Henry Akinwande

jomothepure · Post by **jomothepure** » 09 Sep 2005, 14:58

Akinwande looks to be fighting on the Sprott/Vidoz card (oct 1st)

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 09 Sep 2005, 19:15

Hesketh Vampire wrote:The way I see it Akinwande had all the tools to have been a Top 3 heavyweight for the past 10 years, he just didn't have the mindset. I remember Manny Steward saying something to that effect when he was training him for the Holyfield fight that never happened. I also remember Henry actually forced Lennox to touch down in their fight although the referee didn't call the knockdown. Akinwande's style and skills should have given Lewis one of his more difficult fights.

Didn't have the stamina also. I have seen the Lewis vs Akinwande fight many times and studied it (because of my future work, not because it was a good fight). I honestly don't think Akinwande quit that, just think he didn't have the stamina and was too fucked to move. Mills Lane warned him and warned him and he said nothing to him, or nothing to Turner. Why? I honestly don't think it was because he wanted out, but I think he knackered.

For me I think "proof" of my theory happend in the McCall fight. I know Akinwande was old but IMO for the first 5 rounds he looked like THE best heavyweight on the planet. He made McCall look silly, but McCall was always pressing the action and fighting at a pace Akinwande didn't like. Last 4 rounds he was knackered. That ring didn't have the heat and the altitude levels of the ring in which he fought Lewis, so the stamina defects occured sooner and more rapid.

Look at the big fights in which he has gone the distance, Zolkin, Welch, Hoffman - everyone he dictated the pace. Similar to Klitchsko Jnr, read the old threads when Klitchsko beat Barrett, Botha, Mercer, McCline etc - people were saying "Stamina = A1".

I (without blowing my own trumpet) was always countering, "stamina = still untested". It takes a a lot of oxygen to fill those big lungs and in most cases big lads have poor stamina, untill you see them fight at a pace they don't like they are untest. For me, Akinwande has got a major stamina problem.

Boxingmad · Post by **Boxingmad** » 11 Sep 2005, 05:30

Akinwande boxed over here as an amateur for the Lynn ABC in Walworth, south-east London. Was a two-time ABA heavyweight champion, and beat Herbie Hide in one of them (1989 I think) which was a bad-tempered affair. Akinwande & Hide pretty much hated each other after that as both are Nigerian and were rivals. He was trained at the Lynn by one Mike Costello, then a junior staffer at the BBC, now a boxing reporter with them.
Akinwande boxed in the 1988 Olympics for Great Britain, but was eliminated early on. When he boxed Hide in 1989, he wore his Olympic vest instead of his club vest, which was not allowed by the ABA then. The ABA suspended him for this, and the Lynn AC endorsed that. Disgusted by this treatment, Akinwande turned pro with Mickey Duff.

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 11 Sep 2005, 06:33

What happened in that bizarre amateur fight with Hide? Neither were wearing headguards & only rd 3 was broadcast by the BBC.

Hide was only 7-1 and 18 yrs old but went the distance with AKinwande who was an experienced vet. Hide tried shake hsi hand afterwards but Akinwande shoved him away. Very weird.

I would to this day love to see these two get it on as pros. But Akinwande has ditched the UK & Hide is running for cover in the cruisers.

A more sensible thing would be for them to have a 10 rd heavyweight fight in London on terrestrial TV, get paid nicely & bump off one of these old war horses.

HeavyHitters · Post by **HeavyHitters** » 20 Sep 2005, 01:10

Yes, let us see Hide vs. Akinwande!! Bring it ON, Baby!!

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 20 Sep 2005, 08:15

Akinwande would murder him.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 20 Sep 2005, 08:16

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Akinwande would murder him.

Quite literally! ;)

Henry Akinwande

Ker-POW!!!!