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Johnny Nelson
MBE
Johnny Nelson 2017 (25291824848).jpg
Nelson in 2017
Statistics
Real name Ivanson Ranny Nelson
Nickname(s) The Entertainer
Rated at
Height 6 ft 2+1/2 in
Reach 81 in
Nationality British
Born (1967-01-04) 4 January 1967 (age 57)
Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 59
Wins 45
Wins by KO 29
Losses 12
Draws 2

Ivanson Ranny "Johnny" Nelson MBE (born 4 January 1967) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1986 to 2005. He held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) cruiserweight title from 1999 to 2006, and remains the longest reigning cruiserweight world champion of all time. Nelson defended the title against thirteen different opponents, more than any other cruiserweight in history, and holds a joint-record of most consecutive cruiserweight title defences (along with Marco Huck). He also never lost the title in the ring. At regional level, he held the British cruiserweight title twice between 1989 and 1997, and the European cruiserweight title twice between 1990 and 1998.

Professional career

Nelson began training at Wincobank gym in Sheffield under trainer Brendan Ingle who also went on to train Naseem Hamed and Kell Brook. He began his career losing ten of his thirteen bouts contested as an amateur.

Nelson's 15th defence of his WBO cruiserweight title was scheduled to be against Welshman Enzo Maccarinelli on the undercard for the Joe Calzaghe versus Jeff Lacy WBO/IBF unification bout on 6 March 2006, but a knee injury picked up by Nelson during sparring forced the fight to be cancelled and Nelson announced his decision to retire from professional boxing a few months later on 22 September 2006.

Life after boxing

Nelson currently works as an analyst for Sky Sports. Since retirement he has spent some time working with the prison service helping inmates with life management skills. He has also done some charity work, agreeing to fight a charity match against Jos Battle.

Nelson was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to boxing and to young people in South Yorkshire.

His likeness is featured in the 2024 video game Undisputed as a cruiserweight boxer. He also lends his voice as a commentator. His voice was also featured in Four Kings in 2024.

Personal life

Nelson's mother was Cuban-Jamaican, his father was Dominican. Nelson's parents split up when he was a young child and he did not reunite with his biological father until he was in his thirties. In 2010, Nelson published his autobiography, Hard Road to Glory.

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary
59 fights 45 wins 12 losses
By knockout 29 1
By decision 16 10
By disqualification 0 1
Draws 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
59 Win 45–12–2 Vincenzo Cantatore SD 12 26 Nov 2005 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Italy Retained WBO cruiserweight title
58 Win 44–12–2 Rüdiger May TKO 7 (12), 2:29 4 Sep 2004 Grugahalle, Essen, Germany Retained WBO cruiserweight title
57 Win 43–12–2 Alexander Petkovic MD 12 15 Nov 2003 Oberfrankenhalle, Bayreuth, Germany Retained WBO cruiserweight title
56 Draw 42–12–2 Guillermo Jones SD 12 23 Nov 2002 Storm Arena, Derby, England Retained WBO cruiserweight title
55 Win 42–12–1 Ezra Sellers KO 8 (12), 2:39 6 Apr 2002 Circus Building, Copenhagen, Denmark Retained WBO cruiserweight title
54 Win 41–12–1 Alexander Vasiliev UD 12 24 Nov 2001 York Hall, London, England Won vacant WBU heavyweight title
53 Win 40–12–1 Marcelo Domínguez UD 12 21 Jul 2001 Ponds Forge, Sheffield, England Retained WBO cruiserweight title
52 Win 39–12–1 George Arias UD 12 27 Jan 2001 York Hall, London, England Retained WBO cruiserweight title
51 Win 38–12–1 Adam Watt KO 5 (12), 2:12 7 Oct 2000 The Dome Leisure Centre, Doncaster, England Retained WBO cruiserweight title
50 Win 37–12–1 Pietro Aurino TKO 7 (12), 2:23 8 Apr 2000 York Hall, London, England Retained WBO cruiserweight title
49 Win 36–12–1 Christophe Girard KO 4 (12), 2:34 6 Nov 1999 Kingsway Leisure Centre, Widnes, England Retained WBO cruiserweight title
48 Win 35–12–1 Sione Asipeli UD 12 18 Sep 1999 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, US Retained WBO cruiserweight title
47 Win 34–12–1 Willard Lewis TKO 4 (12), 3:00 7 Aug 1999 Goresbrook Leisure Centre, London, England Retained WBO cruiserweight title
46 Win 33–12–1 Bruce Scott UD 12 15 May 1999 Ponds Forge, Sheffield, England Retained WBO cruiserweight title
45 Win 32–12–1 Carl Thompson TKO 5 (12), 1:42 27 Mar 1999 Storm Arena, Derby, England Won WBO cruiserweight title
44 Win 31–12–1 Peter Oboh RTD 6 (8), 3:00 18 Jul 1998 Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England
43 Win 30–12–1 Dirk Wallyn TKO 1 (12), 1:13 10 Nov 1997 Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England Retained European cruiserweight title
42 Win 29–12–1 Michael Murray PTS 4 19 Jul 1997 Wembley Arena, London, England
41 Win 28–12–1 Patrice Aouissi KO 7 (12) 22 Feb 1997 Berck, France Won vacant European cruiserweight title
40 Win 27–12–1 Dennis Andries TKO 7 (12), 1:50 14 Dec 1996 Sheffield, England Won vacant British cruiserweight title
39 Win 26–12–1 Tony Booth KO 2 (6), 2:07 20 Jan 1996 Leisure Centre, Mansfield, England
38 Loss 25–12–1 Adílson Rodrigues UD 12 3 Dec 1995 Ginásio Carlos Nélson Bueno, Mogi Guaçu, Brazil For WBF (Federation) heavyweight title
37 Loss 25–11–1 Adílson Rodrigues PTS 12 22 Aug 1995 Osasco, Brazil Lost WBF (Federation) heavyweight title
36 Win 25–10–1 Nikolay Kulpin SD 12 5 Nov 1994 Chiangrai Stadium, Chiang Rai, Thailand Retained WBF (Federation) heavyweight title
35 Loss 24–10–1 Henry Akinwande PTS 10 4 May 1994 York Hall, London, England
34 Win 24–9–1 Jimmy Thunder UD 12 19 Nov 1993 Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand Won WBF (Federation) heavyweight title
33 Loss 23–9–1 Franco Wanyama DQ 10 (12) 10 Jan 1993 Waregem, Belgium Lost WBF (Federation) cruiserweight title;
Nelson disqualified for repeated fouls
32 Win 23–8–1 Tom Collins TKO 1 (12) 4 Nov 1993 Leisure Centre, Mansfield, England Retained WBF (Federation) cruiserweight title
31 Win 22–8–1 Dave Russell TKO 11 (12) 30 Apr 1993 Festival Hall, Melbourne, Australia Won WBF (Federation) cruiserweight title
30 Loss 21–8–1 Corrie Sanders UD 10 24 Oct 1992 Morula Sun Casino, Mabopane, South Africa
29 Loss 21–7–1 Norbert Ekassi TKO 3 (8) 14 Aug 1992 Ajaccio, France
28 Loss 21–6–1 James Warring UD 12 16 May 1992 Hugo's Nightclub, Bealeton, Virginia, US For IBF cruiserweight title
27 Win 21–5–1 Yves Monsieur TKO 8 (12), 2:35 3 Dec 1991 Leisure Centre, Mansfield, England Retained European cruiserweight title
26 Win 20–5–1 Markus Bott TKO 12 (12) 14 Dec 1990 Europahalle, Karlsruhe, Germany Won vacant European cruiserweight title
25 Win 19–5–1 Andre Smith PTS 8 9 May 1990 Brighton Centre, Brighton, England
24 Win 18–5–1 Arthur Weathers TKO 2 (8), 0:25 27 Jun 1990 Royal Albert Hall, London, England
23 Win 17–5–1 Lou Gent KO 4 (12), 1:49 28 Mar 1990 York Hall, London, England Retained British cruiserweight title
22 Win 16–5–1 Dino Homsey TKO 7 (8) 14 Feb 1990 International Centre, Brentwood, England
21 Draw 15–5–1 Carlos de León SD 12 27 Jan 1990 City Hall, Sheffield, England For WBC cruiserweight title
20 Win 15–5 Ian Bulloch KO 2 (12) 10 Feb 1989 Victoria Hall, Hanley, England Retained British cruiserweight title
19 Win 14–5 Andy Straughn TKO 8 (12) 21 May 1989 Finsbury Park Majestic Ballroom, London, England Won British cruiserweight title
18 Win 13–5 Steve Mormino TKO 2 (8), 1:56 4 Apr 1989 City Hall, Sheffield, England
17 Win 12–5 Danny Lawford TKO 2 (10), 0:53 26 Oct 1988 City Hall, Sheffield, England Won vacant Central Area cruiserweight title
16 Win 11–5 Andrew Gerrard PTS 8 31 Aug 1988 Kings Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, England
15 Win 10–5 Lennie Howard KO 2 (8) 6 Jun 1988 Hilton, London, England
14 Win 9–5 Crawford Ashley PTS 8 5 Apr 1988 Midlands Sporting Club, Solihull, England
13 Win 8–5 Kenny Jones KO 1 (8), 1:40 25 Apr 1988 Montrose Club, Liverpool, England
12 Win 7–5 Cordwell Hylton KO 1 (8) 24 Feb 1988 City Hall, Sheffield, England
11 Loss 6–5 Dennis Bailey PTS 8 2 Jan 1988 Derngate Theatre, Northampton, England
10 Win 6–4 Jon McBean TKO 6 (8) 14 Dec 1987 The Tower Ballroom, Birmingham, England
9 Win 5–4 Byron Pullen TKO 3 (8) 6 Mar 1987 Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre, London, England
8 Loss 4–4 Brian Schumacher PTS 8 28 Apr 1987 North Bridge Leisure Centre, Halifax, England
7 Win 4–3 Sean Daly TKO 1 (8), 0:52 4 Oct 1987 The Ritz, Manchester, England
6 Win 3–3 Doug Young PTS 6 3 Feb 1987 Ladbroke Mercury Hotel, Huddersfield, England
5 Win 2–3 George Carmen PTS 6 19 Jan 1987 Grosvenor House Hotel, London, England
4 Win 1–3 Chris Little PTS 6 20 Nov 1986 Quaffers Club, Bredbury, England
3 Loss 0–3 Magne Havnaa PTS 4 3 Oct 1986 Idrætshuset, Copenhagen, Denmark
2 Loss 0–2 Tommy Taylor PTS 6 15 May 1986 Brierley Hill Civic Hall, Dudley, England
1 Loss 0–1 Peter Brown PTS 6 18 Mar 1986 Westfield Country Club, Hull, England
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