Historic day for Sheffield's ex world champ Johnny Nelson

Johnny Nelson - whom the late Brendan Ingle said represented  the Sheffield's gym's biggest single achievement - won his first title 30 years ago to this day.
Sheffield boxer Johnny Nelson pictured with Carlos de Leon - 1990Sheffield boxer Johnny Nelson pictured with Carlos de Leon - 1990
Sheffield boxer Johnny Nelson pictured with Carlos de Leon - 1990

Nelson became Central Area cruiserweight champion, after KO'ing Manchester's Danny Lawford at the City Hall, Sheffield.

Lawford never boxed again.

But the Sheffield fighter's career never looked back.

Within a year he was British champion, in 1990 he won the European title and in 1993, collected the vacant WBF world belt, followed by the WBO version in 1999.

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Nelson, now aged 51, Nelson's career is an example to those who lose matches as well as win them.

He suffered 12 defeats - including his first three bouts - but went on to become a world champion and regular media pundit.