Let's Examine the Career of the Great Azumah Nelson

[elmersalsa]

One of the top ten best fighters of the 80s decade, the great Azumah Nelson from Ghana, won two world titles in two different weight classes.
He was a complete fighter. He could box, slug it out, had unbelievable speed of hands and feet, had a great chin and was very strong for a featherweight
His only loss in the 80s decade was against the great Salvador Sánchez in the 15th and last round by TKO. Sanchez had to dig deep against a novice of only 12 pro fights. Ironically, it was Sanchez' last fight.

This is one of the mostly underrated fighters that we seldom talk about. On seeing his career on paper and also watching him on film, he was very good. A top 20 all time boxer in two weight classes: At featherweight and at Jr. lightweight.

What is your view about the career of this true great one. He wasn't called "The Professor" for nothing.

[Ezzard]

His performance against Sanchez is legendary and he comes out of that with nothing but plaudits.

Has wins over

"Sweet" Irving Mitchell (when he was considered a hot prospect)

Wilfredo Gomez (crushed)

Defences against solid challengers

Ordenes
Cowdell (devastating)
McDonnell
Cabrera
Ruelas

Wins against guys I rate a little higher

Villasana x2
Martinez x2
LaPorte
Grove (underrated)

His greatest win is over Fenech. There was the late career rivalry with Leija.

His defeat to Whittaker was one of those smaller guys being fed to the next big thing situations. I also seem to remember Nelson fought with a personal tragedy having occurred in the run up.

Fenech fights a little inconclusive in that Nelson was recovering from malaria in the first fight and Fenech was injured going into the rematch.

Nelson could fight in almost any way... Box. Punch. Great defence. Solid body puncher.

He was unlucky that Sanchez died, denying him a rematch. McGuigan got derailed. And he moved up too late to get the Chavez superfight.

Had he got those three fights and he'd have won 2 of them then he'd be right up there.

[Counter-puncher]

one of the best technicians, amongst genuine punchers, I have ever seen. i think thats the best way i could describe him really. you get punchers, you get technicians... to see both elements in one guy as honed as they were in Nelson, is quite rare.

and i have said a billion times and don't mind repeating, the effort against Sanchez was utterly, psychotically astonishing.

[Seamus]

But I'll always maintain that Sanchez fought like it was a sparring session for long periods in that bout and still managed to give Nelson a beating. Azumah was a great fighter though and turned in some brilliant performances throughout his career. Think I might watch all 4 bouts with Leija in the near future.

[King Carlos]

But I'll always maintain that Sanchez fought like it was a sparring session for long periods in that bout and still managed to give Nelson a beating. Azumah was a great fighter though and turned in some brilliant performances throughout his career. Think I might watch all 4 bouts with Leija in the near future.

Sanchez always fought like that. It wasn't because he was coasting or taking it easy or anything. That was just the look of him. His stamina and poise were exceptional. He was forced to fight arguably harder in that fight than he ever had before.

[elmersalsa]

I remember his fight with the great Salvador Sanchez. It was a Friday night. Sanchez dug deep to beat him. It was a fantastic war. I wanted to see a rematch, but unfortunately, Sanchez had that car accident that took his life.

I watched the fight with the great Wilfredo Gomez. I also remember that it was on a Saturday night. It was a great contest. One of the most underrated featherweight title bouts not too many people talk about. That KO to Gomez was nasty. I remember that at super bantamweight, Gomez used to be stronger and on top of his opponents. This time, he fought somebody that was much stronger than he was.

[BoxBuzz]

But I'll always maintain that Sanchez fought like it was a sparring session for long periods in that bout and still managed to give Nelson a beating. Azumah was a great fighter though and turned in some brilliant performances throughout his career. Think I might watch all 4 bouts with Leija in the near future.

Sanchez always fought like that. It wasn't because he was coasting or taking it easy or anything. That was just the look of him. His stamina and poise were exceptional. He was forced to fight arguably harder in that fight than he ever had before.

Sanchez Like Monzon, always fighting better than the competition, and eccentrically enjoying the action entailed in his chosen craft, so much so, that doggedly outfighting his opponent for the full fight, seemed far more of a priority than wanting to end it.

[King Carlos]

Yeah, I guess you guys are right. Sanchez could sit content with doing just enough to beat any Featherweight who ever lived. He never really even needed to try unless he wanted to. Got it.

[campfire]

He is a p4p All time Great............The Best African Champion ever

[Counter-puncher]

But I'll always maintain that Sanchez fought like it was a sparring session for long periods in that bout and still managed to give Nelson a beating. Azumah was a great fighter though and turned in some brilliant performances throughout his career. Think I might watch all 4 bouts with Leija in the near future.

Sanchez always fought like that. It wasn't because he was coasting or taking it easy or anything. That was just the look of him. His stamina and poise were exceptional. He was forced to fight arguably harder in that fight than he ever had before.

not even arguably, IMO. Nelson even made Sanchez change expression a few times, a couple of times with the bodyshots he was fucken slamming in there. course, being sanchez, he just slammed a couple back.

I can't speak to whether Sanchez actually broke a sweat or had to breathe heavily (!) but Zumah definitely pushed him more than anyone else did

i think your take is spot-on in all particulars. I'd only add that by the end of his reign at 126, he looked very big at the weight to me, to me he fucken dwarfed Nelson in there, and I've always assumed his measured cadence was at least partially due to that.

[Ezzard]

Sanchez basically figured out that Nelson was open to a left hook. Dropped him with one in about round 5 or 6 (can't remember from memory). Then he sued it again and again...which is what broke Nelson's jaw and caused the misshapen face.

Agree that Sanchez was at 126 at the end.

[Counter-puncher]

Yeah, I guess you guys are right. Sanchez could sit content with doing just enough to beat any Featherweight who ever lived. He never really even needed to try unless he wanted to. Got it.

mmm, it was mere eccentricity on his part

[Ezzard]

http://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/22/sport ... -15th.html

Sounds like perhaps Sanchez was drained...

[elmersalsa]

The Professor gave Sal his toughest fight. No doubt about that. One of the best boxing wars of the 80s decade.

Man, I miss those days!

[elmersalsa]

He is a p4p All time Great............The Best African Champion ever

Well, maybe the great Dick Tiger's fans have something to say about that. Of Africa, those two are the most notorious boxers ever.

[BoxBuzz]

Yeah, I guess you guys are right. Sanchez could sit content with doing just enough to beat any Featherweight who ever lived. He never really even needed to try unless he wanted to. Got it.

Always thinkin!!! That's why your the King.

In this case, I don't agree with your royal take on Sanchez, but I do think just like Monzon, he liked the fight going on in the ring....and was more interested in the give and take, than the KO. But was incredibly talented and could rise as needed to the occasion.

[Counter-puncher]

http://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/22/sport ... -15th.html

Sounds like perhaps Sanchez was drained...

thats a really good fight report thanks Ezz.

[Seamus]

I've watched the fight several times, Sanchez never looked wobbly and ready to go. He got rocked a couple times, but the effects didn't appear serious. I could believe he wasn't at his best, but even then, Nelson was knocked down once and wobbled about 3-4 times going into the last round. Sanchez didn't go all out for the kill when Azumah looked ready to go, but when they came out for the 15th, the guy who had been going full tilt was the one who was all busted up and Sanchez looked as fresh as if the fight was just starting.

[Ezzard]

Agree with you, Seamus.

[elmersalsa]

I've watched the fight several times, Sanchez never looked wobbly and ready to go. He got rocked a couple times, but the effects didn't appear serious. I could believe he wasn't at his best, but even then, Nelson was knocked down once and wobbled about 3-4 times going into the last round. Sanchez didn't go all out for the kill when Azumah looked ready to go, but when they came out for the 15th, the guy who had been going full tilt was the one who was all busted up and Sanchez looked as fresh as if the fight was just starting.

He was a machine that Sanchez

[Bodyshot3]

Just remember him making an absolute and total mess of Pat Cowdell - who was actually decent - and realising that he was a bit special.
When you can wreck good fighters like that for fun then you've got something!

He then fought smart and patient against McDonell and showed that he could box as well as blitz.

Fenech a bit unlucky for my money in their first fight but when you can claw something out against another champ of that class then that deserves huge respect as well. And Azumah got things right second time around.

Pity he never crossed swords with Mitchel.

[Ezzard]

Agree on Mitchell. Pat Cowdell was still warming up. Terrible night for him. One of those things... Pat was far better than that result suggested.

[elmersalsa]

The KO he gave Pat Cowdell in England was like a half hook, half upper cut blow. What a shot! The crowd was stunned and you could hear a pin dropped. It was like the British crowd could not believe what happened

[Counter-puncher]

Watching Nelson walk down that filthy piece of shit Gomez, and beat the poo out of him, is fun.

[Counter-puncher]

By the time he fought gomez after about five years of people running away from him terrified he looked much bigger and stronger in the upper body than he did against Sanchez