Advertisement

Azumah Nelson: Springboard celebrates ‘greatest’ African boxer of all time

Azumah Nelson: Springboard celebrates ‘greatest’ African boxer of all time

Azumah Nelson is a former Ghanaian professional boxer who is widely considered as the greatest African boxer of all time.

He was born on July 19, 1958 and his career began in 1979. He went on to win the WBC featherweight title once and the WBC Super featherweight title twice.

In 1981, Nelson beat Bozzou Aziza in Togo; it was his first fight abroad. He then beat Miguel Ruiz in his first United States fight, held in California.

He added the Commonwealth of Nations' featherweight title with a fifth-round knockout of Brian Roberts.

Despite all his early achievements and being undefeated in 13 fights, Nelson was virtually unknown outside Ghana. That, however, changed when he made his first global appearance in a world title fight when he challenged WBC featherweight champion, Salvador Sánchez, in 1982, a fight he lost by a technical knockout in round 15.

This week, the Springboard, ‘Your Virtual University’, a radio programme on Joy FM, played back one of its editions to celebrate Azumah Nelson, popularly referred to as the ‘Champ’.

Azumah Nelson talked about his childhood, his introduction to boxing, the breakthrough fight that brought him to the limelight, his most dangerous opponent, the voice of God in the nights leading to battles, mysteries of the game, his ability to predict which round he would win the fight in and the most famous father and son fight.

“My father had wanted to be a boxer but his father never allowed him. My father took me to a bout one day and I saw a big boy beat a smaller boy.

“I saw the sweat and thought the loser was crying. I immediately offered to get into the ring with the bigger boy to correct what I saw as an injustice. That is where my interest in boxing was stirred up.”

“If I did not become a boxer, it would have been difficult for me. I believe that God gives everybody talent, God loves me so much and he made me see my talent,” he stated.

First shot at the world title

Narrating how long it took him before he got a shot at the world title, he said “I had 14 fights in Ghana and Africa and Salvador Sánchez Narváez was supposed to fight someone who later pulled out.

“My manager then told me about the fight but I was not ready so I was given two weeks’ notice to prepare. I lost that fight but the champion never regrets”.

Explaining how he lost his first world title fight, Nelson said he was put at a significant disadvantage when his custom mouthpiece was stolen and he had to make do with a makeshift one purchased from a store and cut to his mouth with a knife, leaving him in pain for the whole fight.

He said although he lost that fight, he was not disappointed because he came to the attention of the world as a future champion.

Second shot at the title

Two weeks after the fight, Salvador Sánchez Narváez had an accident which killed him, and Nelson did not disappoint when he got a second shot at the world title, knocking out Wilfredo Gómez in round 11 to win the WBC featherweight title.

“This time round, I ensured the title came to Ghana,” he said.

He then went on to defeat Mario Martinez by a split decision over 12 rounds in Los Angeles to win the vacant WBC Super featherweight title.

Four pillars in life

Touching on his pillars in life, he said, God, focus, hard work, determination and humility were his trump cards for success.

Answering a question on which was more difficult, winning the title or defending it, he said defending the title was more difficult.

“Anyone can be a champion but how to defend it and keep going is the most important thing,” he said.

Connect With Us : 0242202447 | 0551484843 | 0266361755 | 059 199 7513 |