Azumah Nelson

[holmcall]

Back in 1982, a tough fighter out of Zambia named Charm “Shuffle” Chiteule, who did much of his work in Germany and the U.K., fought a Ghanaian by the name of Azumah Nelson. At stake was the prestigious African Featherweight Title which Nelson had won in 1981 by knocking out AustralianBrian Roberts in the fifth stanza in Accra, Ghana.

This fight was held at the Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka, Zambia. Nelson was 11-0 while the slick “Shuffle,” who became the number one contender to the Commonwealth title, came in at 19-1. Chiteule had won the Zambian Featherweight Title in 1979 while Nelson had taken the Ghanaian featherweight title in 1980. Nelson knocked out Chiteule in the tenth round and in so doing was able to get a shot at the world title just five months later. Still, only aficionados knew who he was and that his amateur record (50-1) was an outstanding one.

But Nelson made himself known throughout the global boxing landscape on July 21, 182 at Madison Square Garden when he gave the legendary Salvador Sanchez (42-1-1 coming in) all he could handle and then some before finally being stopped in the fifteenth round in a classic battle between two great fighters. It was a war from the start, as both fighters let their hands go in brutal exchanges marked by the great Mexican champion’s jarring left hooks. Even though Nelson had been dropped, the phone booth was still up for grabs going into the championship rounds, thought the booth in this instance was a bit larger since both fighters were winging from range.

Finally, in the last round, a rejuvenated Sánchez decked a still very game but tiring Nelson with a malefic four-punch combo. The warrior rose but was wobbly. Sánchez went right after him, landed five more blows that badly staggered Nelson just before referee Tony Perez, in one of his best career calls, jumped in to halt the action at the 1:47 mark. At the end, Nelson’s right jaw was badly swollen and likely broken and blood was coming from his mouth, but the Garden crowd roared its approval for his valiant effort. They knew what they had just witnessed; they knew a future legend when they saw it.

Sadly, Salvador Sanchez died shortly after this fight in an automobile accident on August 12, 1982. As for Azumah Nelson, this fight signaled his what was to come. After winning six straight, his come-from-behind knockout of Wilfredo Gomez in Puerto Rico in 1983 removed any lingering doubts as to championship stature. He would go on to win the WBC super-feather title in February 1988 when he won a disputed decision over Mario Martinez, but his attempt in 1990 to become a three division world champion failed when he lost a decision to Pernell Whitaker. He then bounced back to beat rugged Juan Laporte. After fighting to a draw against Jeff Fenech, he iced the future Hall of Famer in their rematch. He went 1-2-1 against Jesse James Leja, who seemed to have The Professor’s number.

It looked as if time had finally caught up with the Ghanaian when he lost a rematch with Leija, who promptly lost the crown in his next fight to Gabriel Ruelas. When he fought Nelson, many considered it a “safe fight” for Ruelas, but he TKOd the champion in the fifth canto in one of his more satisfying wins as it showed he was not through after all.

Eventually, with a record of 38-6-2, he would be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He gained national hero status in coastal West African nation of Ghana as the greatest fighter ever to come out of that country (David Kotei became Ghana's first World boxing champion when he won the WBC featherweight title in 1975). Indeed, many regard “The Professor” as the greatest fighter ever to emerge from the African continent.

Hope this helps, mate.

[Bukom Battler]

Just to confirm in the first Fenech fight he was suffering from Malaria. Proved what he could do with Fenech in a hostile environment (fenech's back yard in Oz) in the rematch.

Defo the greatest African fighter of all time.

[THE THIRD MAN]

Just to confirm in the first Fenech fight he was suffering from Malaria. Proved what he could do with Fenech in a hostile environment (fenech's back yard in Oz) in the rematch.

Defo the greatest African fighter of all time.

I have never bought the Malaria story from Nelson, if he had any sign of Malaria he would not have been passed to fight. The Symptoms of Malaria are great, you cannot hide them and you cannot fight a world championship fight with the symptoms of Malaria. 'The Professor' was very good at making excuses in fights, he is the greatest African fighter ever, but he was soundly beaten in that first Fenech fight. In fact the 2nd fight was close up until the KO, despite the first round knockdown Fenech fought back well until nailed. People are selling Fenech's performance that first fight well short.

[ICB]

Back in 1982, a tough fighter out of Zambia named Charm “Shuffle” Chiteule, who did much of his work in Germany and the U.K., fought a Ghanaian by the name of Azumah Nelson. At stake was the prestigious African Featherweight Title which Nelson had won in 1981 by knocking out AustralianBrian Roberts in the fifth stanza in Accra, Ghana.

This fight was held at the Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka, Zambia. Nelson was 11-0 while the slick “Shuffle,” who became the number one contender to the Commonwealth title, came in at 19-1. Chiteule had won the Zambian Featherweight Title in 1979 while Nelson had taken the Ghanaian featherweight title in 1980. Nelson knocked out Chiteule in the tenth round and in so doing was able to get a shot at the world title just five months later. Still, only aficionados knew who he was and that his amateur record (50-1) was an outstanding one.

But Nelson made himself known throughout the global boxing landscape on July 21, 182 at Madison Square Garden when he gave the legendary Salvador Sanchez (42-1-1 coming in) all he could handle and then some before finally being stopped in the fifteenth round in a classic battle between two great fighters. It was a war from the start, as both fighters let their hands go in brutal exchanges marked by the great Mexican champion’s jarring left hooks. Even though Nelson had been dropped, the phone booth was still up for grabs going into the championship rounds, thought the booth in this instance was a bit larger since both fighters were winging from range.

Finally, in the last round, a rejuvenated Sánchez decked a still very game but tiring Nelson with a malefic four-punch combo. The warrior rose but was wobbly. Sánchez went right after him, landed five more blows that badly staggered Nelson just before referee Tony Perez, in one of his best career calls, jumped in to halt the action at the 1:47 mark. At the end, Nelson’s right jaw was badly swollen and likely broken and blood was coming from his mouth, but the Garden crowd roared its approval for his valiant effort. They knew what they had just witnessed; they knew a future legend when they saw it.

Sadly, Salvador Sanchez died shortly after this fight in an automobile accident on August 12, 1982. As for Azumah Nelson, this fight signaled his what was to come. After winning six straight, his come-from-behind knockout of Wilfredo Gomez in Puerto Rico in 1983 removed any lingering doubts as to championship stature. He would go on to win the WBC super-feather title in February 1988 when he won a disputed decision over Mario Martinez, but his attempt in 1990 to become a three division world champion failed when he lost a decision to Pernell Whitaker. He then bounced back to beat rugged Juan Laporte. After fighting to a draw against Jeff Fenech, he iced the future Hall of Famer in their rematch. He went 1-2-1 against Jesse James Leja, who seemed to have The Professor’s number.

It looked as if time had finally caught up with the Ghanaian when he lost a rematch with Leija, who promptly lost the crown in his next fight to Gabriel Ruelas. When he fought Nelson, many considered it a “safe fight” for Ruelas, but he TKOd the champion in the fifth canto in one of his more satisfying wins as it showed he was not through after all.

Eventually, with a record of 38-6-2, he would be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He gained national hero status in coastal West African nation of Ghana as the greatest fighter ever to come out of that country (David Kotei became Ghana's first World boxing champion when he won the WBC featherweight title in 1975). Indeed, many regard “The Professor” as the greatest fighter ever to emerge from the African continent.

Hope this helps, mate.

I thought Azumah Nelson beat Jesse James Leija in there 1st meeting, it should of really been 2-1 to Azumah Nelson. The 4th fight should of never happened.