Another Great Moment For Azumah Today

Ghana's Azumah Nelson will join the league of proud winners of the prestigious Dennie Mancini Award when he mounts the podium at The New Connaught Rooms in London, UK, to receive the honour from the Commonwealth Boxing Council (CBC) later today.

The honour will be conferred on the former world boxing champion when he attends the awards event of the British Boxing Board of Control as special guest along with his wife, Peggy.

Already in London for the award since last Sunday, Azumah is being recognised by the CBC for bringing the Azumah Nelson Foundation into reality following the launch of the Foundation in Accra in September this year.

“The Commonwealth Boxing Council wishes to honour you by presenting to you the Dennie Mancini Award which takes the form of a bronzed bust of the late and renowned Dennie Mancini,” Simon Block, honorary secretary of the CBC, wrote in a letter to the boxing professor and world boxing Hall of Fame inductee.

The award, the letter said, is conferred on “the person who, in the relevant year, has done the most to represent the interests of or raise the profile of boxing in the Commonwealth.

“By the inauguration of the Azumah Nelson Foundation you bring great distinction to the sport of professional boxing, and this has only added to your long list of achievements as a champion of both the Commonwealth and the world.”

Azumah, whose total 13-year reign as world champion is the longest stretch by any boxer in the world, was a national, African and Commonwealth champion before climbing onto the throne of world boxing.

The CBC named the award after the late Mancini for his contribution to boxing in the Commonwealth, particularly as a former manager, promoter, trainer, agent and cutsman in his long association with the sport.

Story by Michael Quaye