Azumah Nelson vs Jeff Fenech II

The highly anticipated rematch for the WBC Super Featherweight title between Azumah Nelson and Jeff Fenech took place on March 1, 1992, at the Princes Park Football Ground in Melbourne, Australia. This contest was a direct result of their controversial meeting nine months earlier in Las Vegas, which was officially ruled a draw despite widespread consensus, particularly in Australia, that Fenech had won handily. A huge partisan Australian crowd, estimated at 38,000 to 40,000, gathered for the evening. Referee Arthur Mercante officiated the proceedings. The champion, Nelson, had claimed he was hampered by malaria and injury during the first fight, and entered the ring determined to finish the Australian inside seven rounds. Fenech, a national hero in his home country, came in at 129 lbs, matching the champion’s weight. The context of the fight was compounded by heavy rain sweeping in from the side, which occasionally hit the canvas; conditions that were thought likely to affect the more mobile Fenech rather than the flat-footed Nelson.

The contest began with immediate action, as Nelson, wearing white shorts, quickly demonstrated his superior concussive power. Nelson, 33, looked much sharper than in the prior meeting. Just as commentators noted the danger of sitting back against Nelson, the champion landed a mighty right hand over a low jab, depositing Fenech onto the seat of his pants for a dramatic knockdown in the first round. Nelson secured the round 10-8, a two-point margin, having won the round even before the knockdown. Fenech, the aggressor, recovered quickly in the second round, but ran into difficulty again. Referee Mercante administered a standing eight-count after Nelson landed a punch, controversially scoring it as a second knockdown. Some ringside observers believed the punch may have missed cleanly or only unbalanced Fenech by landing on his shoulder. Still, the referee’s decision stood, potentially leaving Fenech on the wrong end of another two-point margin.

Fenech, known for his rough, tough, and aggressive style, pushed through the initial shock, seeking to wear down the older Nelson. The third round saw the Australian, in black shorts, begin to rally, trapping Nelson on the ropes and unleashing a typical flurry of punches, winning the round comfortably on some scorecards. The fight settled into periods of close-quarters combat, where Fenech’s relentless pressure forced the action into a small area of the canvas, reminiscent of their first battle. However, the difference in punching power remained a factor: Nelson could be hit five or six times, but one hard return punch would level the playing field.

During the fourth round, Fenech managed to open a cut over Nelson’s right eye, which was in a bad place right over the eyebrow, though it was not considered terminal at this stage. Fenech fought back strongly in the fifth, forcing Nelson to cover up, though the round featured powerful exchanges, including a right uppercut from Nelson that buckled Fenech’s knees.

By the seventh round, Nelson appeared to be taking command, demonstrating that his stamina remained strong and neutralising Fenech’s continuous aggression. The fight entered the eighth round with the outcome still in the balance, as evidenced by the official scorecards from the judges: Tom Kaczmarek had the contest 66-66, Rudy Ortega scored it 66-66, and Harry Gibbs had Nelson ahead 68-65. Midway through the round, Nelson unleashed the power that had defined the fight after absorbing a combination from Fenech. Nelson connected with a shot that visibly shook Fenech, and the champion followed up with two or three combination punches, dropping the Australian to the canvas for the third and final time. Fenech rose quickly but was unsteady, allowing the chilling puncher from Ghana to close the show. More left hooks to the head, a sickening uppercut, and a subsequent right hand forced Referee Arthur Mercante to dive in and halt the proceedings. Azumah Nelson retained his title by Technical Knockout at 2:20 of the eighth round, registering the first defeat of Jeff Fenech’s career in a definitive performance. This result was later named The Ring magazine Upset of the Year for 1992.