AZUMAH NELSON w ko 1 PAT COWDELL
October 12, 1985; National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham
WHEN the conversation turns to the best British fighters never to win world titles the name of Pat Cowdell doesn’t come up as much as it should. The Brummie was a terrific boxer in his day yet his peak years coincided with the best of Salvador Sanchez and Azumah Nelson, the two men Cowdell failed to beat in world title fights. The 1981 Sanchez bout was a ferocious encounter with Cowdell only pipped via split 15-round decision. The fight with new WBC featherweight champion Nelson was an out and out mugging, however. Fighting in front of his Birmingham fans, Cowdell had barely broke a sweat when Nelson expertly cannoned a left uppercut off his chin and knocked him cold.
DID YOU KNOW? Nelson threatened not to fight when it emerged that Cowdell had used too much bandaging on his hands beforehand.
WATCH OUT FOR: The finish. Nelson, through a high guard, studied Cowdell’s every move before picking his spot. A clinical and brilliant KO.
