Remarkable Henry is back at 44-years-old

Cliff Henry…returns after injury lay-off. Picture: Manjit Narotra/BCB

LAST time I watched Tomasz Felsz, a child in a leprechaun outfit – it may have even been an actual leprechaun – led his ring-walk, then scrambled under the ropes.

I’m not sure why. Felsz is a Pole based in Bournemouth.

And the leprechaun didn’t bring him a lot of luck. Thomas was demolished inside a round by River Wilson-Bent and hasn’t boxed since that set-back a year ago.

Felsz would be wise to gather a posy of four-leaf clovers or even clutch a piece of the Blarney stone for his entrance on Saturday night at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham Airport.

For awaiting him is super-fit serving soldier Cliff Henry, a 44-year-old who has shown youth is not always served in this unforgiving business. Quite simply, Henry, with a muscled physique that appears carved from black marble, is a remarkable physical specimen.

The light-heavyweight, unbeaten in five, made history last year by becoming the oldest fighter to take a Midlands title. After that memorable April 2024 win over Michael Stephenson, the Hereford veteran declared: “Age is not a barrier.”

Manager PJ Rowson told me: “To him, age is just a number. He has that spirit, he must go on and see what he can achieve.

“His goal was to have a couple of pro fights to say he could box at that level. He is now 5-0. He has picked up the Midlands title and that is beyond what I first thought he would do.”

Henry obviously hadn’t seen me, with beer belly, a thatch of grey hair and wrinkled skin that looks like a papier mache mistake, before making that statement.

If Henry had, he’d conclude age is not only a barrier, it’s a 15 foot brick wall fringed with barbed wire.

But even machines like Henry can’t defy time forever. Injury prevented him capitalising on the title victory and he hasn’t fought since.

He was slated to defend the belt against Ryan Whelan, but with the healing process taking longer than expected, vacated.

At the Holiday Inn on Saturday, Whelan and Dave Butlin box for his old title, with Henry promised first crack at the winner.

Age, no matter how much time is spent in the gym, no matter how many miles are run, takes a toll – and Henry, marvel that he is, will not have sharper reflexes than he did 14 months ago.

That’s what adds a dose of intrigue to the clash with Felsz who comes to fight. He’s aggressive, likes to trade, but has lost four of six – and he’s been stopped in his last couple of outings.

Yes, there’s intrigue, but not nearly enough to derail Henry’s Cinderella story.