Omar Henry Had a Dream
By Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media Correspondent
New York, NY (February 3rd, 2013)–The late boxing prospect Omar ‘O.’ Henry (not to be confused with the late writer O. Henry), real name Omar Henry (1987-2013) was an American professional boxer of African American and Puerto Rican descent who died on my birthday, February 1, 2013, of gall bladder cancer, and inspired me to look back. A four time Texas Golden Gloves champion, Henry was a 2007 National Golden Gloves quarterfinalist.
Henry was a 2005 graduate of John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois. His amateur record was 60-5, highlighted by earning a silver medal in 2007 in the China versus USOEC competition as a member of the USA Boxing elite program. He was voted the outstanding amateur boxer in Texas in 2007.
Omar Henry debuted on July 18, 2008, knocking out Terence Anderson in the first round in his native Houston, Texas. Acclaimed by many as a fighter similar in style and boxing technique to Miguel Cotto (whose fight films he studied intensely), Henry signed with Top Rank from 2009 to 2011, and then signed with Don King Promotions. Henry did not fight between June of 2010 and June of 2011, with contractual disputes and discontent being contributing factors to his inactivity.
Believed by many to be the top prospect in the world, he gained attention as a Floyd Mayweather sparring partner in 2012. Henry briefly wanted to switch his career from boxing to full contact Mixed Martial Arts, but left MMA when he resigned with Don King. Henry’s final ring appearance was a ten round decision win over Tyrone Selders at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida in June 2012, winning every round on the judges scorecards.
After being diagnosed with gall bladder cancer, Omar Henry would spend sadly the last three months of his life at University of Chicago Medical Center before passing away. Boxing was not responsible for the demise of O. Henry, one week short of his twenty sixth birthday. Inside the Omar Henry tragedy, there is a great deal of sadness intermixed with hard work, promise and misunderstanding. Omar Henry will never realize his dream of winning the world light middleweight championship. His unbeaten string of 13 pro bouts has suddenly become a distant and forgotten memory of the forgotten historical past. Like the late Young Stribling (who died at 28), boxing analysts will always wonder about what might have been if Omar lived.
Omar Henry never got to fight for a world light middleweight world championship, another fighter who never realized his potential. Omar Henry died in the prime of his life. Rest in peace, Omar Henry, as champion of whatever your dream was intended to be. Dare to dream, whoever you are. Life is about realizing dreams.
Omar Henry told everyone with passion of his lifelong dream of being the world light middleweight champion, never wavering, till his very last moment. For what would a man have left if you took away his dream? Omar Henry had a dream.
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