Boza-Edwards’ Super-Featherweight Charge
On March 8, 1981, Cornelius Boza-Edwards defeated Rafael Limón by unanimous decision over fifteen rounds to win the WBC super-featherweight championship.
Cornelius Boza-Edwards became one of boxing’s most compelling super-featherweights by making opponents meet him at his pace: constant pressure, a busy left hand and no easy rounds. Born in Kampala, Uganda, and established as a professional in Britain, he reached the sport’s summit in 1981, then defended his crown in a bruising fight with Bobby Chacon.
From Kampala to the world stage
Boza-Edwards boxed as an amateur in Uganda before moving to England, where he joined the professional ranks in 1976. He built his reputation through a demanding schedule and traveled widely for major fights. One early measure of his ambition was a 1980 challenge to the celebrated Alexis Argüello. Boza-Edwards lost, but the experience put him in the company of the division’s best and sharpened the route to a title opportunity.
That chance came against Rafael “Bazooka” Limón for the WBC super-featherweight crown on March 8, 1981. Boza-Edwards won a unanimous decision over 15 rounds to become champion. In his first defense, he met Bobby Chacon in Las Vegas. The fight was punishing on both men, and Chacon’s corner stopped it after 13 completed rounds (BoxRec and Associated Press account). Boza-Edwards had beaten two proven champions in succession, but he did not hold the belt long: Rolando Navarrete knocked him out in the fifth round that August.
A long run among the elite
Boza-Edwards continued as a top contender after losing the title, later moving up to lightweight. He faced champions and future champions including Héctor Camacho and José Luis Ramírez, with a 1987 challenge for Ramírez’s WBC lightweight belt ending in a fifth-round stoppage. The title reign was brief, yet his wins over Limón and Chacon made it count. They remain the center of a career built across Uganda, Britain and the toughest stages in American boxing. See more in our boxing archive.
Sources
Article Tags
Cornelius Boza Edwards, Boxing, Boxing History, Championship Fights
