Henry’s still hungry for titles at age of 44

Cliff Henry…looking for February return. Picture: Manjit Narotra/BCB

DESPITE injury, the constraints of a full-time job in the army and the fact he’ll celebrate his 45th birthday in February, Cliff Henry has no intention of calling time on a truly astonishing career.

In fact, the light-heavy wants to step-up a level – despite his veteran manager PJ Rowson urging caution.

Henry, who hasn’t fought since June, wants even bigger belts than the Midlands area strap he’s already bagged.

And Rowson admitted: “It’s not possible I know, but he’s getting better with age. He’s better than he’s even been, which defies all logic.”

What Henry has achieved is remarkable: physically, it should not have been done. He turned pro at 40, won the Midlands title in his fifth bout and is looking to gain more honours next year. Currently 6-0, Henry aims to be back in the ring in February.

The story is even more remarkable when you consider Henry was sidelined for 14 months through injury. The damage forced him to relinquish his title which is currently in the ownership of Dave Butlin.

But, then, the veteran is a very imposing physical specimen. At an age when many men are beginning to develop a paunch, he bristles with bulging muscles.

“He’s a freak of nature,” Rowson said.

“He’s looking forward to coming back. I’d like to see him compete for something, he wants to compete for something. He wants to progress and go for bigger titles.”

Rowson knows his fighter cannot defy time forever and admitted: “I’d like him to just consider retirement, but he is nowhere near ready. I think the coming year will be his last year.

“I’d like him to just consider retirement, but how can I say that to him after his last two performances?

“When he came to see me at the start, he said, ‘I just want a couple of fights to see if I could’ve made it as a pro’. I sometimes have to remind him of that conversation.

“When he turned pro, the Boxing Board of Control said, ‘what are you doing bringing a 40-year-old for a pro licence?’ I said, ‘you tell him that’. He had to do a trial bout with an inspector present and that inspector told the Board, ‘you have to give this guy a licence’. The rest is history.

“What I would like to do is get him a shot at his old title, then say, ‘I think we’ve achieved enough’.”

That won’t be nearly enough for Cliff Henry.