Henry Akinwande


Henry Adetokunboh Akinwande is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1989 to 2008. He held the WBO heavyweight title from 1996 to 1997, as well as the Commonwealth heavyweight title in 1993, and the European heavyweight title from 1993 to 1994.

Early years

Akinwande was born in London, England but went to live in his parents homeland of Nigeria as a 4-year-old and 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, 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.

ABA Championships record

at the 1986 ABA Championships, heavyweight:
at the 1987 ABA Championships, heavyweight:
at the 1988 ABA Championships, heavyweight:
at the 1989 ABA Championships, heavyweight:
1988 Olympic Games, Seoul, heavyweight:
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.

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.
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 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

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
55Loss50–4–1 Ondřej PálaUD64 Jul 2008 Buyuk Anadolu Didim Resort, Ankara, Central Anatolia Region
54Win50–3–1 Andriy OliynykUD1030 Jun 2007 Olympic Stadium, Moscow, Central Federal District
53Loss49–3–1 Oleg PlatovSD124 Nov 2006 RWE Rhein-Ruhr Sporthalle, Mülheim, North Rhine-WestphaliaLost IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title
52Win49–2–1 Cisse SalifUD124 Mar 2006 Small EWE Arena, Oldenburg, Lower SaxonyRetained IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title
51Win48–2–1 Ed MahoneUD1210 Dec 2005 Arena Leipzig, Leipzig, SaxonyWon vacant IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title
50Win47–2–1 Tipton WalkerTKO2, 2:4824 Sep 2005 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
49Win46–2–1 Alexander VasilievUD814 May 2005 Oberfrankenhalle, Bayreuth, Bavaria
48Win45–2–1 Anton NelTKO10, 1:3910 Apr 2004 U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, Cross River StateRetained IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title
47Win44–2–1 Timo Hoffmann1231 May 2003 Brandenburg-Halle, Frankfurt, HesseWon IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title
46Win43–2–1 Raman SukhaterinUD1210 Dec 2002 Sala Sporturilor, Constanța, Constanța County
45Win42–2–1 Sam UbokaneTKO7 29 Oct 2002 Wynberg Military Base Stadium, Cape Town Western Cape
44Win41–2–1 Curt PaigeTKO1, 2:538 Mar 2002 Civic Center, Kissimmee, Florida
43Loss40–2–1 Oliver McCallKO10, 2:1317 Nov 2001 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada
42Win40–1–1 Maurice HarrisKO1 16 Jun 2001 Cintas Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
41Win39–1–1 Peter McNeeleyKO2, 2:0517 Mar 2001 The Moon, Tallahassee, FloridaWon vacant WBC International heavyweight title
40Win38–1–1 Kenny CravenTKO1, 3:008 Dec 2000 The Moon, Tallahassee, FloridaWon vacant WBC FECARBOX heavyweight title
39Win37–1–1 Russell ChasteenTKO5, 0:4925 May 2000 Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi
38Win36–1–1 Chris SirengoTKO1 22 Feb 2000 Velodrome, Bellville, Western Cape
37Win35–1–1 Najee ShaheedTKO9, 2:2115 May 1999 Jai-Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida
36Win34–1–1 Reynaldo MinusTKO2, 1:356 Mar 1999 UM Sports Pavilion, Minneapolis, Minnesota
35Win33–1–1 Orlin NorrisUD1213 Dec 1997 Amphitheater, Pompano Beach, Florida
34Loss32–1–1 Lennox LewisDQ5, 2:3412 Jul 1997 Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, NevadaFor WBC heavyweight title;
Akinwande disqualified for repeated holding
33Win32–0–1 Scott WelchUD1211 Jan 1997 Nashville Arena, Nashville, TennesseeRetained WBO heavyweight title
32Win31–0–1 Alexander ZolkinTKO10, 2:329 Nov 1996 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, NevadaRetained WBO heavyweight title
31Win30–0–1 Jeremy WilliamsKO3, 0:4329 Jun 1996 Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, CaliforniaWon vacant WBO heavyweight title
30Win29–0–1 Gerard JonesDQ7, 2:1823 Mar 1996 Miami Arena, Miami, FloridaJones disqualified for repeatedly hitting after the break
29Win28–0–1 Brian SargentTKO4, 2:4027 Jan 1996 Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona
28Win27–0–1 Tony TuckerUD1016 Dec 1995 CoreStates Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
27Win26–0–1 Stanley WrightTKO2 22 Jul 1995 London Arena, Millwall, London
26Win25–0–1 Calvin JonesKO2, 1:388 Apr 1995 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada
25Win24–0–1 Mario SchiesserKO7 23 Jul 1994 Sportforum Hohenschönhausen, Berlin, GermanyRetained European heavyweight title
24Win23–0–1 Johnny NelsonPTS105 Apr 1994 York Hall, Bethnal Green, London
23Win22–0–1 Biagio ChianeseTKO4, 2:161 Dec 1993 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington and Chelsea, LondonRetained European heavyweight title
22Win21–0–1 Frankie SwindellUD106 Nov 1993 Superbowl, Sun City, North West Province
21Win20–0–1 Axel Schulz121 May 1993 Sporthalle Charlottenburg, Berlin, Berlin-BrandenburgWon vacant European heavyweight title
20Win19–0–1 Jimmy ThunderPTS1218 Mar 1993 Lewisham Theatre, Lewisham, LondonWon vacant Commonwealth heavyweight title
19Draw18–0–1 Axel Schulz1219 Dec 1992 Berlin, Berlin-BrandenburgFor vacant European heavyweight title
18Win18–0 Steve GarberTKO2 18 Jul 1992 Free Trade Hall, Manchester, Greater ManchesterGarber retired with cut under right eye
17Win17–0 Kimmuel Odum6 5 Jun 1992 Palais des sports, Marseille
16Win16–0 Lumbala TshibambaPTS810 Apr 1992 Carquefou, Pays de la Loire
15Win15–0 Tucker RichardsTKO2, 0:5626 Mar 1992 Ice Rink, Telford, Shropshire
14Win14–0 Eddie TaylorTKO3 28 Feb 1992 Issy-les-Moulineaux, Paris
13Win13–0 Tim BullockTKO3 6 Dec 1991 Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen
12Win12–0 John FuryKO3 9 Oct 1991G-Mex Centre, Manchester, Greater Manchester.png" />
11Win11–0 Marshall TillmanPTS828 Jun 1991Nice, Alpes-Maritimes.png" />
10Win10–0 Ramon VoornPTS86 Jun 1991Broadway Theatre, Barking, London.png" />
9Win9–0 J. B. WilliamsonTKO2, 0:196 Mar 1991 Wembley Arena, Brent, London
8Win8–0 François YriusTKO1, 1:0212 Dec 1990 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington and Chelsea, London
7Win7–0 Tracy ThomasPTS610 Oct 1990 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington and Chelsea, London
6Win6–0 Mike RobinsonKO1 9 May 1990 Wembley Conference Centre, Brent, London
5Win5–0 Warren Thompson614 Mar 1990 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington and Chelsea, London
4Win4–0 John FairbairnTKO1 10 Jan 1990 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington and Chelsea, London
3Win3–0 Paul NeilsonTKO1, 1:286 Dec 1989 Wembley Arena, Brent, London
2Win2–0 Dennis Bailey2, 2:158 Nov 1989 Wembley Conference Centre, Brent, London
1Win1–0 Carlton Headley1, 1:104 Oct 1989 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington and Chelsea, LondonProfessional debut