April 12: Michael Stephenson vs Cliff Henry
Cliff Henry (4-0) has had to wait five months longer for his Midlands Light Heavyweight Title shot than originally planned, but the serving soldier has stayed ready and will get his opportunity April 12th on BCB Promotions ‘Collision Course’ at the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham.
The 43-year-old from Hereford will take on champion Michael Stephenson in a bout that was postponed from December due to an injury to the belt holder.
“The delay was disappointing, of course, but these things can happen when you up the training ahead of a big fight said Henry, and now it is going to happen. When it was announced, there was almost a childlike excitement in me when I was told, and this delay hasn’t changed that feeling.”
Henry turned professional at the unusually late age of 40 and has won all four of his fights since joining the paid ranks. Each bout went to points, 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 the ten 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 serving 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.
“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 nonstop. My eldest is thirteen 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 heading into the rest of the year.
“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.”
The event also features another Midlands Area title fight between unbeaten welterweights Ben Vaughan and Liam Gould.
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.