Soldier Henry gets a title shot at age of 43
Cliff Henry…boxes for light-heavy belt. Picture: BCB Promotions
SERVING soldier Cliff Henry gets his long awaited Midlands title shot at Birmingham’s Eastside Rooms on April 12, writes PAUL WEBB.
The Hereford 43-year-old faces light-heavy champ Michael Stephenson on BCB’s “Collision Course” show.
The fight was originally scheduled for last December, but an injury to the belt-holder scuppered the showdown.
“The delay was disappointing, of course, but these things can happen when you up the training ahead of a big fight,” said Henry. “Now it is going to happen. When it was announced, there was almost a childlike excitement in me when I was told. The delay hasn’t changed that feeling.”
Henry turned professional at the unusually late age of 40 and has won all four of his fights. Each bout went the distance and he last boxed in September in a six-rounder against experienced Darryl Sharp.
“People may look at my age and make assumptions about me, but I am young at 43. I have always kept in good condition and boxed as an amateur. I’m looking forward to the challenge of doing 10 rounds, and I have been preparing hard for this. My style is more suited to longer distances, and I think people saw that in my last two fights.”
A soldier and father of four, Henry has his hands full, especially in an uncertain global climate where the chance of a deployment is always a possibility.
He said: “My life has been busy for such a long time now that I wouldn’t have it any other way. The variety I get from my work, my training, and still being there as a father and family man.
“Finding a balance is a challenge, but I never see it as a bad thing. I can treat my boxing as a separate thing and when I am training and have a fight, it has my full focus.”
“The family is all excited and has been talking about it non-stop. My eldest is 13 now and she really wants to come, as none of them have seen me box before, but that’s still an ongoing conversation.”
It will be the first defence of the Midlands title for Stephenson, who won the belt last March with a points win over Andy Owen. A win for either man on the 12th should put them in a great position.
Henry said: “My mind is fully focused on this fight. It wouldn’t be smart to look past my opponent, but this is the first step. The way I look at it, boxing is like rungs on a ladder and you have to climb them one at a time.
A Midlands title is my first target. I’m not taking anything away from him, but I trust myself and my ability to get the win.”
*Tickets for ‘Collision Course’ are now available, priced at £40 standard and £80 Ringside VIP, from the boxers directly or by emailing info@bcb-promotions.com.