Azumah Nelson vs Jeff Fenech

The Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, played host to a ferocious championship contest on the evening of June 28, 1991, as Azumah Nelson defended his World Boxing Council Super Featherweight title against Australian challenger Jeff Fenech. Nelson, the two-time world champion and “Terrible Warrior” from Accra, Ghana, entered the ring wearing white trunks with red trim, weighing in at 130 pounds, and bringing an imposing record of 33 wins and 2 losses. Across the ring stood Fenech, the undefeated Sydney-based three-time world champion, who clocked 128 and one-half pounds and wore black trunks with white lettering. Fenech, known as the “Marrickville Mauler” and considered the greatest fighter Australia had ever produced, entered his debut bout on American soil ranked as the WBC’s number one super featherweight contender. The crowd numbered 13,000, with ringside seats costing the equivalent of 500 pounds, and the fight took place in the open air, where the temperature remained around 85 degrees after registering 92 degrees earlier in the day. Referee Joe Cortez gave the customary instructions, noting that the traditional three-knockdown rule would not be applied, signalling the expectation for a gruelling affair.

The contest began immediately with “instant warfare,” setting an unrelenting pace. Fenech initiated the action by working the body, relying on what was described as his “animal aggression.” Still, the defending champion Nelson, who had recently endured mediocre performances, appeared calm and composed, countering effectively with sharp hooks.

Nelson concluded the first round strongly, hammering Fenech with a right hand that sent the challenger briefly reeling back into the ropes. The second round saw Fenech, fighting with a “buzzsaw” or mauling style, attempt to improve his composure and work behind his jab. Still, Nelson remained the more economical and purposeful fighter, landing blows that caused redness around Fenech’s nose. The champion was praised for his slickness and skill, wasting very few punches and throwing almost every one with decisive purpose. Momentum began to shift in the third frame when Nelson buckled Fenech’s legs with a precise right hand. Fenech responded with his best sequence of the fight up to that point, landing a right that visibly shook the champion. The action quickly devolved into a brutal slugging match fought in “a telephone booth,” where a clash of heads left Fenech bleeding profusely from a cut underneath his left eye. Despite the injury, Fenech pressed his attack, pinning Nelson on the ropes for a sustained period and winning the round on many scorecards. At the end of the round, Fenech deliberately tried to throw a punch after the bell, demonstrating the bad feeling and bad blood in the ring.

The middle rounds saw the contest solidify into a turf war fought predominantly in one corner of the ring, with roughly 70 per cent of the bout taking place in that small area. Fenech utilised a rough, mauling, buzzsaw style, leveraging his physical strength and volume, often following his punches with his elbows and head, reminiscent of a “mini Mike Tyson.” Nelson, meanwhile, covered up expertly, playing a dangerous countering game from the ropes, a tactic he seemed happy to employ, though some ringside observers questioned if this was the best strategy for him. While Fenech was the busier man, throwing a higher volume of punches, Nelson’s superior counter-punching quality was evident, making the rounds exceptionally difficult to score. By the halfway mark, both men had demonstrated tremendous conditioning, having endured solid hooks to the head and body. Some speculated that Nelson, whose official age was 32 but was rumoured to be older, was deliberately trying to conserve his energy for the later rounds by resting on the ropes. The volume of punches came from Fenech, but Nelson was landing the harder shots.

As the bout entered the championship rounds, the pace had been torrid.

In the tenth round, a delay caused by a lost mouthpiece granted Nelson a brief, unexpected rest. Despite the respite, Fenech continued to press the action forcefully. Nelson, whose trademark was “late round lightning,” was now getting into the stage where he needed a dramatic rally. In the eleventh, Fenech landed a telling blow that shook Nelson and stiffened his legs, a major factor in the fight being Fenech’s constant, aggressive tactics. The Australian underscored his strength when he executed a “takedown” of Nelson in the tenth, sending the champion hard to the canvas, though this was not scored as a knockdown. The final round saw Fenech launch an astonishing final assault. He trapped Nelson on the ropes and unleashed a torrent of unanswered punches, including three crunching right hands that had the champion struggling, barely managing to hold on and remain vertical until the final bell. Nelson did well to stay on his feet, with some believing that only pride kept the champion upright.

After twelve brutal, gruelling rounds, the official result sparked immediate shock and controversy. Ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. read a split decision draw. Judge Jerry Roth scored the bout 115-113 for Jeff Fenech. Judge Miguel Donate favoured the champion, scoring it 116-112 for Azumah Nelson. The decisive card came from Judge Dave Moretti, who scored the fight 114-114, resulting in the draw. Many ringside scorecards, including one from the L.A. Times, which tallied 118-110 for Fenech, heavily favoured the Australian challenger. The draw decision was very controversial, leaving Fenech flabbergasted, though Nelson stated he was “too conditioned” to feel the punches and that he loved fighting in the corner. Nelson immediately expressed a desire for a return match, wanting to “prove myself that I’m the best.” Following the contest, Nelson later claimed that he had fought the bout while suffering from malaria. Though the result stood at the time, the WBC awarded Fenech the fourth world title in November 2022, after a board reviewed the scoring and found in the Australian’s favour. However, the decision did not officially change Fenech’s professional record.