Azumah Nelson vs Jim McDonnell

The contest for the Super Featherweight Championship of the World took place on 5 November 1989, at the Royal Albert Hall in Kensington, London, United Kingdom. The challenger, Jim McDonnell, who weighed in at 130 lbs, entered the ring in black trunks, facing the formidable Ghanaian champion, Azumah Nelson, also 130 kg, clad in leopard skin trunks.

Nelson, a renowned knockout specialist, held a commanding 30 -1 record, remaining undefeated for 7 years since his only professional loss to Salvador Sanchez. McDonnell, whose commendable record stood at 26 wins in 27 bouts, had his sole prior defeat come in a world title challenge.

Pre-fight expectations suggested Nelson would attempt to finish the bout quickly, compelling McDonnell to employ cautious tactics: consistent jabbing, movement, and holding inside to prevent the champion from working. Referee Joe Cortez was charged with supervising the twelve-round contest.

McDonnell began the fight with remarkable confidence, using the jab and movement, and successfully withstood the champion’s initial pressure. Though he fights in an orthodox stance, McDonnell is naturally left-handed, making his jab and hook particularly strong and painful.

Nelson, adopting a high guard, focused early on digging in body shots, a strategy used to slow an opponent down and bring their hands down, and was observed stalking his man in the opening rounds. McDonnell’s work rate was high, and he managed to shade the second round based on punches that got through. Momentum shifted slightly in the third and fourth rounds. However, McDonnell continued to box well and showed no respect for Nelson’s reputation. Nelson, smiling serenely, began to cut loose and landed the best shot of the opening sequence in the third, making McDonnell blink, though his legs did not buckle. The champion’s sustained pressure soon told, and by the end of the fourth round, McDonnell’s nose was bleeding, though the damage was quickly cleared in the subsequent break. The champion’s confidence was evident as he smiled, grinned, and winked at the ringside judges.

The fifth round brought the most dangerous sequence for the challenger. Nelson landed a left hook—the same punch that had taken out Pat Cowdell—sending McDonnell to the canvas for the bout’s first knockdown. Displaying immense bravery and heart, McDonnell rose quickly and, shortly thereafter, surprised the champion by fighting back strongly, even hurting Nelson while pinning him on the ropes. Nelson, who was attempting to force the finish but was unable to find the decisive blow, looked briefly ragged. In the sixth, the pace settled as Nelson took a breather, allowing McDonnell to poke out the jab and score, though Nelson appeared totally unconcerned by the punches thrown, walking through them as if they were not hurting him. By the seventh, the longevity and gutsy nature of McDonnell’s performance forced observers to admit that an upset might be possible, noting that this was the gutsiest world title challenge seen in a British ring for some time. Nelson then changed tactics, adopting a protective ‘fold-over’ defence by crossing his arms, before suddenly unleashing heavy left hooks, shaking the challenger and forcing him to hold on. This shift in defensive style demonstrated the respect the grand champion was being forced to adopt for his opponent, whom he was struggling to put away.

The contest entered a furious pace in the late rounds, confirming Nelson’s need to work hard. McDonnell was caught repeatedly by Nelson’s dangerous left hand, with his head visibly jerking back. Despite being unsteady, McDonnell showed bravery of the highest order, fighting back against the champ, even forcing Nelson to back up. In the tenth round, McDonnell managed to back Nelson into a neutral corner, fighting the round in a tight space, and conclusively took the round based on aggression and work, delivering his best round so far. However, the physical toll became severe in the penultimate eleventh round. An ugly swelling rapidly developed on McDonnell’s right cheek, causing his right eye to close completely within seconds. Despite this devastating visual impairment, which reduced his ability to see the champion’s dangerous left hand, the challenger continued to fight, willing himself forward.

The final championship round proved decisive. Nelson, who had won his previous title defence in the final round with a knockout, intensified his pressure against the severely hampered McDonnell, who was fighting half-blind and very weary. Nelson caught the challenger with a right hand, leading to a slip and a subsequent knockdown, though the ring floor appeared slippery, contributing to McDonnell’s slip. McDonnell beat the count, rising shakily at the count of nine, but he was clearly out of gas. Nelson pressed his advantage against the half-blind and weary opponent, putting him on his back for good and finishing the contest.

Referee Joe Cortez stopped the bout at 1 minute and 40 seconds of the twelfth round, declaring Nelson the winner by knockout. At the time of the stoppage, the official scorecards showed the judges were split: Tom Kaczmarek and Tony Castellano scored the bout 106-102 for Nelson, while Franz Marti had the challenger ahead 106-102. Azumah Nelson retained his title, securing his 15th victory as a champion. Though Jim McDonnell never realised his dream of becoming a world champion, he lost with glory after a truly valiant effort, one that many observers believed took enough out of him to end his career.