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 (born 19 July 1958) is a famous former Ghanaian professional boxer. People often call him the Professor because of his smart boxing style. He competed in boxing 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 one of the greatest African boxers ever.
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Azumah Nelson's Boxing Journey
Azumah Nelson started his boxing journey by winning gold medals. He competed in the 1978 All-Africa Games and the 1978 Commonwealth Games. He won gold in the featherweight division at both events. The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) even named him Amateur Boxer of the Year in 1978.
At first, not many people outside Ghana knew about Azumah Nelson. This meant he was not expected to win when he fought WBC featherweight champion Salvador Sánchez. This big fight happened on July 21, 1982, in New York. Nelson fought bravely but lost in the fifteenth round.
Becoming a Featherweight Champion
After that fight, Nelson won all four of his matches in 1983. In 1984, he continued his winning streak. On December 8, 1984, he became a boxing legend. He knocked out Wilfredo Gómez in the 11th round to win the WBC featherweight championship. Even though he was behind on points, Nelson fought hard to become champion in Puerto Rico.
Moving to Super-Featherweight
In 1988, Azumah Nelson moved up to a new weight class. He fought Mario Martinez in Los Angeles. Nelson won by a close decision to get the vacant WBC super-featherweight title.
He won the title again on December 1, 1995. He defeated world champion Gabriel Ruelas in the fifth round. His next title defense was almost a year later. He fought Jesse James Leija for the third time. Nelson won by knockout in the sixth round. This was his only fight in 1996. In 1997, Nelson lost his WBC title to Genaro Hernandez.
Azumah Nelson's Legacy
Azumah Nelson is a true hero in Ghana. The Azumah Nelson Sports Complex in Accra is named after him. This shows how much he means to his country.
His Story in a Book
In 2014, a book about Azumah Nelson's life was published. It was written by Ashley Morrison. The book is called "The Professor - The Life Story of Azumah Nelson."
Azumah Nelson's Family Life
Azumah Nelson has six children. Their names are David, Dorinda, Doris, Dylis, Dalvin, and Deloris. His son, Dalvin Azumah Nelson Junior, is also training to be a boxer. Azumah Nelson's mother was Madam Comfort Atwei Quarcoo. He has a brother, Joseph Awudu Nelson, and sisters named Beatrice, Theresa, Lakia, and Oboshie. He is currently married to Priscilla Boakye Nelson.
In July 2018, Azumah Nelson celebrated his 60th birthday. He organized a special boxing event in Accra. Many important people attended, including former sports ministers and the British High Commissioner to Ghana. The event featured five exciting boxing matches.
Boxing Record Summary
| 46 fights | 38 wins | 6 losses |
| By knockout | 27 | 1 |
| By decision | 11 | 5 |
| Draws | 2 | |
See also
- List of featherweight boxing champions
- List of super featherweight boxing champions
- List of WBA world champions
- List of WBC world champions
