AZUMAH'S LEGACY

LONG before his last ring appearance against Australian rival Jeff Fenech, boxing legend Azumah Nelson had already fought his way into Ghanaian sporting folklore.
But there was a youthful part of the country’s population for whom the Azumah legend seems to belong to a rather distant past.
Before last Tuesday’s rubber match against Fenech, which was beamed live across the world, it had been 10 years since Azumah last appeared in the ring to trade in punches.
And for the millions of young men, women and adolescents who had only been told the story or had faint memories of the man’s fabled past, it was a different experience.
For them, watching the 10-round slugfest must also have generated curiosity over the whole subject of ageing and sports because in spite of the the earlier pessimism, the core concern in the Azumah showmanship last Tuesday was how the ‘old’ man mustered such energy and reflexes to put up the act he did.
And this was three weeks before his 50th birthday!
The other significant thing about Tuesday’s fight in Melbourne is the proof that Azumah still enjoys a high doze of goodwill throughout the country and matters affecting him attract great national concern.
The point has been made many times by many people and on many occasions that the real reason for this tremendous show of affection is the Champ’s own self-discipline, humility, affable disposition and the simplicity with which he carries his superstar status.
And there was ample evidence of the self-discipline aspect of the man’s life that only a disciplined body and mind could produce such performance at near fifty.
As a role model for the youth of this country, Azumah has demonstrated that discipline should be one aspect of his life that must inspire others and provide a way out of the misfortune where some sportsmen and entertainers burn out long before their potential is fully realised.
Surely Azumah has paid his dues to boxing and Ghana well beyond his peak.
It is therefore our hope that he would treat what he did in Melbourne last Tuesday as a one stop response to an inner desire to show the young men of today how to do it and leave the stage when the ovation is highest.
If that was his motivation, then he has accomplished it with all his dignity intact and can now take a well deserved rest.