Henry Akinwande

Last updated

Henry Akinwande
Born
Henry Adetokunboh Akinwande

(1965-10-12) 12 October 1965 (age 59)
Dulwich, London, England
NationalityBritish
Statistics
Weight(s) Heavyweight
Height6 ft 7 in (201 cm)
Reach86 in (218 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights55
Wins50
Wins by KO30
Losses4
Draws1

Henry Adetokunboh Akinwande (born 12 October 1965) is a British former WBO boxing world champion who competed from 1989 to 2008. He held the WBO heavyweight title from 1996 to 1997, [1] as well as the Commonwealth heavyweight title in 1993, and the European heavyweight title from 1993 to 1994.

Contents

Early life

Akinwande was born in London, England but went to live in his parents' homeland of Nigeria as a 4-year-old. He returned to England in 1986 aged 21, and he began boxing soon after.

Amateur career

As an amateur boxing out of the Lynn amateur boxing club in Camberwell, South East London. He was ABA heavyweight champion in both 1988 and 1989, beating another fellow Nigerian and future WBO heavyweight champion Herbie Hide and represented Great Britain in the heavyweight division at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.

ABA Championships record

Olympic results

1988 Olympic Games, Seoul, heavyweight:

Professional career

Akinwande made his professional debut in 1989 against Carlton Headley in London and won all of his first 18 bouts, including a second-round KO victory over former World Light Heavyweight Champion J.B. Williamson, he beat a mix of popular gatekeepers such as Marshall Tillman, Eddie Taylor, Kimmuel Odum and John Fury, the father of Tyson Fury.

Akinwande then challenged Axel Schulz for the vacant European heavyweight title in Berlin, Germany in 1992. The fight, scored only by the referee was adjudged to be a draw after 12 rounds. This was felt by many to be a "home town" decision, as most observers had Akinwande winning comfortably.

Following a victory over New Zealand's respectable James Thunder for the Commonwealth title in 1993, Akinwande again challenged Schulz for the vacant European belt. This time three judges were employed and Akinwande was awarded a unanimous decision after 12 rounds. He was to defend the title twice, against Biagio Chianese and Mario Scheisser. Akinwande also defeated fellow Briton and future WBO cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson, former IBF heavyweight title holder Tony Tucker, Frankie Swindell, Brian Sargent, Calvin Jones and Gerard Jones, all from the USA, during this period.

WBO heavyweight champion

In 1996 Akinwande faced American Jeremy Williams for the WBO World Heavyweight Title which had been vacated by Riddick Bowe, a fight which Akinwande was to win via a 3rd round stoppage. Akinwande went on to defend the belt twice, with victories over Russian Alexander Zolkin by TKO and a decision over fellow Briton Scott Welch, who had won the WBO Intercontinental Title with a stoppage over the 46-year-old Joe Bugner.

Akinwande vs. Lewis

The WBO belt was then vacated so that Akinwande could pursue a challenge to WBC champion Lennox Lewis in 1997. The fight took place at Caesars Tahoe in Nevada. Akinwande was strangely subdued and spent much of the fight attempting to clinch Lewis. After repeated warnings, referee Mills Lane finally ran out of patience and disqualified Akinwande for repeated holding in the 5th round. [2]

A proposed challenge to Evander Holyfield for the WBA belt in 1998 was later abandoned after Akinwande tested positive for hepatitis B. This meant a lengthy spell of recovery for Akinwande, but he was finally cleared to return to the ring in 1999.

Akinwande won his next 8 fights, his victims included top contenders Orlin Norris and Maurice Harris, as well as Peter McNeeley, Kenny Craven, Russel Chasteen, Reynaldo Minus, Chris Sirengo and Najee Shaheed.

A fight with Oliver McCall in 2001 resulted in Akinwande's second defeat. After Akinwande had outboxed McCall for most of the fight, Akinwande began to tire, and McCall caught him with a few seconds remaining in the 10th and final round. Akinwande was counted out.

Akinwande recovered from this to win his next 9 bouts, including notable victories against Timo Hoffman, Ed Mahone, Cisse Salif and Anton Nel, all for the IBF Intercontinental Title, as well as Curt Paige, Sam Ubokane, Raman Sukhaterin, Alexander Vasiliev and Tipton Walker.

In late 2006 he dropped a split decision to Oleg Platov, a bout in which Akinwande received a point deduction in 8th round for holding, and Platov received a point deduction in 9th for a headbutt.

After that fight he won another fight against Andriy Oleinyk in 2007 before losing to top prospect Ondřej Pála from the Czech Republic by unanimous decision on 4 July 2008, which turned out to be his last fight.

Professional boxing record

55 fights50 wins4 losses
By knockout301
By decision182
By disqualification21
Draws1
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
55Loss50–4–1 Ondřej Pála UD64 Jul 2008Buyuk Anadolu Didim Resort, Ankara, Turkey
54Win50–3–1Andriy OliynykUD1030 Jun 2007 Olympic Stadium, Moscow, Russia
53Loss49–3–1 Oleg Platov SD124 Nov 2006RWE Rhein-Ruhr Sporthalle, Mülheim, GermanyLost IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title
52Win49–2–1Cisse SalifUD124 Mar 2006 Small EWE Arena, Oldenburg, GermanyRetained IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title
51Win48–2–1Ed MahoneUD1210 Dec 2005 Arena Leipzig, Leipzig, GermanyWon vacant IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title
50Win47–2–1Tipton WalkerTKO2 (6), 2:48 24 Sep 2005 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
49Win46–2–1Alexander VasilievUD814 May 2005 Oberfrankenhalle, Bayreuth, Germany
48Win45–2–1Anton NelTKO10 (12), 1:3910 Apr 2004 U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, NigeriaRetained IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title
47Win44–2–1 Timo Hoffmann SD1231 May 2003 Brandenburg-Halle, Frankfurt, GermanyWon IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title
46Win43–2–1Raman SukhaterinUD1210 Dec 2002 Sala Sporturilor, Constanța, Romania
45Win42–2–1Sam UbokaneTKO7 (10)29 Oct 2002 Wynberg Military Base Stadium, Cape Town South Africa
44Win41–2–1Curt PaigeTKO1 (8), 2:538 Mar 2002 Civic Center, Kissimmee, Florida, U.S.
43Loss40–2–1 Oliver McCall KO10 (10), 2:13 17 Nov 2001 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
42Win40–1–1 Maurice Harris KO1 (10)16 Jun 2001 Cintas Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
41Win39–1–1 Peter McNeeley KO2 (12), 2:0517 Mar 2001The Moon, Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.Won vacant WBC International heavyweight title
40Win38–1–1Kenny CravenTKO1 (12), 3:008 Dec 2000The Moon, Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.Won vacant WBC FECARBOX heavyweight title
39Win37–1–1Russell ChasteenTKO5 (10), 0:4925 May 2000 Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, U.S.
38Win36–1–1Chris SirengoTKO1 (10)22 Feb 2000 Velodrome, Bellville, South Africa
37Win35–1–1Najee ShaheedTKO9 (10), 2:2115 May 1999 Jai-Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, U.S.
36Win34–1–1Reynaldo MinusTKO2 (10), 1:356 Mar 1999 UM Sports Pavilion, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
35Win33–1–1 Orlin Norris UD1213 Dec 1997Amphitheater, Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S.
34Loss32–1–1 Lennox Lewis DQ5 (12), 2:34 12 Jul 1997 Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.For WBC heavyweight title;
Akinwande disqualified for repeated holding
33Win32–0–1 Scott Welch UD1211 Jan 1997 Nashville Arena, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.Retained WBO heavyweight title
32Win31–0–1Alexander ZolkinTKO10 (12), 2:32 9 Nov 1996 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBO heavyweight title
31Win30–0–1 Jeremy Williams KO3 (12), 0:4329 Jun 1996 Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.Won vacant WBO heavyweight title
30Win29–0–1Gerard JonesDQ7 (10), 2:1823 Mar 1996 Miami Arena, Miami, Florida, U.S.Jones disqualified for repeatedly hitting after a break
29Win28–0–1Brian SargentTKO4 (10), 2:4027 Jan 1996 Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
28Win27–0–1 Tony Tucker UD10 16 Dec 1995 CoreStates Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
27Win26–0–1Stanley WrightTKO2 (10)22 Jul 1995 London Arena, Millwall, London, England
26Win25–0–1Calvin JonesKO2 (8), 1:38 8 Apr 1995 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
25Win24–0–1Mario SchiesserKO7 (12)23 Jul 1994 Sportforum Hohenschönhausen, Berlin, GermanyRetained European heavyweight title
24Win23–0–1 Johnny Nelson PTS105 Apr 1994 York Hall, London, England
23Win22–0–1Biagio ChianeseTKO4 (12), 2:161 Dec 1993Royal Albert Hall, London, EnglandRetained European heavyweight title
22Win21–0–1Frankie SwindellUD106 Nov 1993Superbowl, Sun City, South Africa
21Win20–0–1 Axel Schulz UD121 May 1993Sporthalle Charlottenburg, Berlin, GermanyWon vacant European heavyweight title
20Win19–0–1 Jimmy Thunder PTS1218 Mar 1993 Lewisham Theatre, London, EnglandWon vacant Commonwealth heavyweight title
19Draw18–0–1 Axel Schulz MD1219 Dec 1992 Berlin, GermanyFor vacant European heavyweight title
18Win18–0Steve GarberTKO2 (8)18 Jul 1992 Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England
17Win17–0Kimmuel OdumDQ6 (8)5 Jun 1992 Palais des sports, Marseille, France
16Win16–0Lumbala TshibambaPTS810 Apr 1992 Carquefou, Pays de la Loire, France
15Win15–0Tucker RichardsTKO2 (8), 0:5626 Mar 1992 Ice Rink, Telford, England
14Win14–0Eddie TaylorTKO3 (8)28 Feb 1992 Issy-les-Moulineaux, Paris, France
13Win13–0Tim BullockTKO3 (8)6 Dec 1991 Düsseldorf, Germany
12Win12–0 John Fury KO3 (8)9 Oct 1991 G-Mex Centre, Manchester, England
11Win11–0Marshall TillmanPTS828 Jun 1991Salle Leyrit, Nice, France
10Win10–0Ramon VoornPTS86 Jun 1991 The Broadway Theatre, London, England
9Win9–0 J. B. Williamson TKO2 (8), 0:196 Mar 1991Wembley Arena, London, England
8Win8–0François YriusTKO1 (6), 1:0212 Dec 1990Royal Albert Hall, London, England
7Win7–0Tracy ThomasPTS610 Oct 1990Royal Albert Hall, London, England
6Win6–0Mike RobinsonKO1 (6)9 May 1990Wembley Conference Centre, London, England
5Win5–0 Warren Thompson PTS614 Mar 1990Royal Albert Hall, London, England
4Win4–0John FairbairnTKO1 (6)10 Jan 1990Royal Albert Hall, London, England
3Win3–0Paul NeilsonTKO1 (6), 1:286 Dec 1989 Wembley Arena, London, England
2Win2–0Dennis BaileyTKO2 (6), 2:158 Nov 1989 Wembley Conference Centre, London, England
1Win1–0Carlton HeadleyKO1 (6), 1:104 Oct 1989 Royal Albert Hall, London, England

References

  1. ↑ "Henry Akinwande is a retired former heavyweight boxer aged 59 years".
  2. ↑ Leach, Glyn (13 July 1997). "Boxing: Lewis wins another fight that wasn't". The Independent. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
Sporting positions
Amateur boxing titles
Previous:
James Moran		 ABA heavyweight champion
1988, 1989		Next:
Keith Inglis
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Lennox Lewis 		Commonwealth heavyweight champion
18 March 1993 – October 1993
Vacated		Vacant
Title next held by
Scott Welch
European heavyweight champion
1 May 1993 – April 1995
Vacated		Vacant
Title next held by
Željko Mavrović
Vacant
Title last held by
Crawford Grimsley 		WBC FECARBOX heavyweight champion
8 December 2000 – 17 March 2001
Won International title		Vacant
Title next held by
Timur Ibragimov
Vacant
Title last held by
Wladimir Klitschko 		WBC International heavyweight champion
17 March 2001 – April 2001
Vacated		Vacant
Title next held by
Denis Bakhtov
Preceded by IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight champion
31 May 2003 – June 2004
Vacated		Vacant
Title next held by
Volodymyr Virchis
Vacant
Title last held by
Alexander Dimitrenko 		IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight champion
10 December 2005 – 4 November 2006		Succeeded by
World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Riddick Bowe 		WBO heavyweight champion
29 June 1996 – June 1997
Vacated		Vacant
Title next held by
Herbie Hide
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