Jeff Fenech lied and cheated Azumah Nelson in their exhibition bout – Azumah’s Manager
Manager of Azumah Nelson Yaw Sakyi Afari, an industry veteran with a proven track record in sports events marketing and the chief executive officer of Rite Sports, has revealed in an interview how Jeff Fenech lied and cheated Azumah Nelson in their exhibition bout in 2008.
Speaking on the most authoritative boxing magazine show ‘Boxing Court,’ he revealed how Jeff Fenech clandestinely lied to his client into believing that their said exhibition bout was solely to help the “Azumah Nelson Foundation” but turned out to be a lie.
“The last time he (Azumah) had an exhibition bout was in 2008 when he was 50 (years) with Jeff Fenech. And even that there is a backstory, you know, Jeff Fenech had called Azumah a month before that bout, saying that he wanted them to stage an exhibition fight to support Azumah’s foundation.
“Azumah was quite impressed. And said, “Oh, wow, that’s quite thoughtful of you.” Yaw Sakyi Afari narrated.
“There’s a promotion going on, so we can take advantage of it. Little did Azumah know that Jeff Fenech had a fight with somebody, and the person pulled out last minute, so he needed a worthy opponent. And in Australia, you know, Jeff Fenech and Azumah made such a huge history there, and so he (Fenech) felt that it was an opportunity to redeem himself, the embarrassment that he suffered in 1992.” Yaw Sakyi stated, telling the host Sammy Ofosuhene to quote him anywhere.
According to Mr. Sakyi, Azumah went to Australia thinking Fenech “wants us to raise money to support my foundation” and even agreed on an amount.
He recounted how the self-styled ‘Professor’, a name he got from schooling the very same Fenech in their rematch in 1992 which ended in a predicted knockout in the eighth round, had pre-informed the Australian press that indeed ” this is something to support my foundation. So I’m going to be nice.”
But “Round one, the guy is jabbing him, the guy is punching him. He’s thinking, okay, this is supposed to be an exhibition fun thing, but what’s going on? And he said, well, if a few punches to get support from our foundation, it’s worth it.
“Exhibition matches most of them if it’s properly for charity cause will end in the draw, after the bout, you know, the referee declared victory for Jeff Fenech.
The ace sports personality who is well vexed in the administration and marketing revealed how Jeff Fenech, one of the greatest Australian fighters of all time, dishonestly lied and never made the money available for the foundation even after the fight.
“And as I was like, okay, no problem. If that’s what helps you sleep at night, then that’s fair.
Guess what? Even the money that was promised him didn’t happen. ” he expressed.
Azumah Nelson, one of the greatest African fighters of all time, thrillingly went to war in the summer of 1991 and again in the early spring of 1992 against home favourite Jeff Fenech, the first bout was a draw with Fenech calling for a rematch, which ended in a total knockout in round 8 much to his embarrassment in Australia.
By: Joyce Owusu Kyereme
Watch the interview below;