Henry Akinwande was one of the dangerous unsung heavyweights to come out of the Tyson / Holyfield / Moorer / Bowe era and it's testament to his great dedication and conditioning that he is still boxing and very sought after as Arena proved this week.

Henry is one of the last remaining fighters to have laced gloves on in South Korea at the Seoul Olympics amongst fighters like Lennox Lewis and Riddick Bowe, obtaining a placement on the Great Britain squad by beating another blast from the past, Herbie Hide in the finals of the ABA selections in 1988. Henry never made his mark at those games but turned pro in November of 1989 beating Carleton Headley at the Royal Albert Hall on a card headed by Britain's then hopeful Gary Mason and Classy American Tyrell Biggs.

In my personal opinion Henry only truly lost two fights to date as a pro and they were very justified quality guys who pulled off the feat Oliver McCall, (whom Henry was stabbing to death with the jab only to get caught on the ropes in the final round on the Rahman v Lewis 2 card in Las Vegas) and Lennox, who was like Oliver having an awkward time with Henry's octopus-like Style. Recently Akinwande has been handed a raw deal against Oleg Platov in the German promoted kid's own backyard and years ago again against the German Axel Shultz in Berlin when he was handed a dubious draw. (Henry went on to reverse the decision later).

The globe trotting Akinwande still has life left in him and his tools haven’t honestly eroded much. Henry was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and boxed as an amateur for the popular Lynn Athletic Club in London, England, where he based himself for the launch of his pro voyage under Terry Lawless and Mickey Duff's umbrella alongside Frank Bruno, Gary Mason and Horace Notice from a squat Gym over a pub in Canning town. Later Henry would be represented by Jean Courrages, a French manager who secured Henry's move to Florida into Don King's lair in 1994, where his rise towards becoming WBO champ would begin with wins over Jeremy Williams, Tony Tucker and Alex Zolkin, before he would lose popularity for the sorry loss to Lewis.

Henry's career would become even more static when a great opportunity in New York fell through where he should have faced Evander Holyfield but failed a Hepatitis blood test only days prior to the hugely muted bout.. (Henry and Evander would soon after be Best Men at the wedding of close friend Mike Grant, another stilt-legged heavyweight to have emerged from that era).

Akinwande later regrouped and after losing to McCall he signed off King's roll call and moved back to Lagos, then Germany, where he would sign with Wilfred Sauerland dropping that questionable decision to another Sauer heavy in Platov. (Platov didn’t fancy the return for obvious reasons and Henry was left taking time fillers against your Cisse Salifs of the world for chump change purses). Arena's gain is Sauerland's loss and matched correctly I say Henry has life in him yet and may still prove a player or at least a test for the rising young guns we have in today's state of play;  whatever he does he remains a great addition alongside old nemesis Herbie Hide (cruiser) and quality Cuban prospect Olandier Solis (heavyweight). Seasoned vets are hard to come by these days and at Arena both Hide and Akinwande have three decades worth of respectful experience to offer. Only time will tell.