Azumah Nelson

[Spicoli]

Really Liked the Professor when I finally found him.....Pin is pulled . Was a great stalker and pressure fighter with a water proof guard.Could be diverse in attack,good adaptability and an all around ring general up there with the very best.

Outstanding Featherweight showing maturity beyond his ring years and age when he met and was defeated by the great Salvador Sanchez while early on.May sound odd,but I think this war made him better in the long run definitely.He won his first major title at Featherweight with a KO over another outstanding fighter in Wilfredo Gomez.Ran off some good defenses with a brutal KO of Pat Cowdell,two wins over future champ Marcos Villasana.He would rise to capture the Jr.Lightweight title vacated by JC Chavez but ultimately climb one division to high when he met a streaking phenom in Whitaker.Nelson was one step behind as Pernell put on a boxing clinic,albeit not exactly stimulating for the audience.Ever the comer Azumah would press but become frustrated only able to give Whitaker a few uncomfortable moments late.He would meet granite headed Juan Laporte and turn in abit of a boxing show in his next fight,allowing Laporte to press him and land some stinging shots before Nelson would take the decision.Next up he would fight to a tough and hotly disputed 'draw' with Australian buzz saw Jeff Fenech.Fenech kept him bottled up and mostly on the ropes and stuck in a corner showing much more aggression.Less than a year later the two would meet in a rematch and he would erase any doubts as he showed massive pressure and bludgeoned a less than sturdy Fenech for a harsh TKO victory for his 7th title defense.

You could see signs of erosion in his win over the fast but frail Calvin Grove.....he himself coming off a shocking one punch KO of Nelsons rival former rival Jeff Fenech.Groves movement and in and out approach gave him a few fits but was not enough and the Professor would win over 12.Azumah did very well in beating a fresh talent and very capable Gabe Ruelas next up in a nicely fought 12.

His 4 fight series with Jesse J. Lejia was a bit odd.You really got the impression of no love loss as they took turns one upping each other.The first took place in Leijas hometown where it appeared that Nelson was the more in control,resulted in a disputed draw that virtually left Leija sulking and on the brink of tears.Revenge was sweet in #2 as Lejia....who was never thought a puncher....dropped the solid chinned Nelson in the second round hard.Nelson would be docked a point in the 9th round and go on to lose a 12 round call and his reign would come to an end......breifly.

Guess I'm making the coffee stonger these days...blah,blah,blah

He would come back yet again and look the part of his old self.He meet a 'bothered' Ruelas again who himself previously defeated Lejia and Nelson proceeded to beat him from pillar to post in a display of power.Reclaiming his Title and setting up a third battle with Leija.Again.....He put on a pressure/power display.Dropping Jesse early,cutting him to ribbons above the eyes and getting sweet revenge in a good trilogy that goes a bit under the radar these days.After those showing.....the ship had seemingly sailed on his career.The professors last two fights were pretty wide losses.He lost his belt to an under appreciated rangy Genaro Hernandez in 97'.One in which Hernandez was felled by a punch to the throat and told he could stop and win via DQ....but instead opted to fight on against the dangerous HOF bound Nelson.Azumah lost over 12 and would face Leija yet again in their 4th and final fight.Leija was rejuvenated and on top of his game.Taking a brisk and smart boxing display,keeping Nelson one step behind him and handing Nelson a loss.The man was a true boxing professional and awesome talent.