelson was, because being him a young casual boxing fan he might not had the chance to see Azumah fight once. He asked who Azumah Nelson was, well for the hardcore boxing fans the answer it’s obvious but many young boxing fans might have never heard of him.

Azumah was born in Ghana; he had a good amateur career but never won an Olympic medal. As a prizefighter he excelled becoming a two division champion and finally was inducted to the Hall of Fame in year 2004. He owned a great chin and good power, good overall boxing skills and great ring smarts. On his first title fight chance he lost by TKO15, but believe me that there is no shame on that defeat that he suffered on the hands of another Hall of Fame member Salvador Sanchez.

After two years he got another shot at the title and defeated Wilfred Gomez via KO11 to win the WBC featherweight belt, Nelson defended his title six times then moved up to super featherweight to win the vacant WBC super featherweight belt against Mario Martinez. He challenged a young Pernell Whitaker for the WBC lightweight title but los via UD12.

Azumah Nelson had a title bout record of W18(12)-L4-D2; his notable wins: former WBC super bantam – WBC feather – WBA World super feather champion and Hall of Fame member Wilfred Gomez, former WBC featherweight champion Marcos Villasana, former WBC featherweight Juan LaPorte, former IBF bantam – WBC super bantam & featherweight champion and Hall of Fame member Jeff Fenech , former IBF featherweight Calvin Grove, former WBC super feather Gabriel Ruelas, former WBC super feather Jesse James Leija. His notable losses: Jesse James Leija, Jeff Fenech, former WBC – WBA World super feather Genaro Hernandez, Olympic gold medalist and former four division champion and Hall of Fame member Pernell Whitaker and former WBC featherweight champion and Hall of Fame member Salvador Sanchez.

Orthodox boxer Azumah Nelson was only 5´5” height and 68” reach but inside the ring was a big threat, many times he gave advantage on size but his boxing abilities helped him defeat dangerous opponents who were bigger than him. Maybe the young fans should look up his video fights to enjoy and have a good time but for sure they should get to know one of the great African boxers of all times. As for the article title question: Azumah Nelson was “The Professor”.



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