An African Boxing Legend: Azumah "The Professor" Nelson

Azumah Nelson is an sterling example of the men who make boxing a truly international sport. While most of the promotional money remains in the United States, some men from obscure corners of the globe, cross continents and oceans, establish themselves, and scale the heights of pugilistic greatness on talent alone. Most of the men who do this come from Latin America, making the journey of Ghana's Azumah Nelson all the more impressive.

Born in 1958, Nelson turned pro in 1979. Standing a mere 5'5", he won Ghana's featherweight (126lbs) title in only his third professional bout. He then went on to win the British Commonwealth featherweight title in his 10th fight. However, Nelson was largely toiling in obscurity. Fighting in Africa was not a path to fame and fortune, but Nelson got his chance to break out when his undefeated record of 13-0 landed him a shot at Salvador Sanchez's WBC featherweight title in 1982. Unknown fighters with good paper records are often the bread and butter of a WBC champion's feast, and having had only one obscure fight in America, no one knew the mettle of Nelson when he was selected as a late substitute for Sanchez. Nelson gave the vastly more experienced Sanchez (43-1-1) all he could handle in a competitive bout before finally falling in the 15th and final round. Although he suffered his first TKO loss, his performance against the fearsome Sanchez raised Nelson's stock. He lost the fight, but won the campaign for international recognition.

World Featherweight Champion