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11/24/2008 Archived Entry: "Vendetta of Violence"
Vendetta of Violence
Chris 'Hard Hittin' Henry Instills fear into the Light Heavyweights
By Karl Hegman
NABF Light Heavyweight Champion Chris "Hard Hittin'" Henry is totally focused on winning the Light Heavyweight Championship of the World.
"Things are coming along real good right now, I knocked out Rubin Williams in Houston in July, and the last guy I fought in Dallas on November 6th, Corey Cummings was a tough and game guy.
"I won all twelve rounds and got in some good work on my skills and stamina, and incorporated a few things that I've been working on with my trainer, Bobby Benton in the gym."
Henry worked over and punished the Chicago import throughout while getting his second consecutive victory since a highly controversial decision loss to Adrian Diaconu in April in Diaconu's hometown of Bucharest, Romania for the Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Championship.
"Naturally I thought I won that fight and most people who saw it thought I won, but I have put it behind me and moved forward. Too bad I can't say the same for Adrian as he has been inactive and has not fought once since, and next time we meet, he won't have his own private referee to help him. I am going to press him more and then finish the job I started in the first fight and knock his ass out, providing he has the guts to fight me again away from the safety of his hometown."
At six feet of solid muscle, Henry is an imposing figure in the division, and IBF and IBO Champion Chad Dawson has shown no interest or desire in fighting him. "Chad is a good fighter, but I'm too strong and hit too hard for him. I'd keep constant pressure on him, banging the body, forcing him back, pounding on his sides, stomach, and arms until he can't hold his hands up anymore and then he's in the deep freeze!" says Henry. "I would love to fight the great Bernard Hopkins as well and also "Super" Joe Calzaghe fresh off of his trouncing of Roy Jones, though I read that Joe has retired and if that is true, I wish him well and congratulate him on an outstanding, Hall of Fame career."
When asked about fighting Glen Johnson, Henry replied, "Well, everyone knows that Glen really beat Chad Dawson, and I met Glen in person in Romania in April. I am a lot bigger and I feel stronger than him, and I also think that his style is tailor- made for me as he will move straight forward into my power. I will love to fight this guy!" Whether or not Johnson shares the same enthusiasm about wanting to fight the aggressive big belter from Orange, Texas remains to be seen. "I'd love a shot at Antonio Tarver also" says Henry. "I sparred with Antonio for the Bernard Hopkins fight, and there is no doubt in my mind I'd beat him as well."
The NABF Champion was presented with a beautiful new Championship belt emblematic of his success at the Rock Solid Promotion card on November 20th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Reliant in Houston by promoter Cameron Park amidst a standing ovation before a sold out audience. "We are really pleased at the progress Chris has made thus far" says Park. "Bob Spagnola has done a great job managing him and Bobby Benton has done a great job of training him. The fans here in Houston have been great and supportive, and he always brings in a packed house, and there is no doubt in our mind that in 2009, Chris is going to bring the Light Heavyweight title to Houston." Boxing luminaries in attendance for the ceremonies included former heavyweight contender "Big" Lou Savarese and exciting top rated super featherweight contender Rocky Juarez.
"Most of the top Light Heavyweights are afraid to fight Chris, and they are avoiding him for good reason" says former San Antonio amateur boxing champion Rey Martinez. "The NABF Champion is going to show these guys the true meaning of aggressiveness and be on them like a rash! There will be no backing up and waiting for the guy to make his move and then counter, because the rush is on! Once that bell rings, that's the keynote to aggression! He's going to come roaring out of that corner, forward! Forward! Forward! Forward! He's not going to back up one inch, and he's not going to ask for any quarter, and he's not going to give any quarter!" "Most of these guys out there don't know what real Texas professional prizefighting is! They don't know what real broken bones and fractured eye sockets are, they don't know what ripped tendons, and pulled ligaments, and popped cartilages are! He's going to introduce these men to pain and agony....to violence! He's going to bust their teeth out and break their ribs and bloody their noses! It's going to be violence I'm telling you, violence!"
