From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
Johnny Nelson
| Column 1 |
|---|
| Nelson in 2017 |
| The Entertainer |
| British |
| Ivanson Ranny Nelson (1967-01-04) 4 January 1967Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England |
| .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);clip-path:polygon(0px 0px,0px 0px,0px 0px);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}6 ft 2+1⁄2 in (189 cm) |
| .mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0} |
| Cruiserweight |
| Heavyweight |
| 81 in (206 cm) |
| Orthodox |
| 59 |
| 45 |
| 29 |
| 12 |
| 2 |
Ivanson Ranny "Johnny" Nelson MBE (born 4 January 1967) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1986 to 2005. He held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) cruiserweight title from 1999 to 2006, and remains the longest reigning cruiserweight world champion of all time. Nelson defended the title against thirteen different opponents, more than any other cruiserweight in history, and holds a joint-record of most consecutive cruiserweight title defences (along with Marco Huck). He also never lost the title in the ring. At regional level, he held the British cruiserweight title twice between 1989 and 1997, and the European cruiserweight title twice between 1990 and 1998.
Nelson began training at Wincobank gym in Sheffield under trainer Brendan Ingle who also went on to train Naseem Hamed and Kell Brook. He began his career losing ten of his thirteen bouts contested as an amateur.
Nelson's 15th defence of his WBO cruiserweight title was scheduled to be against Welshman Enzo Maccarinelli on the undercard for the Joe Calzaghe versus Jeff Lacy WBO/IBF unification bout on 6 March 2006, but a knee injury picked up by Nelson during sparring forced the fight to be cancelled and Nelson announced his decision to retire from professional boxing a few months later on 22 September 2006.
Nelson currently works as an analyst for Sky Sports. Since retirement he has spent some time working with the prison service helping inmates with life management skills. He has also done some charity work, agreeing to fight a charity match against Jos Battle.
Nelson was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to boxing and to young people in South Yorkshire.
His likeness as well as commentary is featured in the 2024 video game Undisputed as a cruiserweight boxer. His voice was also featured in the 2024 documentary, Four Kings.
Nelson's mother was Cuban-Jamaican, his father was Dominican. Nelson's parents split up when he was a young child and he did not reunite with his biological father until he was in his thirties. In 2010, Nelson published his autobiography, Hard Road to Glory.
| 59 fights | 45 wins | 12 losses |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | 1 | |
| 16 | 10 | |
| 0 | 1 | |
| 2 |
- Boxing record for Johnny Nelson from BoxRec (registration required)
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Regional boxing titles | ||
| VacantTitle last held byJoe Threlfall | British Central Areacruiserweight champion 26 October 1988 – 21 May 1989Won full title | VacantTitle next held byTony Booth |
| Preceded byAndy Straughn | British cruiserweight champion 21 May 1989 – December 1990Vacated | VacantTitle next held byDerek Angol |
| VacantTitle last held byAnaclet Wamba | European cruiserweight champion 14 December 1990 – May 1992Vacated | VacantTitle next held byAkim Tafer |
| VacantTitle last held byTerry Dunstan | British cruiserweight champion 14 December 1996 – November 1998Vacated | VacantTitle next held byBruce Scott |
| VacantTitle last held byAkim Tafer | European cruiserweight champion 22 February 1997 – February 1998Vacated | VacantTitle next held byTerry Dunstan |
| Minor world boxing titles | ||
| Preceded byDave Russell | WBF (Federation)cruiserweight champion 30 April 1993 – 1 October 1993 | Succeeded byFranco Wanyama |
| Preceded byJimmy Thunder | WBF (Federation)heavyweight champion 19 November 1993 – 22 August 1995 | Succeeded byAdílson Rodrigues |
| VacantTitle last held byHasim Rahman | WBU heavyweight champion 24 November 2001 – April 2002Vacated | VacantTitle next held byGeorgi Kandelaki |
| Major world boxing titles | ||
| Preceded byCarl Thompson | WBO cruiserweight champion 27 March 1999 – July 2006Stripped | VacantTitle next held byEnzo Maccarinelli |
Ask Mako anything about Johnny Nelson — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report