Azumah-Fenech Again?
Ghanaian boxing legend, Azumah Nelson, is set for a surprise comeback later this year in a famous rematch with long-time Australian foe, Jeff Fenech.
Discussions are advanced for the two super featherweight greats to stage their brand of a 'third world war' possibly in Melbourne, Australia, again where Azumah enacted the famous 'father and son' feat in an eighth-round TKO victory over the Aussie on March 1, 1992.
“Maybe he wants me to teach him something more and I will oblige him the opprtunity,” the African legend who ruled the featherweights for a combined 13-year period told the Graphic Sports.
Following fruitful discussions for their high-profile clash, only left with financial details and specific date and venue for the event, Azumah has embarked upon his most strenuous training regiment yet since leaving the stage he treaded with grace 10 years ago.
“It might be two old men trying it out again and I look forward to it. He was a great guy and I will have no regrets giving him the chance again,” he said.
Azumah, now 50, had given no hint of a possible comeback since he quit in 1998 and entered the International Boxing Hall of Fame on June 13, 2004. His celebrity status notwithstanding, he has kept a quiet life and has been concerned with a Foundation project intended to assist the under-privileged.
As part of the launch of that project, Fenech, 43, was to visit Ghana in September for an exhibition bout.
It was upon the interest generated by the exhibition bout that an Australian outfit sought to stage the fight between the legends.
Fenech, also inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2002, has battled a few threats on his person since turning to coaching upon retirement.
On January 5, 2005, he was stabbed in an attack by four men that left him with facial wounds that required plastic surgery.
Five months later, his home was attacked by armed men in an incident that appeared linked with the earlier case.
Although reports said police recovered seven bullets from the scene of the attack, no one was hurt.
In 2005, he signed to train former heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson, when the notorious boxer wanted a relaunch of his image and career.
Azumah and Fenech drew in their first fight in Las Vega in 1991 before Azumah stopped the brawling Fenech in Melbourne.
Story by Michael Quaye