On this day 29 February 1988 (Exactly 32 years ago today) Ghana’s Azumah Nelson survived a 10th round knockdown to punch his way into history books when he annexed the vacant World Super Featherweight title against a Mario ‘Azabache’ Martinez of Mexico.
By World Boxing Boxing Council (WBC) regulations, Azumah had to relinquish the featherweight he won in 1984. But victory over Martinez made him the first African ever to win world titles at two different weights.
Unlike four years earlier when he knocked out Wilfredo Gomez to win the featherweight title, Azumah had to go the full 12 rounds to clinch a bigger title.
It was a very close fight as the scores by the three judges, two of whom gave Azumah the nod. Mexican Marty Sammon scored it 114-113 for his countryman while Rudy Ortega and Terry Smith both had Azumah ahead by 115-113.
Twenty – two – year – old Martinez went into the fight with a proud record of 46 wins, four draws and one defeat in an eight – year career, and he proved a tough customer for the 29 -year – old Ghanaian, having his first fight in eight months.
Indeed, the contest was close up to the 11th round from where Azumah put everything into the last two to sway the two judges in his favour.
This was Azumah’s third victory in as many fights against Mexican opponents in Los Angeles. And like the two previous occasions, the partisan crowd did not like the verdict when it was announced.
As usual, Azumah who went into the fight at 129 lbs as against 129 by Martinez wasn’t disturbed though.
While the crowd was busy showing its disapproval, the new champion was talking about his plans for the future.
“I will like to go further and fight Julio Ceasar Chavez (the then WBC Lightweight Champion who vacated the super featherweight title)”, Azumah said.
He said he was anxious to win a third world crown. Like the 8,500 – strong crowd, the corner of Martinez disagreed with the verdict. Infact, so confident were they after the fight that they carried Mario shoulder high before the announcement was made.
“I know I won the fight” said a sombre Martinez, who had just failed in his second attend to snatch the title. In my heart I know I’m the champion. I connected with the stronger punches”.
He said he would like to fight Azumah Nelson again and beat him. “I will knock him out” he added
A round-by – round account
ROUND ONE: There was little time for sizing up. Twenty seconds into the round, Azumah seized the initiative with sharp left to the head of Martinez. The Mexican tried midway in the round to fight back but Azumah took over again to end the round with a terrific right.
Azumah’s round
ROUND TWO: This round was virtually like the opener, giving the wrong impression earlier on that Azumah have it easy.
ROUND THREE: Mario dispelled any such feeling as he rocked Azumah with a hard shot and followed up with clever, artistic left jabs to snatch the round.
ROUND FOUR: Azumah, sensing he was in a fight, came out to make the best of it. At this stage, he tried to exhibit what made him a fearsome featherweight champion. It was Azumah’s best round.
ROUND FIVE: Martinez came out fighting midway in the round. Azumah decided to test the Mexicans punching power as he grinned and taunted him to “come to punch”. The Mexican responded by giving Azumah his best shots. It was Martinez at his best.
ROUND SIX: The fight turned dull in this round. Both boxers behaved as if they were now sizing each other up. The crowd booed to show their displeasure, Azumah began to show the effects of the eight – month lay – off as he repeatedly missed wildly. A draw
ROUNDS SEVEN, EIGHT AND NINE: Azumah dominated with two – fisted attacks, getting through with occasional lefts and rights.
ROUND TEN: Azumah started to clown, playing antics and taking it easy. The unexpected happened. Martinez faked a right and followed up with a short left which caught Azumah on the head and sent him down.
The round was two minutes old and after Azumah took the mandatory count, Mario saw the knockdown as the signal to make up for lost ground. He knew he was behind on points and tried to end the proceedings here with the crowd yelling him on.
ROUNDS ELEVEN AND TWELVE: No one needed to tell Azumah that he had to fight back to regain control, following his second ever visit to the canvas in his career (the first was by late Salvador Sanchez in Azumah’s first unsuccessful bid at the featherweight crown)
Azumah put in a late finishing – burst. He counter – punched effectively and repeatedly landed solid punches, using his superior jabbing and footwork to keep the stalking Martinez away to claim the two rounds and the title.
Bout Summary
Date: 1988-02-29
Location: Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, USA
Referee: Rudy Jordan
Judge: Terry Smith 115-113
Judge: Marty Sammon 113-114
Judge: Rudy Ortega 115-113
Nelson was knocked down.
Rematch
A rematch took place on 25 February 1989 at the Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
Azumah won via 12th round Technical Knock Out (TKO).
AZUMAH’S TOUGHEST OPPONENT
Speaking in an interview with GhanaWeb TV in 2018, Azumah picked the two bouts with Mario Martinez as the most grueling of all the fights he had in his career.
He described him as a hard puncher who perfected the art of boxing and gave him a good run for his money.
“My toughest bout I will say is against a Mexican guy called Azabache Martinez. This guy can punch and knows the art of boxing and when he threw the punch and I blocked it with my hand it felt like an iron has hit my hands.He can make you confuse. Even if one of his punches hit your jaw, when you go down you can’t wake up again so it makes the fight very difficult because you have think extra”, Azumah said.
BY: George “Alan Green” Mahamah