1940s Heavyweight Henry Flakes, the Ike Ibeubuchi of his era

BrocktonBlockbuster49 · Post by **BrocktonBlockbuster49** » 13 Oct 2006, 13:00

Henry Flakes was considered the best young heavyweight in the world in the late 1940s and he had the potential and tools to become the next great heavyweight champion. As you see, he started his career off with a bang. at only 20 years old, he knocked out ATG lloyd marshall in only his 8th pro bout! Flakes also beat top 10 heavyweight contenders pat comiskey and lee oma. Henry at 20-2-1 at only 20 years old in 1949 was now being touted as the best young prospect in the country.

Lee Oma said about Snow Flakes "this kid would be a tough fight for anybody."

Berkshire Evening Eagle, The
Tuesday, April 13, 1948

"FLAKES Gives Bill Weinberg Bad Beating. FLAKES, hailed as the finest looking HEAVYWEIGHT prospect to show in Boston in some years, last night practically wrote the finish to the career of Big Bill Weinberg of Chelsea. He pounded out an impressive 10- round unanimous decision at the Boston Garden. A skimpy 3520 crowd watched the straight-punching Buffalo (N.Y.) Negro, hand the bulky Weinberg an unmerciful beating as he stalked him throughout. FLAKES, who weighs 195 to 212 for Wein'berg, punched viciously and accurately. He inflicted three cuts over the Chelsea veteran's left eye, one of them a deep gash that bled freely from the third round on. For the Negro, rated as out- standing among the younger crop of HEAVYWEIGHTs, it was his 29th victory in 31 professional starts. Weinberg, sensing that he was beaten as early as the third round, concentrated on lasting the distance, and spent most of the time backpedaling. Only in the final session did Weinberg take the offensive, and that was shortlived as FLAKES unleashed a terrific two-fisted attack to the head"

Henry "snow" Flakes was the bright star in the heavyweight division. Like Ibeubuchi, both were thought to become the heir to the thrones of louis and lewis. Snow Flakes was very fast on his feet, had loads of talent, and was a deadly two fisted puncher, and had good size 6'1 200lb for a youngster. Like Ibeubuchi, he had all the tools and talent but they were wasted and he was sent away to prison ruining his potential great career. Who knows how good Henry Flakes would have become, he would have peaked during marcianos years. Perhaps him and marciano would have had some WARS like ali-frazier trilogy. Its a shame Henry had to blow his life away. in 1949, at only 21 years old and considered by far the best prospect in the country, he retired due to a detached retina....and in 1958 he commited murder and was sentenced to death. Such a Tragedy. A couple years later, he was executed at age of 33 years old.
The Washington Post

BUFFALO, N.Y., March 6 "(UPI)--Henry (Snow) Flakes, 31, once regarded as a promising heavyweight boxer, was sentenced to die in the electric chair today for the murder of a clothing store owner in a holdup."

Anyone got a pic of Henry Flakes???

delisa · Post by **delisa** » 13 Oct 2006, 15:16

poscript -- he went to the chair wearing his boxing robe!

HomicideHenry · Post by **HomicideHenry** » 13 Oct 2006, 18:23

mmm...that be interesting...Henry Flakes vs Ike Ibeabuchi in a computer fight...since both men's careers were cut short. I would think Ibeabuchi would come out on top though, considering he never lost and beat the likes of Tua and Byrd.

BrocktonBlockbuster49 · Post by **BrocktonBlockbuster49** » 13 Oct 2006, 19:10

and even in his prime, he was no match for a reasonably competent heavyweight.

hmmm.....are you forgetting marshall beat top 10 ranked heavyweight contender hatchetman sheppard?

BrocktonBlockbuster49 · Post by **BrocktonBlockbuster49** » 15 Oct 2006, 11:37

it appears i made a slight mistake. I EDITED. henry had to retire in 1949 due to a detatched retina.....and he committed murder in 1958 and was executed in 1960. sorry for the mix up.