American boxing promoter and CEO of Dibella Entertainment, Lou Dibella has hailed the ‘Professor’ Azumah Nelson in a recent tweet remembering when he knocked out Jesse James Leija 25 years ago to retain his WBC Super Featherweight title in Las Vegas.
In the tweet he said
“The Professor was a monster who sustained his excellence for YEARS. Azumah Nelson is 💯 a 🐐…” referring to the Hall of Famer as an All Time Great.
The tweet continues
“African #boxing greats are notoriously underrated. Azumah would have been championship level in any era of #boxing. Yea, I would have favored him too had there been a Sanchez rematch.”
The Professor before that clash in 1996, had faced ‘The Texas Tornado’ twice where both encounters were title bouts. The first was in 1993 where Azumah Nelson was defending his WBC World Super Featherweight title for the 5th time which ended in a draw. A rematch was set in May 1994 which was their second encounter but unfortunately for Nelson, James won by a unanimous decision winning a world title for the first time in his career.
James Leija just after winning the WBC strap lost the title in his first defence against Gabriel Ruelas who also lost it to its former holder Azumah Nelson in 1995. James Lieja in a quest to win back the title he lost, had to face the Professor for the third time within four years.
At the Boulder Station Hotel, Las Vegas, on June 1, 1996, the fight took off but 6 rounds was enough for the Professor “Zoom Zoom” Azumah Nelson who technically knocked out American Jesse James Leija to retain the WBC strap.
Like the boxing guru, Lou Dibella said, “African boxing greats are notoriously underrated” even in matchups where they have proved beyond doubt to contest for the world straps. Title holders keep playing tricks and finding implausible excuses to escape real threats from proven African boxers.
Having said that, big prospects from Ghana and the rest of Africa must follow the steps of Azumah Nelson and the likes by working hard and fighting through the ranks without rest like Richard Commey who is an epitome of hard work, fighting through each rank to earn a world title for himself and mother Ghana.
As we remember our legendary Professor Azumah Nelson, young boxers and rising stars of the sweet science are encouraged to replicate his hard work and perseverance, remaining humble to fight to the top.
By Winfred Worlanyo Siegu Yaw