Henry is crowned a champ at age of 43

Henry pushes Stephenson back. Pictures: MSN Images/BCB Promotions

SERVING soldier Gyvon Cliff Henry is an unlikely champ – at the age of 43!

On BCB’s Eastside Rooms bill, Henry turned back time to outpoint Midlands light-heavy champ Michael Stephenson over 10 hard-fought rounds, referee Chris Dean scoring 96-94.

The vanquished champ – 13 years younger than his challenger – simply didn’t let enough punches go. He fought in bursts rather than sustaining the pressure which allowed Henry to snatch rounds.

Stephenson landed the more eye-catching shots, Henry, from Hereford, plugged away. Just when it looked as if the Bedford titleholder was poised to take control, Henry dug deep and fought back. It appeared he wanted it more.

Without meaning to make light of Henry’s achievement, it’s a Rocky story with wrinkles. He didn’t turn pro until after his 40th birthday.

Mind you, the soldier is no ordinary man in his mid 40s. He is a chiselled, muscular physical specimen with a remarkable engine.

And the father-of-four is a perfect gentleman. “It’s a wonderful feeling,” he said clutching the case containing his belt.

“It’s hard being a professional boxer and soldier – the early mornings and late nights. It’s your family who make the sacrifices and this is giving something back to them.”

At times it was messy, I thought it was desperately close – Jon Pegg, in Henry’s corner, will no doubt call with a cutting assessment of my scorecard which had the bout a draw.

But Stephenson, who lost for the second time in 10 contests, had no complaints and I applaud the sportsmanship he showed in defeat.

“It was a poor performance,” he said. “There were reasons, I hadn’t fought for over a year, but I don’t want to go into those. I lost.

“Let’s get the re-match and put it right. I’ll be back.”

Henry poses with the belt he won at Eastside Rooms

Henry, taking part in his fifth fight, kept his gloves high and switched stances throughout. He won the first two sessions by sticking to simple straight punches and keeping them going.

Stephenson, bleeding from the mouth and nose, seemed to be warming to the task ahead in the third and fourth, landing a couple of eye-catching left hooks.

Henry, his work-rate dipping, stumbled after taking a right in the fifth and Stephenson, now landing jabs, looked poised to open the throttle.

He didn’t – and that’s down to the grit and determination of his challenger.

Henry (12st 5lbs 7oz, like his opponent) took the seventh with a stream of southpaw jabs and kept the light but effective shots coming in the eight.

With the contest on a knife edge, Stephenson injected more urgency into his work in the ninth, burying a couple of rights to the body, yet could not subdue the veteran.

On his big night, Henry gave an inspired performance. He dug deeper than Stephenson.

Of his age, he told me: “43 is just a number.”

I’m almost 66, that’s a number, too. And when it comes to numbers, I prefer 21.