Azumah Nelson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Azumah Nelson |
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| Height | 5 ft 5 in | |||||||||||||||||||
| Reach | 68 in | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 19 July 1958 Accra, Ghana |
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| Stance | Orthodox | |||||||||||||||||||
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| 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 was born on July 19, 1958. He is a famous former professional boxer from Ghana. People often call him the Professor because of his smart boxing style. He boxed professionally from 1979 to 2008.
Azumah Nelson was a world champion in two different weight classes. He held the WBC featherweight title from 1984 to 1987. He also won the WBC super-featherweight title twice, holding it between 1988 and 1997. Many people think he is the greatest African boxer ever.
Contents
Early Boxing Days
Azumah Nelson started his boxing journey by winning gold medals. He won at the 1978 All-Africa Games and the 1978 Commonwealth Games. Both wins were in the featherweight category. The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) named him Amateur Boxer of the Year in 1978.
At first, not many people outside Ghana knew about Azumah. This changed when he got a chance to fight Salvador Sánchez. Sánchez was the WBC featherweight champion. Their fight happened on July 21, 1982, in New York. Azumah lost this tough fight in the fifteenth round.
Becoming a Champion
After his loss to Sánchez, Azumah Nelson kept working hard. He won all four of his fights in 1983. In 1984, he started the year with a win against Hector Cortez. This fight took place in Las Vegas.
Winning the Featherweight Title
On December 8, 1984, Azumah Nelson made history. He fought Wilfredo Gómez for the WBC featherweight championship. Azumah was behind on points, but he came back strong. He knocked out Gómez in the eleventh round. This amazing win made him a world champion in Puerto Rico.
Moving to Super-Featherweight
In 1988, Azumah Nelson moved up to a new weight class. He fought Mario Martinez for the vacant WBC super-featherweight title. Azumah won the fight by a close decision. He became a two-weight world champion.
He continued to defend his title. On December 1, 1995, he fought Gabriel Ruelas. Azumah won by knockout in the fifth round. This victory helped him reclaim the WBC super-featherweight title.
His next defense was almost a year later against Jesse James Leija. This was their third fight. Azumah won by knockout in the sixth round. In 1997, Azumah lost his WBC title to Genaro Hernandez.
Azumah Nelson's Legacy
Azumah Nelson is a true legend in boxing. A sports complex in Accra, Ghana, is named after him. It is called the Azumah Nelson Sports Complex. This shows how much he means to his country.
In 2014, a book about his life was published. It is titled "The Professor - The Life Story of Azumah Nelson." Ashley Morrison wrote the book.
Personal Life
Azumah Nelson has six children. He is married to Priscilla Boakye Nelson.
In July 2018, Azumah celebrated his 60th birthday. He organized a special fight night in Accra. Many important people attended the event. It was a great way to celebrate his life and career.
See also
In Spanish: Azumah Nelson para niños
