View source for Azumah Nelson

{{Short description|Ghanaian boxer (born 1958)}}
{{BLP sources|date=January 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox boxer
| name= Azumah Nelson
| image =Azumah_Nelson_with_KO_Magazine.jpg
|caption = Nelson {{circa|1986}}
| nickname = {{plainlist|
*The Professor
*Zoom Zoom
*The Terrible Warrior<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/19tn/sports/boxing-a-fight-for-recognition-and-2-titles.html|title=BOXING; A Fight for Recognition and 2 Titles|date=19 May 1990|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=8 December 2014}}</ref>
}}
| weight = {{plainlist|
*[[Featherweight]]
*[[Super featherweight]]
*[[Lightweight]]
}}
| height = 5 ft 5 in<ref name=stats>''[[HBO Sports]]'' tale of the tape prior to the third [[Jesse James Leija]] fight.</ref>
| reach = 68 in<ref name=stats />
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|7|19|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Accra]], Ghana
| style = [[Orthodox stance|Orthodox]]
| total = 47
| wins = 39
| KO = 28
| losses = 6
| draws = 2
| medaltemplates = 
{{Medal|Sport | Men's [[boxing]]}}
{{Medal|Country | {{GHA}} }}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold| [[1978 Commonwealth Games|1978 Edmonton]] | [[Featherweight]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[All-Africa Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold| [[1978 All-Africa Games|1978 Algiers]] | [[Featherweight]]}}
}}

'''Azumah Nelson''' (born 19 July 1958, affectionately known as '''the Professor''')<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-01-25 |title=Comfort Atwei Quarcoo: The womb that birthed the legend Azumah Nelson |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Comfort-Atwei-Quarcoo-The-womb-that-birthed-the-legend-Azumah-Nelson-1701188 |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=GhanaWeb |language=en}}</ref> is a [[Ghana]]ian former [[professional boxer]] who competed from 1979 to 2008. He was a two-weight world champion, having held the [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] [[featherweight]] title from 1984 to 1987 and the WBC [[super-featherweight]] title twice between 1988 and 1997. He also challenged once for the [[Unified champion|unified]] WBC and [[IBF]] [[lightweight]] titles in 1990. At regional level, he held the [[African Boxing Union|ABU]], and [[Commonwealth Boxing Council|Commonwealth]] featherweight titles between 1980 and 1982. Widely considered one of the greatest African boxers of all time,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/08/07/sport/azumah-nelson-boxing-ghana/|title=Is Azumah Nelson Africa's greatest boxer?|publisher=CNN|author=Errol Barnett|date=11 August 2012|access-date=4 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/11/sports/boxing-best-boxer-nobody-knows-after-19-years-career-ghanaian-legend-nears-end.html|title=Story: BOXING: The Best Boxer Nobody Knows; After 19 Years, the Career of a Ghanaian Legend Nears an End|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|author=Timothy W. Smith|date=11 July 1998|access-date=4 August 2014}}</ref> he is currently ranked as the 69th greatest [[pound for pound]] boxer of all time by [[BoxRec]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/en/ratings?r%5Bcountry%5D=&r%5Bdivision%5D=&r%5Bsex%5D=M&r%5Bstance%5D=&r%5Bstatus%5D=&r_go=|title=BoxRec: Ratings|website=Boxrec.com|access-date=12 February 2019}}</ref>

== Career ==
Nelson competed at the [[1978 All-Africa Games]] and [[1978 Commonwealth Games]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Boxing 57kg - Men Edmonton 1978 {{!}} Commonwealth Games Federation |url=https://thecgf.com/results/games/3039/event/1479 |website=thecgf.com |access-date=20 January 2020 |language=en |archive-date=25 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825113256/https://thecgf.com/results/games/3039/event/1479 |url-status=dead }}</ref> winning gold medals in [[featherweight]] at both events. He was awarded Amateur Boxer of the year by the [[Sport Writers Association of Ghana|Sports Writers Association of Ghana]] (SWAG) that same year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ike Quartey|url=https://mobile.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/people/person.php?ID=198|access-date=2020-08-24|website=mobile.ghanaweb.com}}</ref>

However, Nelson was virtually unknown outside Ghana.<ref name="Michael Katz">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/22/sports/sanchez-knocks-out-nelson-in-the-15th.html|title=SANCHEZ KNOCKS OUT NELSON IN THE 15TH|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|author=Michael Katz|date=22 July 1982|access-date=4 August 2014}}</ref> Because of this, he was a decisive [[underdog]] when, on short notice, he challenged [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] [[featherweight]] champion [[Salvador Sánchez]] on 21 July 1982 at the [[Madison Square Garden]] in [[New York City|New York]].<ref name="Michael Katz"/> Nelson lost the fight by 15th-round technical knockout.

=== Featherweight champion ===
Nelson won all four of his fights in 1983, and he began 1984 by beating Hector Cortez by decision on 9 March in [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]]. Then, on 8 December of that year, he became boxing royalty by knocking out [[Wilfredo Gómez]] in round 11 to win the WBC featherweight championship.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/10/sports/nelson-takes-title.html|title=Nelson takes Title|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=10 December 1984}}</ref> Behind on the three judges' scorecards, Nelson rallied in that round to become champion in [[Puerto Rico]].

=== Super-featherweight champion ===
{{Main|Azumah Nelson vs. Jeff Fenech|Azumah Nelson vs. Gabriel Ruelas|Azumah Nelson vs. Jesse James Leija|Azumah Nelson vs. Jesse James Leija II}}
Nelson began 1988 by defeating [[Mario Martinez (boxer)|Mario Martinez]] by a split decision over 12 rounds in [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]] to win the vacant WBC [[super-featherweight]] title. Nelson was dropped in the 10th round of their encounter, and the decision was not well received.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-03-01-sp-263-story.html|title=Age and Zaragoza Catch Up With Zarate : Nelson Takes Unpopular Split Decision for Super-Featherweight Title|first1=EARL|last1=GUSTKEY|date=1 March 1988|access-date=20 July 2017|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>

On 1 December 1995, defeated world champion [[Gabriel Ruelas]] in the fifth round to claim the title.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-12-02-sp-9474-story.html|title=Ruelas Is KO'd by Nelson, Specter : Boxing: Champion loses his WBC title to 37-year-old challenger after "seeing" boxer who died after his previous fight.|newspaper=LA Times|author=Steve Springer|date=2 December 1995|access-date=4 August 2014}}</ref>

His first defense took place almost a year later, when he and [[Jesse James Leija]] had their third bout. Nelson retained the title with a sixth-round knockout. That was the only fight Nelson had in 1996, as had become his custom.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-06-02-sp-11180-story.html|title=Nelson Retains WBC Title With a Sixth-Round TKO|work=Los Angeles Times|author=Tim Kawakami|date=2 June 1996|access-date=4 August 2014}}</ref>

In 1997, Nelson lost the [[Lineal championship|Lineal]] & WBC titles to Genaro Hernandez when he beaten on points after twelve rounds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/jrlight.htm|title=Azumah Nelson - Lineal Jr. Lightweight Champion|publisher=The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia}}</ref>

==Legacy==
The [[Azumah Nelson Sports Complex]] at [[Kaneshie]] in [[Accra]] was named after him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessghana.com/|title=Sporting facilities and events renamed|website=BusinessGhana|access-date=2019-09-16}}</ref>

== Biography ==
In 2014, a biography of Azumah Nelson was published. Written by [[Ashley Morrison]], it was titled "The Professor - The Life Story of Azumah Nelson" ({{ISBN|978-1628571059}}) was published by Strategic Book Publishing.

==Personal life==
Nelson has six children.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/sports/2017/august-21st/azumah-nelson-backs-son-to-become-world-champion.php |title=Azumah Nelson backs son to become world champion |access-date=1 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124220042/https://www.myjoyonline.com/sports/2017/august-21st/azumah-nelson-backs-son-to-become-world-champion.php |archive-date=24 November 2018 |url-status=dead |date=21 August 2017 }}</ref> Currently married to Priscilla Boakye Nelson.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

In July 2018, Azumah organized a fight night to celebrate his 60th birthday at the Bukom Boxing Arena. This event brought together fighters from highly-rated gyms in the country to fight contenders in their divisions. Some dignitaries, including formers sports ministers Nii Lante Vanderpuiye and [[Amarkai Amarteifio|Nii Amarkai Amarteifio]], the [[High commissioner (Commonwealth)|British High Commissioner]] to Ghana Ian Walker, and Peter Zwennes, the president of the Ghana Boxing Authority, graced the occasion. In all, there were five bouts, three of which were won by knockout.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Knockout-galore-as-Azumah-crowns-60th-anniversary-with-Azumah-Nelson-Fight-Night-670902|title=Knockout galore as Azumah crowns 60th anniversary with Azumah Nelson Fight Night|website=www.ghanaweb.com|date=22 July 2018|language=en|access-date=2019-09-16}}</ref>

==Professional boxing record==
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|draws=2
|nc=
|ko-wins=27
|ko-losses=1
|dec-wins=11
|dec-losses=5
|dq-wins=
|dq-losses=
|wins=38}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center
|-
!No
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round, time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|- align=center
|46
|{{no2}}Loss
|{{nowrap|38–6–2}}
|align=left| [[Jeff Fenech]]
|MD
|10
|24 Jun 2008
|align=left|{{small| Hisense Arena, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia}}
|
|- align=center
|45
|{{no2}}Loss
|38–5–2
|align=left| [[Jesse James Leija]]
|UD
|12
|11 Jul 1998
|align=left|{{small| [[Alamodome]], [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]], [[Texas]], U.S.}}
|
|- align=center
|44
|{{no2}}Loss
|38–4–2
|align=left| [[Genaro Hernández]]
|SD
|12
|22 Mar 1997
|align=left|{{small| [[Memorial Coliseum (Corpus Christi)|Memorial Coliseum]], [[Corpus Christi, Texas|Corpus Christi]], [[Texas]], U.S.}}
|align=left|{{small|Lost WBC super-featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|43
|{{yes2}}Win
|38–3–2
|align=left| [[Jesse James Leija]]
|TKO
|6 (12), {{small|1:58}}
|1 Jun 1996
|align=left|{{small| [[Boulder Station]], [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], U.S.}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBC super-featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|42
|{{yes2}}Win
|37–3–2
|align=left| [[Gabriel Ruelas]]
|TKO
|5 (12), {{small|1:12}}
|1 Dec 1995
|align=left|{{small| [[Fantasy Springs Resort Casino]], [[Indio, California|Indio]], [[California]], U.S.}}
|align=left|{{small|Won WBC super-featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|41
|{{no2}}Loss
|36–3–2
|align=left| [[Jesse James Leija]]
|UD
|12
|[[Azumah Nelson vs. Jesse James Leija II|7 May 1994]]
|align=left|{{small| [[MGM Grand Las Vegas|MGM Grand]], [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], U.S.}}
|align=left|{{small|Lost WBC super-featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|40
|{{draw}}Draw
|36–2–2
|align=left| [[Jesse James Leija]]
|SD
|12
|[[Pernell Whitaker vs. Julio César Chávez|10 Sep 1993]]
|align=left|{{small| [[Alamodome]], [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]], [[Texas]], U.S.}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBC super-featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|39
|{{yes2}}Win
|36–2–1
|align=left| [[Gabriel Ruelas]]
|MD
|12
|[[Azumah Nelson vs. Gabriel Ruelas|20 Feb 1993]]
|align=left|{{small| [[Estadio Azteca]], [[Mexico City, Distrito Federal|Mexico City]], [[Distrito Federal, Mexico|Distrito Federal]], Mexico}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBC super-featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|38
|{{yes2}}Win
|35–2–1
|align=left| [[Calvin Grove]]
|UD
|12
|7 Nov 1992
|align=left|{{small| [[Caesars Tahoe]], [[Stateline, Nevada|Stateline]], [[Nevada]], U.S.}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBC super-featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|37
|{{yes2}}Win
|34–2–1
|align=left| [[Jeff Fenech]]
|TKO
|8 (12), {{small|2:20}}
|1 Mar 1992
|align=left|{{small| [[Princes Park Football Ground]], [[Melbourne, Victoria|Melbourne]], [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]], Australia}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBC super-featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|36
|{{draw}}Draw
|33–2–1
|align=left| [[Jeff Fenech]]
|SD
|12
|[[Azumah Nelson vs. Jeff Fenech|28 Jun 1991]]
|align=left|{{small| [[The Mirage]], [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], U.S.}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBC super-featherweight title;<br/>WBC awarded Fenech retrospectively the title on 7 Nov 2022 after WBC's recount}}
|- align=center
|35
|{{yes2}}Win
|33–2
|align=left| Daniyal Mustapha Ennin
|KO
|4 (10)
|16 Mar 1991
|align=left|{{small| Polideportivo Principal Felipe, [[Zaragoza]], [[Aragón]], Spain}}
|
|- align=center
|34
|{{yes2}}Win
|32–2
|align=left| [[Juan Laporte]]
|UD
|12
|13 Oct 1990
|align=left|{{small| [[Sydney Entertainment Centre]], [[Sydney, Australia|Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], Australia}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBC super-featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|33
|{{no2}}Loss
|31–2
|align=left| [[Pernell Whitaker]]
|UD
|12
|19 May 1990
|align=left|{{small| [[Caesars Palace]], [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], U.S.}}
|align=left|{{small|For [[List of WBC world champions#Lightweight|WBC]] and [[List of IBF world champions#Lightweight|IBF lightweight titles]]}}
|- align=center
|32
|{{yes2}}Win
|31–1
|align=left| [[Jim McDonnell (boxer)|Jim McDonnell]]
|KO
|12 (12), {{small|1:40}}
|5 Nov 1989
|align=left|{{small| [[Royal Albert Hall]], [[Kensington, London|Kensington]], [[London]], England}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBC super-featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|31
|{{yes2}}Win
|30–1
|align=left| [[Mario Martínez (boxer)|Mario Martínez]]
|TKO
|12 (12), {{small|1:18}}
|25 Feb 1989
|align=left|{{small| Hilton Hotel, [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], U.S}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBC super-featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|30
|{{yes2}}Win
|29–1
|align=left| Sidnei Dal Rovere
|KO
|3 (12), {{small|2:04}}
|10 Dec 1988
|align=left|{{small| [[Accra Sports Stadium]], [[Accra]], Ghana}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBC super-featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|29
|{{yes2}}Win
|28–1
|align=left| Lupe Suarez
|TKO
|9 (12), {{small|0:27}}
|25 Jun 1988
|align=left|{{small| [[Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino]], [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]], U.S.}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBC super-featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|28
|{{yes2}}Win
|27–1
|align=left| [[Mario Martínez (boxer)|Mario Martínez]]
|SD
|12
|29 Feb 1988
|align=left|{{small| [[Great Western Forum]], [[Inglewood, California|Inglewood]], [[California]], U.S.}}
|align=left|{{small|Won vacant [[List of WBC world champions#Super featherweight|WBC super-featherweight title]]}}
|- align=center
|27
|{{yes2}}Win
|26–1
|align=left| [[Marcos Villasana]]
|UD
|12
|29 Aug 1987
|align=left|{{small| [[Olympic Auditorium]], [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S.}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBC featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|26
|{{yes2}}Win
|25–1
|align=left| Mauro Gutierrez
|KO
|6 (12), {{small|0:33}}
|7 Mar 1987
|align=left|{{small| Hilton Hotel, [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], U.S.}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBC featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|25
|{{yes2}}Win
|24–1
|align=left| [[Danilo Cabrera]]
|TKO
|10 (12), {{small|2:31}}
|22 Jun 1986
|align=left|{{small| [[Hiram Bithorn Stadium]], [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]], Puerto Rico}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBC featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|24
|{{yes2}}Win
|23–1
|align=left| [[Marcos Villasana]]
|MD
|12
|25 Feb 1986
|align=left|{{small| [[Inglewood Forum]], [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S.}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBC featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|23
|{{yes2}}Win
|22–1
|align=left| [[Pat Cowdell]]
|KO
|1 (12), {{small|2:24}}
|12 Oct 1985
|align=left|{{small| [[National Exhibition Centre]], [[Birmingham, West Midlands|Birmingham]], [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]], England}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBC featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|22
|{{yes2}}Win
|21–1
|align=left| Juvenal Ordenes
|TKO
|5 (12), {{small|2:45}}
|6 Sep 1985
|align=left|{{small| [[Tamiami Park]], [[Miami, Florida]], U.S.}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained WBC featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|21
|{{yes2}}Win
|20–1
|align=left| [[Wilfredo Gómez]]
|KO
|11 (12), {{small|2:58}}
|8 Dec 1984
|align=left|{{small| [[Hiram Bithorn Stadium]], [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]], Puerto Rico}}
|align=left|{{small|Won WBC featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|20
|{{yes2}}Win
|19–1
|align=left| Hector Cortez
|UD
|10
|[[Greg Page vs. Tim Witherspoon|9 Mar 1984]]
|align=left|{{small| [[Las Vegas Convention Center]], [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], U.S.}}
|
|- align=center
|19
|{{yes2}}Win
|18–1
|align=left| Kabiru Akindele
|KO
|9 (15)
|25 Nov 1983
|align=left|{{small| [[National Stadium, Lagos|National Stadium]], [[Lagos, Nigeria|Lagos]], Nigeria}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained Commonwealth featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|18
|{{yes2}}Win
|17–1
|align=left| Alberto Collazo
|TKO
|2 (10), {{small|1:40}}
|[[Michael Dokes vs. Gerrie Coetzee|23 Sep 1983]]
|align=left|{{small| [[Richfield Coliseum]], [[Richfield, Ohio|Richfield]], [[Ohio]], U.S.}}
|
|- align=center
|17
|{{yes2}}Win
|16–1
|align=left| Alvin Fowler
|TKO
|2 (10), {{small|0:41}}
|17 Aug 1983
|align=left|{{small| [[Castaways Hotel and Casino|Showboat Hotel and Casino]], [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], U.S.}}
|
|- align=center
|16
|{{yes2}}Win
|15–1
|align=left| Ricky Wallace
|UD
|10
|12 Feb 1983
|align=left|{{small| [[Public Auditorium]], [[Cleveland, Ohio]], U.S.}}
|
|- align=center
|15
|{{yes2}}Win
|14–1
|align=left| Irving Mitchell
|TKO
|5 (10), {{small|2:24}}
|31 Oct 1982
|align=left|{{small| Great Gorge Resort, [[McAfee, New Jersey|McAfee]], [[New Jersey]], U.S.}}
|
|- align=center
|14
|{{no2}}Loss
|13–1
|align=left| [[Salvador Sánchez]]
|TKO
|15 (15), {{small|1:49}}
|21 Jul 1982
|align=left|{{small| [[Madison Square Garden]], [[New York, New York|New York]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.}}
|align=left|{{small|For [[List of WBC world champions#Featherweight|WBC]] and [[List of The Ring world champions#Featherweight|''The Ring'' featherweight titles]]}}
|- align=center
|13
|{{yes2}}Win
|13–0
|align=left| Mukaila Bukare
|TKO
|6 (10)
|26 Jun 1982
|align=left|{{small| Kaneshie Sports Complex, Accra, Ghana}}
|
|- align=center
|12
|{{yes2}}Win
|12–0
|align=left| Charm Chiteule
|TKO
|10 (15)
|28 Feb 1982
|align=left|{{small| Woodlands Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained Commonwealth featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|11
|{{yes2}}Win
|11–0
|align=left| Kabiru Akindele
|KO
|6 (15)
|4 Dec 1981
|align=left|{{small| [[National Stadium (Sierra Leone)|Siaka Stevens National Stadium]], [[Freetown]], Sierra Leone}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained Commonwealth featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|10
|{{yes2}}Win
|10–0
|align=left| Brian Roberts
|TKO
|5 (15)
|26 Sep 1981
|align=left|{{small| [[Accra Sports Stadium]], [[Accra]], Ghana}}
|align=left|{{small|Won vacant [[List of Commonwealth Boxing Council champions#Featherweight|Commonwealth featherweight title]]}}
|- align=center
|9
|{{yes2}}Win
|9–0
|align=left| Miguel Ruiz
|TKO
|4 (10)
|18 Aug 1981
|align=left|{{small| Stadium, Bakersfield, California, U.S.}}
|
|- align=center
|8
|{{yes2}}Win
|8–0
|align=left| Don George
|KO
|5 (10), {{small|0:54}}
|2 May 1981
|align=left|{{small| Kaneshie Sports Complex, [[Accra]], Ghana}}
|
|- align=center
|7
|{{yes2}}Win
|7–0
|align=left| Aziza Bossou
|PTS
|8
|6 Mar 1981
|align=left|{{small| [[Lomé]], Togo}}
|
|- align=center
|6
|{{yes2}}Win
|6–0
|align=left| Joe Skipper
|TKO
|10 (12)
|13 Dec 1980
|align=left|{{small| Kaneshie Sports Complex, [[Accra]], Ghana}}
|align=left|{{small|Won [[List of African Boxing Union champions#Featherweight|African featherweight title]]}}
|- align=center
|5
|{{yes2}}Win
|5–0
|align=left| David Capo
|PTS
|10
|4 Oct 1980
|align=left|{{small| Kaneshie Sports Complex, [[Accra]], Ghana}}
|
|- align=center
|4
|{{yes2}}Win
|4–0
|align=left| Abdul Rahman Optoki
|TKO
|8 (12)
|2 Aug 1980
|align=left|{{small| Kaneshie Sports Complex, [[Accra]], Ghana}}
|align=left|{{small|Retained Ghanaian featherweight title}}
|- align=center
|3
|{{yes2}}Win
|3–0
|align=left| Henry Saddler
|TKO
|9 (12)
|1 Mar 1980
|align=left|{{small| Kaneshie Sports Complex, [[Accra]], Ghana}}
|align=left|{{small|Won Ghanaian [[featherweight]] title}}
|- align=center
|2
|{{yes2}}Win
|2–0
|align=left| Nii Nuer
|TKO
|3 (8)
|2 Feb 1980
|align=left|{{small| Kaneshie Sports Complex, [[Accra]], Ghana}}
|
|- align=center
|1
|{{yes2}}Win
|1–0
|align=left| Billy Kwame
|PTS
|10
|1 Dec 1979
|align=left|{{small| Accra Sports Stadium, [[Accra]], Ghana}}
|
|}

==See also==
*[[List of featherweight boxing champions]]
*[[List of super featherweight boxing champions]]
*[[List of WBA world champions]]
*[[List of WBC world champions]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Boxrec|id=000440}}
*[http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/aznelson.htm Azumah Nelson - CBZ Profile]

{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-sports}} }}
{{s-text|style=background:#C1D8FF; font-weight: bold;|text=World boxing titles}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-bef |before=[[Wilfredo Gómez]]}}
{{s-ttl | title=[[List of WBC world champions#Featherweight|WBC featherweight champion]]
|years= 8 December 1984 – 27 January 1988<br />Vacated}}
{{s-vac | next=[[Jeff Fenech]]}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-vac | last=[[Julio César Chávez]]}}
{{s-ttl | title=[[List of WBC world champions#Super featherweight|WBC super-featherweight champion]]
|years=29 February 1988 – 7 May 1994}}
{{s-aft| after=[[Jesse James Leija]]}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-bef | before=[[Gabriel Ruelas]]}}
{{s-ttl | title=WBC super-featherweight champion
|years=1 December 1995 – 22 March 1997}}
{{s-aft| after=[[Genaro Hernández]]}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-ach | aw}}
{{s-before | before=[[Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas|Buster Douglas<br>KO10 Mike Tyson]]}}
{{s-ttl | title= [[The Ring (magazine)|The Ring Magazine]] [[Ring Magazine upsets of the year|Upset of the Year]]<br> KO8 [[Jeff Fenech]]| years= 1992}}
{{s-after | after=[[Simon Brown (boxer)|Simon Brown]] KO4<br>[[Terry Norris (boxer)|Terry Norris]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Footer All-Africa Champions Featherweight}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions Featherweight}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Azumah}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Ghanaian male boxers]]
[[Category:Featherweight boxers]]
[[Category:Super-featherweight boxers]]
[[Category:Lightweight boxers]]
[[Category:Boxers from Accra]]
[[Category:Ga-Adangbe people]]
[[Category:International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:World boxing champions]]
[[Category:World Boxing Council champions]]
[[Category:African Boxing Union champions]]
[[Category:Boxers at the 1978 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1978 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Ghana]]
[[Category:Boxers at the 1978 All-Africa Games]]
[[Category:African Games gold medalists for Ghana]]
[[Category:African Games gold medalists in boxing]]
[[Category:20th-century Ghanaian sportsmen]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists in boxing]]