The 58-year-old Uganda native who began his career in London and now lives in Nevada is a former WBC Super Featherweight champion.
He is famously remembered for the WBC world junior lightweight title win over Rafael Limon with a fifteen round decision in 1981 at Stockton, California, this after 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 lost his life.
The Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame announced its second induction class on Tuesday, headed by former heavyweight champions George Foreman and Evander Holyfield and the legendary former four-division champion Roberto Duran.
Cornelius is voted in the Nevada resident boxer category, for fighters who lived in Nevada during a portion of their career where he is joined by former heavyweight champion Sonny Liston.
The 18 inductees (13 living) come from 10 categories, two of which are new: Adoptive Residents (for boxers who moved to and resided in Nevada after their careers), and Pioneer Class (for those who prominently contributed to Nevada Boxing before 1960). They were selected by a panel of 33 voters made up of Nevada-based boxing media, past inductees and the HOF’s board members.
Cornelius would have been part of the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Canada but African countries including Uganda boycotted the games.
He has been described as an exciting fighter in his hey-days and part of the golden age of the 1980s in the super featherweight division.
He is now a co-trainer of Light welterweight contender, Mexican Jesse Vargas
Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame President and Founder Rich Marotta said in a news release, “We at the NVBHOF are thrilled to again honor those, both in and out of the ring, who have made Nevada the boxing capitol of the world.
The Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and Ceremony will be held this summer in Las Vegas at a site and date to be determined.