Henry Akinwande former WBO heavyweight World champion 1996 to 1997 SIGNED black & white 6" x 4" promotional photo.

Condition excellent

Price: £ SOLD

Henry Akinwande (born October 12, 1965) former WBO world heavyweight champion.

Background
Akinwande was born in London, England but went to live in his parents homeland of Nigeria as a 4yr old and came back to England as a 21yr old (1986).

Amateur Career
As an amateur boxing out of the Lynn Amateur Boxing Club in Walworth, SE London, he was ABA heavyweight champion in both 1988 and 1989, beating another fellow Nigerian and future WBO World 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 before challenging 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.

Following a victory over New Zealand’s 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 three times.

In 1996 Akinwande faced Jeremy Williams for the WBO 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 Alexander Zolkin and Scott Welch.

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 repeaded 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.

A fight with Oliver McCall in 2001 resulted in Akinwande’s 2nd defeat. After Akinwande had controlled virtually the entire fight, McCall caught him with a few seconds remaining in the 10th and final round. Akinwande was counted out.

In late 2006, after moving back into title contention, he dropped a split decision to Oleg Platov, a bout in which Akinwande received point deduction in 8th round for holding, and Platovg received point deduction in 9th for head butt.

After that fight he won another fight against Andriy Oleinyk in 2007 before losing to Ondrej Pala by unanimous decision on July 4, 2008. He hasn't fought since the loss, and could be facing retirement given his age.