Henry Akinwande

[Matchfixer]

Anyone know what he's up to at the moment?

I know he hasn't fought in a while.

Anyone agree that he is just as a credible opponent for Byrd as Golota is ?

[bennie]

Anyone know what he's up to at the moment?

I know he hasn't fought in a while.

Anyone agree that he is just as a credible opponent for Byrd as Golota is ?

By Emmanuel Ehizojie
Monday, March 08, 2004

THE International Boxing Federation (IBF), title holder, Henry Akinwande has thrown aside his British citizenship as he informed that in subsequent boxing tournaments, starting with the forthcoming Calabar boxing event, he would be fighting as a Nigerian.

The United States based boxer disclosed this at the weekend on arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, during an interactive session with journalists ahead of the boxing event slated for April 10, in the Cross River State capital.

Akinwande who revealed that “coming back to my roots to fight is my greatest moment” is also anticipating warm reception from Nigerians. He pledged not to disappoint in the night.

“I’m not fighting for Britain, neither for USA, nor the UN. For me, boxing is a personal challenge because there are lots of people out there who always feel you can not do it and I have to show them that I can be whatever I want to be without them. As far as I’m concern, I left England about 10 years ago now and I’ve been back there only once. So, I’m not fighting for them. I am a Nigerian, I started my boxing career here and am glad to be back home”, he said.

On his early arrival for the tournament, Akinwande informed that it was necessary so as to get acclimatized to the weather. “You know, it is always important to be at the place of your fight at least, five weeks before the date so that you get used to the weather. And as you know, Anthony, my opponent has been running his mouth. So, I need to prepare for him”, he said.

Akinwande also revealed while responding to question on whether he aims at being the undisputed world boxing champion, he said, “Boxing has been so messed up, infact, it is a game so much politicised. The best is to wait for your time and sure, am waiting for my time because I know that when my time comes, I’ll get it”.

Speaking on the retirement of Lennox Lewis, Henry said: “it was better he retired because if he had fought afterwards, he wouldn’t have had the opportunity of retiring as the world champion again”. Henry Akinwande also urged the Federal Government with the ministry of sports to invest in boxing to showcase the power and strength of Nigeria to the international community. Akinwande is billed for a championship fight with Anthony, the South African champion.

[mickeybeard]

Last time I saw him he was winning pretty much every round against Timo Hoffmann in order to scrape a split decision.

As credible an opponent as Golota? Almost certainly, but will he ever be forgiven for the Lewis debacle? The networks have long memories. Golota is pretty much perfect telly to market to the average fan. He's as likely to burst into tears in the ring as anything else. Unfortunately, freak shows and curiosities are easy to sell to the man in the street.

[Matchfixer]

As credible an opponent as Golota? Almost certainly, but will he ever be forgiven for the Lewis debacle? The networks have long memories.

Cheers Bennie for the info above!

What happened in the Lewis fight? I have read the result on boxrec but that's all I know.

I've not followed boxing long enough to know more!

[bennie]

As credible an opponent as Golota? Almost certainly, but will he ever be forgiven for the Lewis debacle? The networks have long memories.

Cheers Bennie for the info above!

What happened in the Lewis fight? I have read the result on boxrec but that's all I know.

I've not followed boxing long enough to know more!

Trust me. You don't want to know.

[JimStone]

Henry Akinwande has thrown aside his British citizenship....Akinwande who revealed that “coming back to my roots to fight is my greatest moment.....I am a Nigerian, I started my boxing career here and am glad to be back home”, he said.

Good for Henry. I think he's good, always have. His style is not overly commercial but he's a quality boxer. Shame he's not been all that active (the Hepititis didn't help).

I think it's fantastic that he's gone back to Nigeria and is happy there, it's a good example to set. There's no place like home.

[MightyWarrior]

As credible an opponent as Golota? Almost certainly, but will he ever be forgiven for the Lewis debacle? The networks have long memories.

Cheers Bennie for the info above!

What happened in the Lewis fight? I have read the result on boxrec but that's all I know.

I've not followed boxing long enough to know more!

After a pretty ugly fight, he was given the new nickname of "Huggin' Henry".
Believe it or not he actualy knocked Lewis down, but I think it was ruled a slip.

[Kilburn]

It wasn't that long ago we saw him on Eurosport beating Timo Hoffman, didn't seem in bad form then.

Who is really going to care what he does next though?

[bennie]

Henry Akinwande has thrown aside his British citizenship....Akinwande who revealed that “coming back to my roots to fight is my greatest moment.....I am a Nigerian, I started my boxing career here and am glad to be back home”, he said.

Good for Henry. I think he's good, always have. His style is not overly commercial but he's a quality boxer. Shame he's not been all that active (the Hepititis didn't help).

I think it's fantastic that he's gone back to Nigeria and is happy there, it's a good example to set. There's no place like home.

Akinwande could beat Hide, Williams and Sprott on the same night. I once saw him lick Andrew Golota in an England v Poland international at Milton Keynes in the 80's. But he's the classical 'on top' fighter, and the likes of Lewis will always expose that.

[Matchfixer]

Is that it? He just kept holding on?

[bennie]

Is that it? He just kept holding on?

Yes, and eventually got slung out. He did the same in two ABA finals, getting slung out in the first one, and losing the second one to Jim Moran on points.

[Kilburn]

Felt sorry for Akinwande that night, he apparently burst into tears when he got back to his dressing room. He just didn't have the strength to stop Lewis marching him down, so his instincts just took over.

[MightyWarrior]

Henry's come a helluva long was since he first came to London.
He started out sweeping the street around Trafalgar Square, before his boxing career took off.
He got the American's attention when he cold cocked their boy Jeremy Williams, but the negative show against Lewis cause him to all but drop off the radar.

[overhand_right]

dont know why henrys seperated himself from england, but he just always seem to be hanging out n florida. guy should be living in a nice vibrant city like london.

someone should wipe him out for that stuff about england but we dont have any boxers who could do a job on henry.

the guy had a lot of ability (and still does), but the truth of the matter is hes finished. he looked awesome for the first few rds against mccall, but the second mccall turned the heat up and got rough, henry had nothing in the tank whatsoever.

dont know if its the age, or the hepititis, but the guy is finished at top level.

[stujones]

Akinwande has always had a stamina problem, he went 12 rounds with Zolkin but that was at a snails pace. I also think fatigue was one of the main reasons why he needed to hold on against Lewis, his gob was wide open after 4 round. However, that fight was held at altitude.

The McCall fight showed, then when the pace is a little faster than what Henry likes he tires rapidly. He needs a lot of air to fill those big lungs of his and that one of his main weaknesses.

I tip him to beat Byrd and Ruiz though.

[overhand_right]

ruiz is way too tough for akinwande, especially at this point, and akinwande would fold in that kind of rough ruiz style fight.

byrd on the other hand.... akinwande needs to get back with DK, he really does have the style and size to make easy work of byrd.

[steve689]

Akinwande slowed badly against McCall and paid the price by a receiving end KO, he showed reasonable stamina against Axel Schulz in the rematch but that was ages ago and Schulz was never any good anyway.