Johnny Nelson was born Ivanson Ranny Nelson on 4 January 1967 in Sheffield, England, with Dominican heritage from his father’s side and Jamaican-Cuban heritage from his mother’s. He got into boxing by following his older brother into the sport rather than by initial choice, eventually training at the famous Wincobank gym under legendary trainer Brendan Ingle.

After a rocky amateur record (losing 10 of 13 fights) and losing his first three professional bouts, Nelson turned his career around, becoming British and European cruiserweight champion before capturing the WBO cruiserweight world title in 1999 by defeating Carl Thompson.

He went on to defend the title 13 consecutive times over more than six years — a Guinness World Record for the division, tying him as its longest-reigning cruiserweight champion — before retiring in September 2006 with a record of 45 wins, 12 losses, and 2 draws.

Since retiring, Nelson has become one of Sky Sports Boxing‘s most recognisable voices, working as a lead pundit and analyst alongside Andy Clarke and others across the network’s world title coverage, including major fights involving Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and Oleksandr Usyk.

He also works as a motivational speaker, diversity advocate, and fitness enthusiast, and was awarded an MBE for services to boxing and to young people in Yorkshire.