Cornelius Boza-Edwards


Cornelius Boza-Edwards is the former WBC Super Featherweight Champion of the World. Boza-Edwards was born in Kampala, Uganda and fought in both the super-featherweight and lightweight divisions. Boza-Edwards 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

He 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 with the Fitzroy Lodge club. 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.
He 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 Boza-Edwards of the chance of competing in the Olympics.

Professional career

He turned professional in 1976 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 a more memorable name for the fans and added Edwards out of respect for Jack Edwards his mentor.
He 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.

WBC Super-Featherweight Champion

Boza-Edwards won the WBC World Super-Featherweight Title from Rafael "Bazooka" Limón with a fifteen-round decision in 1981 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.
Boza-Edwards 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

Boza-Edwards won the European Super-featherweight title in 1982 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 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

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. He remarried after relocating to the US and he and his wife Rumiko have two daughters Dominique and Jenna.

Mayweather Boxing Club

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

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
Loss45–7-1 José Luis RamírezKO5 1987-10-10 Zenith Palais, ParisFor WBC World Lightweight Title.
Win45–6-1 Ali Kareem MuhammadUD10 1987-07-09 Felt Forum, New York
Loss44–6-1 Héctor CamachoUD12 1986-09-26 Abel Holtz Stadium, Miami BeachFor WBC World Lightweight Title.
Draw44–5-1 Terrence AlliPTS10 1986-03-30 Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
Win44–5 John MontesUD10 1985-07-14 Egypt Shrine Temple, Tampa
Win43–5 Melvin PaulKO2 1985-04-14 York Hall, Bethnal Green
Win42–5 Gary GambleRTD4 1985-03-17 Egypt Shrine Temple, Tampa
Win41–5 Charlie BrownTKO3 1984-10-13 Kings Hall, Belfast
Win40–5 Guy VillegasTKO7 1984-06-17 Hyatt Regency, Tampa
Win39–5 Trevor EvelynRTD2 1984-02-19 Hyatt Regency, Tampa
Loss38–5 Rocky LockridgeUD10 1983-09-09 Caesars Palace, Outdoor Arena, Las Vegas
Loss38–4 Bobby ChaconUD12 1983-05-15 Caesars Palace, Sports Pavilion, Las VegasThe Ring magazine's "Fight of the Year"
Win38–3 Pedro LazaTKO9 1983-02-27 Showboat Hotel & Casino, Sports Pavilion, Las Vegas
Win37–3 Blaine DicksonUD10 1983-02-27 Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
Win36–3 Roberto ElizondoUD10 1982-06-26 Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas
Win35–3 John VerderosaTKO3 1982-04-24 Playboy Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City
Win34–3 Carlos HernandezRTD4 1982-03-17 Royal Albert Hall, KensingtonWon EBU Super Featherweight Title.
Win33–3 Arturo LeonRTD4 1982-02-09 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington
Win32–3 Juan Carlos ÁlvarezTKO3 1981-11-24 Wembley Arena, Wembley
Loss31–3 Rolando NavarreteKO5 1981-08-29 Stadio de Pini, ViareggioLost WBC Super Featherweight Title.
Win31–2 Bobby ChaconRTD13 1981-05-30 Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las VegasRetained WBC Super Featherweight Title.
Win30–2 Rafael LimónUD15 1981-03-08 Civic Auditorium, StocktonWon WBC Super Featherweight Title.
Win29–2 Ramon Contrerasud10 1980-11-28 Sports Arena, San Diego
Win28–2 Roberto TorresTKO2 1980-10-14 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington
Loss27–2 Alexis ArgüelloTKO8 1980-08-09 Superstar Theater - Resorts Atlantic City
Win27–1 Jose Manuel VelazquezTKO3 1980-07-12 Conference Centre, Wembley
Win26–1 Ronnie GreenTKO6 1980-06-28 Empire Pool, Wembley
Win25–1 Jerome ArtisTKO3 1980-06-07 Ibrox Park, Glasgow
Win24–1 Benny MarquezTKO4 1980-04-22 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington
Win23–1 James WashingtonTKO2 1980-04-01 Conference Centre, Wembley
Win22–1 Fili RamirezTKO7 1980-03-16 Caesars Palace, Las Vegas
Win21–1 Jose Luis GonzalezKO3 1979-11-03 Kelvin Hall, Glasgow
Win20–1 Fernando JimenezRTD6 1979-06-24 Chapiteau de l'Espace Fontvieille, Fontvieille
Win19–1 Godfrey MwambaTKO2 1979-03-31 Independence Stadium, Lusaka
Win18–1 Pedro JimenezPTS6 1979-03-04 Teatro Ariston, San Remo
Win17–1 Frankie MoultrieSD8 1979-01-13 Convention Center, Miami Beach
Win16–1 Georges CotinTKO1 1978-12-18 Hilton Hotel, Mayfair
Win15–1 Godfrey MwambaTKO3 1978-11-04 Lusaka
Win14–1 George FeeneyPTS8 1978-09-26 Empire Pool, Wembley
Win13–1 Ethem OezakalinTKO3 1978-07-19 Municipal Stadium, Bellaria
Win12–1 Carlos FoldesDQ5 1978-02-21 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington
Win11–1 Dil CollinsKO5 1977-12-06 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington
Win10–1 Bingo CrooksPTS8 1977-11-08 Empire Pool, Wembley
Loss9–1 Des GwilliamTKO6 1977-09-27 Empire Pool, Wembley
Win9–0 Mario OliveiraTKO2 1977-06-14 Empire Pool, Wembley
Win8–0 Tommy GlencrossTKO2 1977-05-31 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington
Win7–0 Billy VivianKO1 1977-04-18 Hilton Hotel, Mayfair
Win6–0 Godfrey ButlerKO2 1977-03-16 Midland Sporting Club, Civic Hall, Solihull
Win5–0 George McGurkTKO1 1977-02-14 Hilton Hotel, Mayfair
Win4–0 Danny ConnollyTKO2 1977-02-01 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington
Win3–0 Tommy WrightTKO1 1977-01-25 York Hall, Bethnal Green
Win2–0 Paul ClemitTKO3 1976-12-20 Manor Place Baths, Walworth
Win1–0 Barry PriceKO6 1976-12-13 Hilton Hotel, MayfairProfessional debut