Johnny Nelson


Ivanson Ranny "Johnny" Nelson is a British retired professional boxer who competed from 1986 to 2005. He is currently the longest reigning world cruiserweight champion of all time, having held the WBO title from 1999 to 2005. Nelson defended the title against thirteen different fighters, more than any other cruiserweight in history, and holds a joint-record of most consecutive cruiserweight title defenses. Nelson also held the British cruiserweight title twice between 1989 and 1997, and the European cruiserweight title twice between 1990 and 1998. As of April 2020, BoxRec rates him the greatest cruiserweight of all time.

Professional career

Nelson began training at Wincobank gym in Sheffield, England under trainer Brendan Ingle who also went on to train Naseem Hamed and Kell Brook. began his career losing ten of his thirteen bouts contested as an amateur. He turned professional after learning professional boxers were paid and lost his first three bouts.
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.

Life after boxing

Nelson currently works as a pundit for Sky Television. 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.

Personal life

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.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
59Win45–12–2 Vincenzo Cantatore1226 Nov 2005 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, ItalyRetained WBO cruiserweight title
58Win44–12–2 Rüdiger MayTKO7, 2:299 Apr 2004 Grugahalle, Essen, GermanyRetained WBO cruiserweight title
57Win43–12–2 Alexander Petkovic1215 Nov 2003 Oberfrankenhalle, Bayreuth, GermanyRetained WBO cruiserweight title
56Draw42–12–2 Guillermo JonesSD1223 Nov 2002 Storm Arena, Derby, EnglandRetained WBO cruiserweight title
55Win42–12–1 Ezra SellersKO8, 2:394 Jun 2002 Circus Building, Copenhagen, DenmarkRetained WBO cruiserweight title
54Win41–12–1 Alexander VasilievUD1224 Nov 2001 York Hall, London, EnglandWon vacant WBU heavyweight title
53Win40–12–1 Marcelo DomínguezUD1221 Jul 2001 Ponds Forge, Sheffield, EnglandRetained WBO cruiserweight title
52Win39–12–1 George AriasUD1227 Jan 2001 York Hall, London, EnglandRetained WBO cruiserweight title
51Win38–12–1 Adam WattKO5, 2:1210 Jul 2000 The Dome Leisure Centre, Doncaster, EnglandRetained WBO cruiserweight title
50Win37–12–1 Pietro AurinoTKO7, 2:234 Aug 2000 York Hall, London, EnglandRetained WBO cruiserweight title
49Win36–12–1 Christophe GirardKO4, 2:346 Nov 1999 Kingsway Leisure Centre, Widnes, EnglandRetained WBO cruiserweight title
48Win35–12–1 Sione AsipeliUD1218 Sep 1999 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, USRetained WBO cruiserweight title
47Win34–12–1 Willard LewisTKO4, 3:008 Jul 1999 Goresbrook Leisure Centre, London, EnglandRetained WBO cruiserweight title
46Win33–12–1 Bruce ScottUD1215 May 1999 Ponds Forge, Sheffield, EnglandRetained WBO cruiserweight title
45Win32–12–1 Carl ThompsonTKO5, 1:4227 Mar 1999 Storm Arena, Derby, EnglandWon WBO cruiserweight title
44Win31–12–1 Peter Oboh6, 3:0018 Jul 1998 Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England
43Win30–12–1 Dirk WallynTKO1, 1:1310 Nov 1997 Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, EnglandRetained European cruiserweight title
42Win29–12–1 Michael MurrayPTS419 Jul 1997 Wembley Arena, London, England
41Win28–12–1 Patrice AouissiKO7 22 Feb 1997 Berck, FranceWon vacant European cruiserweight title
40Win27–12–1 Dennis AndriesTKO7, 1:5014 Dec 1996 Sheffield, EnglandWon vacant British cruiserweight title
39Win26–12–1 Tony BoothKO2, 2:0720 Jan 1996 Leisure Centre, Mansfield, England
38Loss25–12–1 Adílson RodriguesUD123 Dec 1995 Ginásio Carlos Nélson Bueno, Mogi Guaçu, BrazilFor WBF heavyweight title
37Loss25–11–1 Adílson RodriguesPTS1222 Aug 1995 Osasco, BrazilLost WBF heavyweight title
36Win25–10–1 Nikolay KulpinSD125 Nov 1994 Chiangrai Stadium, Chiang Rai, ThailandRetained WBF heavyweight title
35Loss24–10–1 Henry AkinwandePTS104 May 1994 York Hall, London, England
34Win24–9–1 Jimmy ThunderUD1219 Nov 1993 Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland, New ZealandWon WBF heavyweight title
33Loss23–9–1 Franco Wanyama10 10 Jan 1993 Waregem, BelgiumLost WBF cruiserweight title;
Nelson disqualified for repeated fouls
32Win23–8–1 Tom CollinsTKO1 4 Nov 1993 Leisure Centre, Mansfield, EnglandRetained WBF cruiserweight title
31Win22–8–1 Dave RussellTKO11 30 Apr 1993 Festival Hall, Melbourne, AustraliaWon WBF cruiserweight title
30Loss21–8–1 Corrie SandersUD1024 Oct 1992 Morula Sun Casino, Mabopane, South Africa
29Loss21–7–1 Norbert EkassiTKO3 14 Aug 1992 Ajaccio, France
28Loss21–6–1 James Warring1216 May 1992 Hugo's Nightclub, Bealeton, Virginia, USFor IBF cruiserweight title
27Win21–5–1 Yves MonsieurTKO8, 2:353 Dec 1991 Leisure Centre, Mansfield, EnglandRetained European cruiserweight title
26Win20–5–1 Markus BottTKO12 14 Dec 1990 Europahalle, Karlsruhe, GermanyWon vacant European cruiserweight title
25Win19–5–1 Andre SmithPTS89 May 1990 Brighton Centre, Brighton, England
24Win18–5–1 Arthur WeathersTKO2, 0:2527 Jun 1990 Royal Albert Hall, London, England
23Win17–5–1 Lou GentKO4, 1:4928 Mar 1990 York Hall, London, EnglandRetained British cruiserweight title
22Win16–5–1 Dino HomseyTKO7 14 Feb 1990 International Centre, Brentwood, England
21Draw15–5–1 Carlos de León1227 Jan 1990 City Hall, Sheffield, EnglandFor WBC cruiserweight title
20Win15–5 Ian BullochKO2 10 Feb 1989 Victoria Hall, Hanley, EnglandRetained British cruiserweight title
19Win14–5 Andy StraughnTKO8 21 May 1989 Finsbury Park Majestic Ballroom, London, EnglandWon British cruiserweight title
18Win13–5 Steve MorminoTKO2, 1:564 Apr 1989 City Hall, Sheffield, England
17Win12–5 Danny LawfordTKO2, 0:5326 Oct 1988 City Hall, Sheffield, EnglandWon vacant Central Area cruiserweight title
16Win11–5 Andrew GerrardPTS831 Aug 1988 Kings Hall, Stoke-on-Trent, England
15Win10–5 Lennie HowardKO2 6 Jun 1988 Hilton, London, England
14Win9–5 Crawford AshleyPTS85 Apr 1988 Midlands Sporting Club, Solihull, England
13Win8–5 Kenny JonesKO1, 1:4025 Apr 1988 Montrose Club, Liverpool, England
12Win7–5 Cordwell Hylton1 24 Feb 1988 City Hall, Sheffield, England
11Loss6–5 Dennis BaileyPTS82 Jan 1988 Derngate Theatre, Northampton, England
10Win6–4 Jon McBeanTKO6 14 Dec 1987 The Tower Ballroom, Birmingham, England
9Win5–4 Byron PullenTKO3 6 Mar 1987 Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre, London, England
8Loss4–4 Brian SchumacherPTS828 Apr 1987 North Bridge Leisure Centre, Halifax, England
7Win4–3 Sean Daly1, 0:524 Oct 1987 The Ritz, Manchester, England
6Win3–3 Doug YoungPTS63 Feb 1987 Ladbroke Mercury Hotel, Huddersfield, England
5Win2–3 George CarmenPTS619 Jan 1987 Grosvenor House Hotel, London, England
4Win1–3 Chris LittlePTS620 Nov 1986 Quaffers Club, Bredbury, England
3Loss0–3 Magne HavnaaPTS43 Oct 1986 Idrætshuset, Copenhagen, Denmark
2Loss0–2 Tommy TaylorPTS615 May 1986 Brierley Hill Civic Hall, Dudley, England
1Loss0–1 Peter Brown618 Mar 1986 Westfield Country Club, Hull, EnglandProfessional debut