Omar Henry: The Serial Knockout Artist
Written by Troy J. Hines, Thursday March 18 2010
After the bell rings, it is only a matter of seconds before the crowd recognizes which prizefighter is predator, and which one is prey. He stalks his opponents in Joe Louis-esque fashion, with a work rate and ferocity of a young Marvin Hagler. Known as an up and coming serial knockout artist, his short list of victims have fallen peacefully asleep, or saved by merciful referees, 87.5% of the time. His name is Omar Henry (8-0-0 [7kos]).
Born and raised in Chicago, the culturally diverse pugilist (Puerto Rican father & African-American mother) speaks to how the Windy City’s environment has helped shape the finishers’ mentality. “Growing up in Chicago, you know, I had a fight almost every day…” Henry says, “From watching Mike Tyson growing up, and eventually Roy Jones… I looked at them fight and thought ‘wow that’s amazing… I want to do something like this’.”
He’s doing it. In 33 seconds of the first round, the heavy handed Henry bludgeoned the formerly undefeated Franciso Reza, forcing the referee to call the fight after only one knockdown. Although this may seem amazing, this is a customary end to a fight in the junior middleweight’s career of sanctioned violence. In reference to his style Henry says, “I try to take little aspects of every great fighter’s repertoire… I’ll look at old fighters, from Marvin Hagler to Salvador Sanchez, to new fighters… I’m a real big punchers fan.”
The Top Rank prospect has implored old school and new school training methods. As with most prizefighters, he performs his daily ritual of pre-sunlight mileage; supplemented with swimming, conventional training, and yoga. When asked about being signed by Bob Arum, Henry responds, “I just feel like it’s a blessing. I’m with one of the best companies in boxing history; they’ve been around over 30 years… and he chose me to be one of his fighters… I feel like they’ll take me all the way to being a World Champion.”
Speaking of champions, peripheral boxing fans that may not have heard of Omar Henry until now, do know the name Manny Pacquiao. However, the 7 time 7 division World Champion is no stranger to Omar Henry and his champion like qualities. So much so, that during his preparation for Miguel Cotto, Pacquiao’s camp, headed by Freddie Roach, wanted Henry to come to the Philippines as Pacman’s main sparring partner. Henry declined.
“We had to pass on that offer because a lot of things were going on in my life… I already had a fight scheduled… I’m a full-time college student, and it was in the middle of the semester… and the money I would have made in the Philippines wouldn’t have reimbursed me the money I would have lost to drop out of college… So it really just came at a horrible time.”
Timing is everything, and for the sport of boxing, Omar Henry could not have surfaced at a better time. When the Floyd Mayweather’s and Manny Pacquiao’s retire from the sport, new names and new fighters will emerge to take their rightful place at the throne. The sport of boxing needs excitement. It needs ferocity. It needs Omar Henry.
“I want to become first, a World Champion… then I want to become the undisputed World Champion in my weight class… then I want I want to be considered as one of the best pound for pound fighters in the game.”
Pray for his opponents. This man young man is serious.
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