Henry Akinwande
Henry Akinwande | |
---|---|
Statistics | |
Real name | Henry Akinwande |
Rated at | Heavyweight |
Height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
Reach | 86 in (218 cm) (2.2 m) |
Nationality | British |
Born |
London, England | 12 October 1965
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 55 |
Wins | 50 |
Wins by KO | 30 |
Losses | 4 |
Draws | 1 |
Henry Akinwande (born 12 October 1965) is a retired English professional heavyweight boxer and former WBO heavyweight champion.
Background
Akinwande was born in London, England but went to live in his parents homeland of Nigeria as a 4-year-old and came back to England as a 21-year-old (1986).
Amateur career
As an amateur boxing out of the Lynn amateur boxing club in Camberwell, SE 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.
Amateur Highlights
- 1986 ABA 2nd place at Heavyweight
- 1987 ABA 2nd place at Heavyweight
- 1988 ABA Champion at Heavyweight
- 1988 represented Great Britain as a Heavyweight at the Seoul Olympic Games. Result was:
- Lost to Arnold Vanderlyde (Netherlands) points
- 1989 ABA Champion at Heavyweight, outpointing Herbie Hide in final.
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, and relatively well known fringe fighters such as Marshall Tillman, Eddie Taylor, Kimmuel Odum and John 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.
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.
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.[1]
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 2nd 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 head butt.
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.
Achievements | ||
---|---|---|
Vacant Title last held by Lennox Lewis |
Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion 18 March 1993 – 30 January 1994 Stripped |
Vacant Title next held by Scott Welch |
Preceded by Riddick Bowe Vacated |
WBO Heavyweight Champion 29 June 1996 – 17 February 1997 Vacated |
Succeeded by Herbie Hide |
Professional boxing record
50 Wins (30 knockouts, 20 decisions), 4 Losses (1 knockout, 3 decisions), 1 Draw | |||||||
Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
Loss | 50–4–1 | ![]() |
UD | 6 | 4 July 2008 | Buyuk Anadolu Hotel, Ankara, Turkey | |
Win | 50–3–1 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 30 June 2007 | Olympisky Sport Hall, Moscow, Russia | |
Loss | 49–3–1 | ![]() |
SD | 12 | 4 November 2006 | RWE Rhein-Ruhr Sporthalle, Muelheim, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany | Lost IBF Inter-Continental Heavyweight title. |
Win | 49–2–1 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | 4 March 2006 | EWE-Arena, Oldenburg, Niedersachsen, Germany | Retained IBF Inter-Continental Heavyweight title. |
Win | 48–2–1 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | 10 December 2005 | Leipziger Arena, Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany | |
Win | 47–2–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 2 (6) | 24 September 2005 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
Win | 46–2–1 | ![]() |
UD | 8 | 14 May 2005 | Oberfrankenhalle, Bayreuth, Bayern, Germany | |
Win | 45–2–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 10 (12) | 10 April 2004 | U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, Nigeria | Retained IBF Inter-Continental Heavyweight title. |
Win | 44–2–1 | ![]() |
SD | 12 | 31 May 2003 | Brandenburg Halle, Frankfurt, Brandenburg, Germany | Won IBF Inter-Continental Heavyweight title. |
Win | 43–2–1 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | 10 December 2002 | Sala Sporturilor, Constanta, Romania | Won WBN Inter-Continental Heavyweight title. |
Win | 42–2–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 7 (10) | 29 October 2002 | Wynberg Military Sport Complex, Wynberg, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa | |
Win | 41–2–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 1 (8) | 8 March 2002 | Civic Center, Kissimmee, Florida, United States | |
Loss | 40–2–1 | ![]() |
KO | 10 (10) | 17 November 2001 | Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 40–1–1 | ![]() |
KO | 1 (10) | 16 June 2001 | Cintas Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States | |
Win | 39–1–1 | ![]() |
KO | 2 (12) | 17 March 2001 | Cintas Center, Tallahassee, Florida, United States | |
Win | 38–1–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 1 (12) | 8 December 2000 | Cintas Center, Tallahassee, Florida, United States | Won vacant WBC FECARBOX Heavyweight title. |
Win | 37–1–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 5 (10) | 25 May 2000 | Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, United States | |
Win | 36–1–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 1 (10) | 22 February 2000 | Bellville Velodrome, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa | |
Win | 35–1–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 9 (10) | 15 May 1999 | Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, United States | |
Win | 34–1–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 2 (10) | 6 March 1999 | UM Sports Pavilion, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | |
Win | 33–1–1 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | 13 December 1997 | UM Sports Pavilion, Pompano Beach, Florida, United States | WBA Heavyweight title eliminator. |
Loss | 32–1–1 | ![]() |
DQ | 5 (12) | 12 July 1997 | Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, United States | For WBC Heavyweight title. |
Win | 32–0–1 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | 11 January 1997 | Nashville Arena, Nashville, Tennessee, United States | Retained WBO Heavyweight title. |
Win | 31–0–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 10 (12) | 9 November 1996 | MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Retained WBO Heavyweight title. |
Win | 30–0–1 | ![]() |
KO | 3 (12) | 29 June 1996 | Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, United States | Won vacant WBO Heavyweight title. |
Win | 29–0–1 | ![]() |
DQ | 7 (10) | 23 March 1996 | Miami Arena, Miami, Florida, United States | |
Win | 28–0–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 4 (10) | 27 January 1996 | Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
Win | 27–0–1 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | 16 December 1995 | Core States Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | |
Win | 26–0–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 2 (10) | 22 July 1995 | New London Arena, Millwall, London, England, United Kingdom | |
Win | 25–0–1 | ![]() |
KO | 2 (8) | 8 April 1995 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United Kingdom | |
Win | 24–0–1 | ![]() |
KO | 7 (10) | 23 July 1994 | Sportforum, Lichtenberg, Berlin, Germany | Retained EBU (European) Heavyweight title. |
Win | 23–0–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 10 | 5 April 1994 | York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, United Kingdom | |
Win | 22–0–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 4 (12) | 1 December 1993 | Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom | Retained EBU (European) Heavyweight title. |
Win | 21–0–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 10 | 6 November 1993 | Superbowl, Sun City, North-West, South Africa | |
Win | 20–0–1 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | 1 May 1993 | Berlin, Germany | Won vacant EBU (European) Heavyweight title. |
Win | 19–0–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 12 | 18 March 1993 | Lewisham Theatre, Lewisham, London, England, United Kingdom | Won vacant Commonwealth (British Empire) Heavyweight title. |
Draw | 18–0–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 12 | 19 December 1992 | Berlin, Germany | For vacant EBU (European) Heavyweight title. |
Win | 18–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 2 (8) | 18 July 1992 | Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England, United Kingdom | |
Win | 17–0 | ![]() |
DQ | 6 (8) | 5 June 1992 | Palais des Sports, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France | |
Win | 16–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 8 | 10 April 1992 | Carquefou, Loire-Atlantique, France | |
Win | 15–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 2 (8) | 26 March 1992 | Ice Rink, Telford, Shropshire, England, United Kingdom | |
Win | 14–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 3 (8) | 28 February 1992 | Issy-les-Moulineaux, Hauts-de-Seine, France | |
Win | 13–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 3 (8) | 6 December 1991 | Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany | |
Win | 12–0 | ![]() |
KO | 3 (8) | 9 October 1991 | G-Mex Leisure Centre, Manchester, England, United Kingdom | |
Win | 11–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 8 | 28 June 1991 | Salle Leyrit, Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France | |
Win | 10–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 8 | 6 June 1991 | Broadway Theatre, Barking, London, England, United Kingdom | |
Win | 9–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 2 (8) | 6 March 1991 | The Arena, Wembley, London, England, United Kingdom | |
Win | 8–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 1 (6) | 12 December 1990 | Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom | |
Win | 7–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 6 | 10 October 1990 | Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom | |
Win | 6–0 | ![]() |
KO | 1 (6) | 9 May 1990 | Grand Hall, Wembley, London, England, United Kingdom | |
Win | 5–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 6 | 14 March 1990 | Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom | |
Win | 4–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 1 (6) | 10 January 1990 | Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom | |
Win | 3–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 1 (6) | 6 December 1989 | The Arena, Wembley, London, England, United Kingdom | |
Win | 2–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 2 (4) | 8 November 1989 | Grand Hall, Wembley, London, England, United Kingdom | |
Win | 1–0 | ![]() |
KO | 1 (6) | 4 October 1989 | Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom | |
See also
External links
References
- ↑ Leach, Glyn (13 July 1997). "Boxing: Lewis wins another fight that wasn't". The Independent. Retrieved 18 September 2011.