By Sylvester “Nunnie” Robinson
On January 5, 2021, we introduced you Broward County, the state of Florida and vicariously the world to Bobby and Bryce Henry, fledgling pugilist with championship aspirations. The lineage was already established as great grandfather Levi Henry, grandfather Bobby R. Henry, Jr. and father Bobby B.J. Henry all had boxing experience on varying levels. While boxing has a place in American sports lore with a popular, storied history, especially in the Black community, its prominence is most elevated during championship fights such as the most recent Tyson Fury/Deontae Wilder slug fest. The financial rewards, massive crowds and fan adoration aren’t immediately associated with those climbing the ladder of success from the bottom. Bryce and Bobby are climbing that ladder, one rung at a time, with patience and conviction. Although they’ve been toiling in relative anonymity , the results have been positively tangible and rewarding.
Brice has an unblemished 9-0 record, 5 victories in regular boxing and 4 as a bare knuckle competitor. Bobby’s 5 victories, 4 by knockout, have all been achieved in the standard boxing ring.
The most recent fight took place at the Miami-Dade Fairgrounds in south Miami this past Friday, August 24th in front of a crowd estimated to be around 4500 patrons. Bryce and Bobby are members of a boxing team, Slaughterhouse Boxing, founded and managed by their father, B J, who stated that all of his fighters won their matches in weight classes ranging from 155 to 200 and above. Surprisingly, Bare Knuckle fighting has proven to be not only popular but lucrative also. BJ said that ticket prices ranged from $55-$350. As a sane, concerned parent, BJ was originally reluctant to involve his sons in Bare Knuckle fighting, but trusting and being supremely confident in his techniques and training methods, combined with an unresolved contract dispute, led BJ to reconsider, unhappy with the prospect of his fighters being shelved or being inactive for as much as a year and a half. And since there were no rules, regulations or conflicts preventing the team from competing in Bare Knuckle contests, they embraced the opportunity, at least Bryce and other Slaughterhouse members. Bobby, at this point, has chosen to stick with regular glove boxing. The decision has obviously worked out well for Brice ( 6-0 in regular boxing & 3-0 in bare knuckle) and teammates.
BJ explained that the only differences in regular boxing and bare knuckle boxing are the gloves, number of rounds fought, and time. He further stated that bare knuckle boxing – gauze & tape only- has actually proven to be safer because skin damage from punches with gloves is more severe because the longer fights provide more opportunities for lacerations, bleeding and even brain damage. Bare knuckle boxing has a 5 round, 2 minutes per round limit.
Normally when young boxers are successful, one would surmise that matches would come easily, but that isn’t necessarily true. Oft times, BJ explains, because Bryce and Bobby are really good, finding worthy opponents can be difficult because they don’t want to fight skilled, expert fighters, using astronomical purses to avoid fighting. He explains that promoters are like any other bosses and business people: they want the best product as cheap as they can get it. That is just the nature of the sport; however, fights between worthy opponents will come just as sure as the cream rises to the top.
Bryce has fought on Triller, and The Zone named him prospect of the year, a Jake Paul publication. Bobby, who stands 6’2” normally fights at 147 pounds. Bryce, 6’4” 155 pounds, has shown the propensity to move up in classification but workout regiment will allow them to remain in lower weight class at least for the foreseeable future. They are professional boxers so when the opportunity presents itself and the money is right, awareness of their boxing prowess will spread like wildfire.
Bryce has won bare knuckle fights in Montana on two occasions so things are happening.
The key to getting quality fights depends on the promotion and management and because he has contacts in those areas, BJ knows that it is just a matter of time and is pleased with trajectory of their careers.
Their next fights, regular boxing, will take place in Atlanta, probably in November. Details are still being worked out.
BJ says that Bobby and Bryce are serious about boxing and becoming world champions. It does appear that the opportunity may come first in bare knuckle for Bryce which is fine with him. He wants a belt. I recalled that one of the two was reluctant at first about boxing. BJ reminded me ironically that it was Bryce who finally came around because as BJ facetiously recalls, he didn’t want Bobby kicking his butt.
He has put a great supporting cast around his program including coach /trainer Ryan Perez and promoter Nelson Lopez, one of the best in the business.
BJ is the Quintessential father when it comes to his sons and their careers: counselor, cook, manager, stylist and veritable fixer of all things relative to their success. Keep striving towards your highest aspirations of being champions. The world is waiting.
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