I don't miss boxing - Azumah Nelson

At the peak of his 19-year career he dominated the WBC Featherweight division winning the title three times and defending it for over a decade.

He became the pride of a continent with millions keeping vigil to watch him whenever he mounted the ring to take on an opponent.

Whenever he arrived home from a bout, thousands of enthusiastic supporters welcomed him at the airport and showered with praises and appellations on him.

But Azumah Nelson who turned 60 last Thursday says he does not miss boxing and all the privileges he enjoyed during his illustrious career.

The Boxing Hall of Famer contends that everything in this world is decided by time and chance and that he is satisfied with he achieved during his professional career.

“I don’t really miss boxing. There’s time for everything and you have to know the time to go and the time to stay. So I don’t miss it at all. But when some people are fighting and I see the mistakes they are doing, sometimes I wish I was there to show them what to do, Azumah said on GHOne.

Summary of Azumah Nelson’s career

Azumah is known in boxing circles as ‘The Professor’ because of his ability to teach his opponents a boxing lesson.

His craft and power still see him widely regarded as the greatest fighter to ever emerge from the African continent.

Nelson, who has been called the greatest African boxer of all time, quit the sport at the age of 40 with a record of 39 wins, four losses and two draws. Nelson won a swag of titles over his superb 20-year professional career, including British Commonwealth and African featherweight titles, and WBC featherweight and super-featherweight crowns.

During his professional career, he stopped 28 of his opponents within the distance, recording a total 39 wins, four losses and two draws.

Among the opponents, he beat were Mexican Marcos Villasana, Mario “Azabache” Martinez, Australian Jeff Fenech, and Briton Jim McDonnell.

His four defeats were at the hands of Pernell Whitaker, Jesse James Leija (twice) and Genardo Hernandez.