By Joseph Herron: On June 26th, 2010, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. fought John Duddy in one of the more entertaining bouts of the year at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX. It was a pay per view event promoted by Top Rank Boxing, which was labeled “Latin Fury 15”. The PPV fight card featured four fights including a bout with Mexican legend, Marco Antonio Barrera.
What most fight fans don’t realize is that on the untelevised portion of the fight card, Texas amateur standout and “blue chip” junior middleweight prospect Omar Henry fought and defeated Hilario Lopez in a four round unanimous decision, knocking down Lopez in the first and the fourth round. Henry had fought ten times with ten victories, eight of those victories by way of knockout, in about 2 years time, and looked sensational in each and every outing. Seven of his eight knockouts were in the first round, sometimes in a matter of seconds.
Omar Henry looked to be destined for glory, possessing power in both hands and an invincible mentality in the ring.
Unfortunately, June 26th, 2010, was the date of his last professional fight.
Since then, there have been numerous rumors and allegations regarding Omar Henry’s status with Top Rank Boxing. Most boxing insiders insisted back in September that the Chicago, Illinois native’s career and contract with Top Rank had been placed on hold indefinitely and that Omar Henry was retired from the sport of boxing.
What does this mean?
No one seems to know except for Henry and Top Tank…and neither party is talking.
Omar has made various public appearances since his San Antonio bout and has been busy moving from Houston, TX to Las Vegas, NV. His last major public appearance was on March 12th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV. He was a spectator at the Mayorga/Cotto bout rooting for his buddy, Miguel Cotto.
His most head-scratching public appearances were on July 6th, 2010, when Omar showed up at a Beverly Hills Courtroom in support of his friend Lindsay Lohan…what?
Yes… he was even caught on film giving a supportive embrace to Michael Lohan on the same day and was featured on gossip television show “TMZ”.
Are the Lohans the culprits? Are they not satisfied with just ruining their own careers?
Henry insists to fans that everything is fine and that his relationship with Top Rank is not a problem. He even stated to fans that he would be fighting on the March 12th Cotto/Mayorga fight card and that didn’t happen.
He also told fans that he would more than likely be on the April 16th fight card promoted by Top Rank Boxing this Saturday.
Unless there is another Top Rank fight card going on somewhere else in the world, his statement to his fans was untrue once again. He is nowhere to be found on the official bout sheet for next Saturday’s fight card in Puerto Rico.
What is going on with Omar Henry?
Is it an injury? Is it a legal issue? Is it school? Does he plan on boxing again or is he really going to pursue an acting career?
One thing is certain; the “squared circle” is a much better place with Omar Henry in it.