Henry Akinwande

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).^{[citation needed]}

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.

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
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	50-4-1	Ondrej Pala	UD	6	4 Jul 2008	Bueyuek Anadolu Hotel, Ankara, Turkey
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	50-3-1	Andriy Oliynyk	UD	10	30 Jun 2007	Olympisky Sport Hall, Moscow, Russia
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	49-3-1	Oleh Platov	SD	12	4 Nov 2006	RWE Rhein-Ruhr Sporthalle, Muelheim, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany	Lost IBF Inter-Continental Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	49-2-1	Cisse Salif	UD	12	4 Mar 2006	EWE-Arena, Oldenburg, Niedersachsen, Germany	Retained IBF Inter-Continental Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	48-2-1	Ed Mahone	UD	12	10 Dec 2005	Leipziger Arena, Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	47-2-1	Tipton Walker	TKO	2 (6)	24 Sep 2005	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	46-2-1	Alexander Vasiliev	UD	8	14 May 2005	Oberfrankenhalle, Bayreuth, Bayern, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	45-2-1	Anton Nel	TKO	10 (12)	10 Apr 2004	U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, Nigeria	Retained IBF Inter-Continental Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	44-2-1	Timo Hoffmann	SD	12	31 May 2003	Brandenburg Halle, Frankfurt, Brandenburg, Germany	Won IBF Inter-Continental Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	43-2-1	Raman Sukhaterin	UD	12	10 Dec 2002	Sala Sporturilor, Constanta, Romania	Won WBN Inter-Continental Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	42-2-1	Sam Ubokane	TKO	7 (10)	29 Oct 2002	Wynberg Military Sport Complex, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	41-2-1	Curt Paige	TKO	1 (8)	8 Mar 2002	Civic Center, Kissimmee, Florida, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	40-2-1	Oliver McCall	KO	10 (10)	17 Nov 2001	Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	40-1-1	Maurice Harris	KO	1 (10)	16 Jun 2001	Cintas Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	39-1-1	Peter McNeeley	KO	2 (12)	17 Mar 2001	Cintas Center, Tallahassee, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	38-1-1	Kenny Craven	TKO	1 (12)	8 Dec 2000	Cintas Center, Tallahassee, Florida, United States	Won vacant WBC FECARBOX Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	37-1-1	Russell Chasteen	TKO	5 (10)	25 May 2000	Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	36-1-1	Chris Sirengo	TKO	1 (10)	22 Feb 2000	Bellville Velodrome, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	35-1-1	Najee Shaheed	TKO	9 (10)	15 May 1999	Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	34-1-1	Reynaldo Minus	TKO	2 (10)	6 Mar 1999	UM Sports Pavilion, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	33-1-1	Orlin Norris	UD	12	13 Dec 1997	UM Sports Pavilion, Pompano Beach, Florida, United States	WBA Heavyweight title eliminator.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	32-1-1	Lennox Lewis	DQ	5 (12)	12 Jul 1997	Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, United States	For WBC Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	32-0-1	Scott Welch	UD	12	11 Jan 1997	Nashville Arena, Nashville, Tennessee, United States	Retained WBO Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	31-0-1	Alexander Zolkin	TKO	10 (12)	9 Nov 1996	MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Retained WBO Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	30-0-1	Jeremy Williams	KO	3 (12)	29 Jun 1996	Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio, California, United States	Won vacant WBO Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	29-0-1	Gerard Jones	DQ	7 (10)	23 Mar 1996	Miami Arena, Miami, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	28-0-1	Brian Sargent	TKO	4 (10)	27 Jan 1996	Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	27-0-1	Tony Tucker	UD	10	16 Dec 1995	Core States Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	26-0-1	Stanley Wright	TKO	2 (10)	22 Jul 1995	New London Arena, Millwall, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	25-0-1	Calvin Jones	KO	2 (8)	8 Apr 1995	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	24-0-1	Mario Schiesser	KO	7 (10)	23 Jul 1994	Sportforum, Lichtenberg, Berlin, Germany	Retained EBU (European) Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	23-0-1	Johnny Nelson	PTS	10	5 Apr 1994	York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	22-0-1	Biagio Chianese	TKO	4 (12)	1 Dec 1993	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom	Retained EBU (European) Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	21-0-1	Frankie Swindell	PTS	10	6 Nov 1993	Superbowl, Sun City, North-West, South Africa
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	20-0-1	Axel Schulz	UD	12	1 May 1993	Berlin, Germany	Won vacant EBU (European) Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	19-0-1	Jimmy Thunder	PTS	12	18 Mar 1993	Lewisham Theatre, Lewisham, London, England, United Kingdom	Won vacant vacant Commonwealth (British Empire) Heavyweight title.
Draw	18-0-1	Axel Schulz	PTS	12	19 Dec 1992	Berlin, Germany	For vacant EBU (European) Heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	18–0	Steve Garber	TKO	2 (8)	18 Jul 1992	Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	17–0	Kimmuel Odum	DQ	6 (8)	5 Jun 1992	Palais des Sports, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	16–0	Lumbala Tshibamba	PTS	8	10 Apr 1992	Carquefou, Loire-Atlantique, France
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	15–0	Tucker Richards	TKO	2 (8)	26 Mar 1992	Ice Rink, Telford, Shropshire, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14–0	Eddie Taylor	TKO	3 (8)	28 Feb 1992	Issy-les-Moulineaux, Hauts-de-Seine, France
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	13–0	Tim Bullock	TKO	3 (8)	6 Dec 1991	Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	12–0	John Fury	KO	3 (8)	9 Oct 1991	G-Mex Leisure Centre, Manchester, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	11–0	Marshall Tillman	PTS	8	28 Jun 1991	Salle Leyrit, Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	10–0	Ramon Voorn	PTS	8	6 Jun 1991	Broadway Theatre, Barking, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	9–0	J. B. Williamson	TKO	2 (8)	6 Mar 1991	The Arena, Wembley, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	8–0	Francois Yrius	TKO	1 (6)	12 Dec 1990	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	7–0	Tracy Thomas	PTS	6	10 Oct 1990	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	6–0	Mike Robinson	KO	1 (6)	9 May 1990	Grand Hall, Wembley, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	5–0	Warren Thompson	PTS	6	14 Mar 1990	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4–0	John Fairbairn	TKO	1 (6)	10 Jan 1990	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	3–0	Paul Neilson	TKO	1 (6)	6 Dec 1989	The Arena, Wembley, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2–0	Dennis Bailey	TKO	2 (4)	8 Nov 1989	Grand Hall, Wembley, London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	1–0	Carlton Headley	KO	1 (6)	4 Oct 1989	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom

See also

• List of heavyweight boxing champions
• List of European Boxing Union heavyweight champions

External links

• Professional boxing record for Henry Akinwande from BoxRec

References