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Cornelius Boza-Edwards

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Cornelius Boza-Edwards
Born (1956-05-27) 27 May 1956 (age 68)
Kampala, Uganda
NationalityUganda Ugandan
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 8+12 in (174 cm)
Reach71 in (180 cm)
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights53
Wins45
Wins by KO34
Losses7
Draws1

Cornelius Boza-Edwards (born Cornelius Bbosa; 27 May 1956) is a former professional boxer who is the former WBC Super Featherweight champion of the world.[1] Born in Kampala, Uganda, he fought in both the super-featherweight and lightweight divisions. He emigrated from Uganda to England, where he lived for a long period. He now lives in the United States, where he trains other boxers.

Amateur career

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Boza-Edwards started boxing at the age of nine in Uganda alongside other notable fighters such as Ayub Kalule and John Mugabi. He moved to England with his mentor Jack Edwards and continued to box firstly with the New Enterprise club in Tottenham and then the Fitzroy Lodge club in South London. He boxed for England but was overlooked for selection for the Olympic team after being beaten on points by Pat Cowdell in the 1976 ABA championships.

Boza-Edwards was given another opportunity when he was scheduled to compete as a featherweight boxer for Uganda in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. However, Uganda boycotted the Montreal Olympics, as did many other African countries. The boycott deprived him of the chance of competing in the Olympics.[2]

Professional career

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In 1976, Boza-Edwards turned professional with Mickey Duff as his manager and George Francis as his trainer. He changed his surname to Boza on the recommendation of Mickey Duff. As it was an easier name for the fans to remember and added Edwards out of respect for Jack Edwards his mentor.[3]

Boza-Edwards won his first nine fights before suffering a loss to Des Gwilliam when he suffered a cut eye. He then went on an 18-fight winning streak and was offered a fight as a substitute against Alexis Arguello. He put up a spirited performance before being retired by his corner at the end of the eighth round. Arguello praised Boza-Edwards and said that he thought that he would become the champion after he had moved up in weight to the lightweight division. Boza-Edwards was actually boxing in the lightweight division at the time but moved down to the super-featherweight division.

WBC Super-Featherweight Champion

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In 1981, Boza-Edwards won the WBC World Super-Featherweight Title from Rafael "Bazooka" Limón with a fifteen-round decision at Stockton, California. Limón, a Mexican, had made his infamous "You know what happens to British boxers when they face Mexicans" comment. In reference to the fight between Lupe Pintor and Johnny Owen, after which Owen had died.[4]

He defeated Bobby Chacon after he retired at the end of the thirteenth round in his first and only successful defence. He lost the title three months later in an upset to Rolando Navarrete, by knockout in round five. Navarrete had come in as a late substitute for Limón and shocked Boza-Edwards by knocking him down three times, the final time he was counted out.

Later career

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In 1982, Boza-Edwards won the European Super-featherweight title by defeating Carlos Hernandez of Spain after he retired in the fourth round. He then based himself in the United States and became a favourite on the television networks with his aggressive style of fighting.

He was meant to fight Bobby Chacon for the WBC World Super-Featherweight Title in 1983 but boxing politics meant that the WBC withdrew recognition of the fight, which went ahead anyway. Chacon won on points in a fight where both fighters were knocked down but needed 40 stitches afterwards. The fight was voted The Ring magazine Fight of the Year 1983. Following his loss to Chacon he fought Rocky Lockridge the former WBA super-featherweight champion and lost on points over ten rounds.

Boza-Edwards moved up to the lightweight division and earned a title shot against Héctor Camacho in 1986 for the WBC World Lightweight Title which he lost by decision over twelve rounds. His final shot at the title was in 1987 against José Luis Ramírez in Paris and he was knocked out in the fifth round of a fight for the WBC World Lightweight Title. Following this defeat he retired from boxing and became a trainer.

Personal life

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Boza-Edwards first wife Jackie died from kidney failure six months after giving birth to their daughter Michelle in the UK. He was nearly lost to the sport of boxing as a result of his grief but decided to continue.[5] He remarried after relocating to the US and he and his wife Rumiko have two daughters, Dominique and Jenna.

Mayweather Boxing Club

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Boza-Edwards now runs the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas, NV.[6] He was inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of fame in 2014[7]

Professional boxing record

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53 fights 45 wins 7 losses
By knockout 34 4
By decision 10 3
By disqualification 1 0
Draws 1
Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
Loss 45–7-1 Mexico José Luis Ramírez KO 5 (12) 1987-10-10 France Zenith Palais, Paris For WBC World Lightweight Title.
Win 45–6-1 United States Ali Kareem Muhammad UD 10 (10) 1987-07-09 United States Felt Forum, New York
Loss 44–6-1 Puerto Rico Héctor Camacho UD 12 (12) 1986-09-26 United States Abel Holtz Stadium, Miami Beach For WBC World Lightweight Title.
Draw 44–5-1 Guyana Terrence Alli PTS 10 (10) 1986-03-30 United States Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
Win 44–5 United States John Montes UD 10 (10) 1985-07-14 United States Egypt Shrine Temple, Tampa
Win 43–5 United States Melvin Paul KO 2 (10) 1985-04-14 United Kingdom York Hall, Bethnal Green
Win 42–5 United States Gary Gamble RTD 4 (10) 1985-03-17 United States Egypt Shrine Temple, Tampa
Win 41–5 United States Charlie Brown TKO 3 (10) 1984-10-13 United Kingdom Kings Hall, Belfast
Win 40–5 United States Guy Villegas TKO 7 (10) 1984-06-17 United States Hyatt Regency, Tampa
Win 39–5 Barbados Trevor Evelyn RTD 2 (10) 1984-02-19 United States Hyatt Regency, Tampa
Loss 38–5 United States Rocky Lockridge UD 10 (10) 1983-09-09 United States Caesars Palace, Outdoor Arena, Las Vegas
Loss 38–4 United States Bobby Chacon UD 12 (12) 1983-05-15 United States Caesars Palace, Sports Pavilion, Las Vegas The Ring magazine's "Fight of the Year"
Win 38–3 Cuba Pedro Laza TKO 9 (10) 1983-02-27 United States Showboat Hotel & Casino, Sports Pavilion, Las Vegas
Win 37–3 United States Blaine Dickson UD 10 (10) 1983-02-27 United States Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
Win 36–3 United States Roberto Elizondo UD 10 (10) 1982-06-26 United States Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
Win 35–3 United States John Verderosa TKO 3 (10) 1982-04-24 United States Playboy Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City
Win 34–3 Spain Carlos Hernandez RTD 4 (12) 1982-03-17 United Kingdom Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Won EBU Super Featherweight Title.
Win 33–3 United States Arturo Leon RTD 4 (10) 1982-02-09 United Kingdom Royal Albert Hall, Kensington
Win 32–3 Chile Juan Carlos Álvarez TKO 3 (10) 1981-11-24 United Kingdom Wembley Arena, Wembley
Loss 31–3 Philippines Rolando Navarrete KO 5 (15) 1981-08-29 Italy Stadio de Pini, Viareggio Lost WBC Super Featherweight Title.
Win 31–2 United States Bobby Chacon RTD 13 (15) 1981-05-30 United States Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas Retained WBC Super Featherweight Title.
Win 30–2 Mexico Rafael Limón UD 15 (15) 1981-03-08 United States Civic Auditorium, Stockton Won WBC Super Featherweight Title.
Win 29–2 United States Ramon Contreras ud 10 (10) 1980-11-28 United States Sports Arena, San Diego
Win 28–2 Mexico Roberto Torres TKO 2 (10) 1980-10-14 United Kingdom Royal Albert Hall, Kensington
Loss 27–2 Nicaragua Alexis Argüello TKO 8 (10) 1980-08-09 United States Superstar Theater - Resorts Atlantic City
Win 27–1 Spain Jose Manuel Velazquez TKO 3 (10) 1980-07-12 United Kingdom Conference Centre, Wembley
Win 26–1 United States Ronnie Green TKO 6 (10) 1980-06-28 United Kingdom Empire Pool, Wembley
Win 25–1 United States Jerome Artis TKO 3 (8) 1980-06-07 United Kingdom Ibrox Park, Glasgow
Win 24–1 Puerto Rico Benny Marquez TKO 4 (8) 1980-04-22 United Kingdom Royal Albert Hall, Kensington
Win 23–1 United States James Washington TKO 2 (8) 1980-04-01 United Kingdom Conference Centre, Wembley
Win 22–1 United States Fili Ramirez TKO 7 (10) 1980-03-16 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas
Win 21–1 United States Jose Luis Gonzalez KO 3 (8) 1979-11-03 United Kingdom Kelvin Hall, Glasgow
Win 20–1 Dominican Republic Fernando Jimenez RTD 6 (8) 1979-06-24 Monaco Chapiteau de l'Espace Fontvieille, Fontvieille
Win 19–1 Zambia Godfrey Mwamba TKO 2 (8) 1979-03-31 Zambia Independence Stadium, Lusaka
Win 18–1 Spain Pedro Jimenez PTS 6 (6) 1979-03-04 Italy Teatro Ariston, San Remo
Win 17–1 United States Frankie Moultrie SD 8 (8) 1979-01-13 United States Convention Center, Miami Beach
Win 16–1 France Georges Cotin TKO 1 (8) 1978-12-18 United Kingdom Hilton Hotel, Mayfair
Win 15–1 Zambia Godfrey Mwamba TKO 3 (8) 1978-11-04 Zambia Lusaka
Win 14–1 United Kingdom George Feeney PTS 8 (8) 1978-09-26 United Kingdom Empire Pool, Wembley
Win 13–1 Turkey Ethem Oezakalin TKO 3 (8) 1978-07-19 Italy Municipal Stadium, Bellaria
Win 12–1 Venezuela Carlos Foldes DQ 5 (8) 1978-02-21 United Kingdom Royal Albert Hall, Kensington
Win 11–1 United Kingdom Dil Collins KO 5 (8) 1977-12-06 United Kingdom Royal Albert Hall, Kensington
Win 10–1 United Kingdom Bingo Crooks PTS 8 (8) 1977-11-08 United Kingdom Empire Pool, Wembley
Loss 9–1 United Kingdom Des Gwilliam TKO 6 (8) 1977-09-27 United Kingdom Empire Pool, Wembley
Win 9–0 France Mario Oliveira TKO 2 (8) 1977-06-14 United Kingdom Empire Pool, Wembley
Win 8–0 United Kingdom Tommy Glencross TKO 2 (8) 1977-05-31 United Kingdom Royal Albert Hall, Kensington
Win 7–0 United Kingdom Billy Vivian KO 1 (6) 1977-04-18 United Kingdom Hilton Hotel, Mayfair
Win 6–0 United Kingdom Godfrey Butler KO 2 (8) 1977-03-16 United Kingdom Midland Sporting Club, Civic Hall, Solihull
Win 5–0 United Kingdom George McGurk TKO 1 (6) 1977-02-14 United Kingdom Hilton Hotel, Mayfair
Win 4–0 United Kingdom Danny Connolly TKO 2 (6) 1977-02-01 United Kingdom Royal Albert Hall, Kensington
Win 3–0 United Kingdom Tommy Wright TKO 1 (6) 1977-01-25 United Kingdom York Hall, Bethnal Green
Win 2–0 United Kingdom Paul Clemit TKO 3 (6) 1976-12-20 United Kingdom Manor Place Baths, Walworth
Win 1–0 United Kingdom Barry Price KO 6 (6) 1976-12-13 United Kingdom Hilton Hotel, Mayfair Professional debut

See also

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References

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  1. ^ www.observer.ug/component/content/article?id=19030:-ex-world-champ-boza-humbled-by-hospitality
  2. ^ "Best I Faced: Cornelius Boza-Edwards". 4 May 2020.
  3. ^ Mickey Duff "Twenty & Out" Harper Collins 1999 ISBN 0-00-218926-7
  4. ^ "'The Ferocious Four' and their fights, ranked". 4 May 2020.
  5. ^ George Francis Trainer of champions Mainstream Publishing 1998 ISBN 1 84018 059 5
  6. ^ "Mayweather Boxing Club – Mayweather Promotions".
  7. ^ "Uganda's Boxing Legend | Cornelius Boza Edwards to be Inducted into Nevada's Boxing Hall of Fame | Welcome to the Ugandan Diaspora News Online".
[edit]
Achievements
Preceded by WBC super featherweight champion
8 March 1981 - 29 August 1981
Succeeded by
Awards
Preceded by The Ring magazine Fight of the Year
L12 Bobby Chacon II

1983
Succeeded by