Sports

Sankofa: Azumah Nelson’s Historic Fight Which Gave Ghana Its Second World Title In Boxing.

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On this Day in Dec 1982, which is exactly 38 years ago, Azumah Nelson defeated Puerto Rican Wilfredo Gómez to win the WBC featherweight title in Puerto Rico. It was Ghana’s second world title in boxing, after D.K Poison in 1975. What turned out to be the most remarkable career, Nelson started his amateur competition at the 1978 All-Africa Games and 1978 Commonwealth Games, winning gold medals in the featherweight class at both events. He was awarded Amateur Boxer of the year by the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) that same year. Despite all his early achievements and being undefeated in 13 fights, Nelson was virtually unknown outside Ghana. Because of this, he was a decisive underdog when, on short notice, he challenged WBC featherweight champion, Salvador Sánchez, on 21 July 1982 at the Madison Square Garden in New York. Nelson lost the fight by fifteenth-round knockout.

46 fights38 wins6 losses
By knockout271
By decision115
Draws2
NoResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
46Loss38–6–2 Jeff FenechMD1024 Jun 2008 Hisense Arena, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
45Loss38–5–2 Jesse James LeijaUD1211 Jul 1998 Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
44Loss38–4–2 Genaro HernándezSD1222 Mar 1997 Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.Lost WBC super-featherweight title
43Win38–3–2 Jesse James LeijaTKO6 (12), 1:581 Jun 1996 Boulder Station, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC super-featherweight title
42Win37–3–2 Gabriel RuelasTKO5 (12), 1:121 Dec 1995 Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.Won WBC super-featherweight title
41Loss36–3–2 Jesse James LeijaUD127 May 1994 MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Lost WBC super-featherweight title
40Draw36–2–2 Jesse James LeijaSD1210 Sep 1993 Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.Retained WBC super-featherweight title
39Win36–2–1 Gabriel RuelasMD1220 Feb 1993 Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, MexicoRetained WBC super-featherweight title
38Win35–2–1 Calvin GroveUD127 Nov 1992 Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC super-featherweight title
37Win34–2–1 Jeff FenechTKO8 (12), 2:201 Mar 1992 Princes Park Football Ground, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaRetained WBC super-featherweight title
36Draw33–2–1 Jeff FenechSD1228 Jun 1991 The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC super-featherweight title
35Win33–2 Daniyal Mustapha EnninKO4 (10)16 Mar 1991 Polideportivo Principal Felipe, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain
34Win32–2 Juan LaporteUD1213 Oct 1990 Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, AustrailaRetained WBC super-featherweight title
33Loss31–2 Pernell WhitakerUD1219 May 1990 Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.For WBC and IBF lightweight titles
32Win31–1 Jim McDonnellKO12 (12), 1:405 Nov 1989 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, EnglandRetained WBC super-featherweight title
31Win30–1 Mario MartínezTKO12 (12), 1:1825 Feb 1989 Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.SRetained WBC super-featherweight title
30Win29–1 Sidnei Dal RovereKO3 (12), 2:0410 Dec 1988 Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, GhanaRetained WBC super-featherweight title
29Win28–1 Lupe SuarezTKO9 (12), 0:2725 Jun 1988 Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Retained WBC super-featherweight title
28Win27–1 Mario MartínezSD1229 Feb 1988 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Won vacant WBC super-featherweight title
27Win26–1 Marcos VillasanaUD1229 Aug 1987 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Retained WBC featherweight title
26Win25–1 Mauro GutierrezKO6 (12), 0:337 Mar 1987 Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC featherweight title
25Win24–1 Danilo CabreraTKO10 (12), 2:3122 Jun 1986 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto RicoRetained WBC featherweight title
24Win23–1 Marcos VillasanaMD1225 Feb 1986 Inglewood Forum, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Retained WBC featherweight title
23Win22–1 Pat CowdellKO1 (12), 2:2412 Oct 1985 National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, West Midlands, EnlandRetained WBC featherweight title
22Win21–1 Juvenal OrdenesTKO5 (12), 2:456 Sep 1985 Tamiami Park, Miami, Florida, U.S.Retained WBC featherweight title
21Win20–1 Wilfredo GómezKO11 (12), 2:588 Dec 1984 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto RicoWon WBC featherweight title
20Win19–1 Hector CortezUD109 Mar 1984 Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
19Win18–1 Kabiru AkindeleKO9 (15)25 Nov 1983 National Stadium, Lagos, NigeriaRetained Commonwealth featherweight title
18Win17–1 Alberto CollazoTKO2 (10), 1:4023 Sep 1983 Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio, U.S.
17Win16–1 Alvin FowlerTKO2 (10), 0:4117 Aug 1983 Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
16Win15–1 Ricky WallaceUD1012 Feb 1983 Public Auditorium, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
15Win14–1 Irving MitchellTKO5 (10), 2:2431 Oct 1982 Great Gorge Resort, McAfee, New Jersey, U.S.
14Loss13–1 Salvador SánchezTKO15 (15), 1:4921 Jul 1982 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, U.S.For WBC and The Ring featherweight titles
13Win13–0 Mukaila BukareTKO6 (10)26 Jun 1982 Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana
12Win12–0 Charm ChiteuleTKO10 (15)28 Feb 1982 Woodlands Stadium, Lusaka, ZambiaRetained Commonwealth featherweight title
11Win11–0 Kabiru AkindeleKO6 (15)4 Dec 1981 Siaka Stevens Stadium, Freetown, Sierra LeoneRetained Commonwealth featherweight title
10Win10–0 Brian RobertsTKO5 (15)26 Sep 1981 Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, GhanaWon vacant Commonwealth featherweight title
9Win9–0 Miguel RuizTKO4 (10)18 Aug 1981 Stadium, Bakersfield, California, U.S.
8Win8–0 Don GeorgeKO5 (10), 0:542 May 1981 Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana
7Win7–0 Aziza BossouPTS86 Mar 1981 Lomé, Togo
6Win6–0 Joe SkipperTKO10 (12)13 Dec 1980 Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, GhanaWon African featherweight title
5Win5–0 David CapoPTS104 Oct 1980 Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana
4Win4–0 Abdul Rahman OptokiTKO8 (12)2 Aug 1980 Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, GhanaRetained Ghanaian featherweight title
3Win3–0 Henry SaddlerTKO9 (12)1 Mar 1980 Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, GhanaWon Ghanaian featherweight title
2Win2–0 Nii NuerTKO3 (8)2 Feb 1980 Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana
1Win1–0 Billy KwamePTS101 Dec 1979 Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana