Ghanaian boxing legend Professor Azumah Nelson will receive renewed honours from the World Boxing Council (WBC) as part of its “Year of Africa” celebrations, highlighted by a major boxing event scheduled for June 13, 2025, at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra. The event, titled “The Battle of the Beasts,” coincides with the 21st anniversary of Nelson’s historic induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004, making him the first African boxer to receive this honour.
Organised by Legacy Rise Sports Promotions in partnership with Amir Khan Promotions, the event will celebrate Nelson’s illustrious career and lasting impact on boxing. Known as “The Professor,” Nelson first captured global attention in December 1984 when he knocked out Wilfredo Gómez in Puerto Rico to win the WBC featherweight title. He defended that title until 1988 before moving to super featherweight, where he won the world title twice and held it until 1997. His reign as a world champion spanned over a decade, marking one of the most enduring legacies in African boxing history.
Widely regarded as the greatest African boxer of all time, Nelson has received numerous accolades from the WBC. Since his 2004 Hall of Fame induction alongside legends like Mike Tyson, he has been named the WBC’s greatest super featherweight ever. In 2018, the WBC honoured him on his 60th birthday with two honorary belts and a silver vase during a commemorative fight night in Accra.
The “Year of Africa” initiative by the WBC aims to celebrate African boxing’s rich heritage and talent. It began with the ABU/WBC Amateur Boxing Tournament in Lagos, Nigeria, and now shifts focus to Accra for the June 13 event. The night will feature the inaugural WBC Africa bridgerweight championship, headlined by Nigerian-American Andrew “The Beast” Tabiti facing Ghana’s former national cruiserweight champion Jacob “The Beast” Dickson.
This event not only crowns new champions but also honours legends like Azumah Nelson, whose career and achievements laid the foundation for African boxing’s global prominence.
