Henry Boys Boxing: A Family Affair

(Clockwise from top left) Levi Henry, Jr., Bobby R. Henry, Sr., Broderick Henry and Bobby R. Henry, Jr.

Here rhetorical question. What sport attracts a preponderance of young Black women/men ages 17-25: football, basketball, baseball or boxing. If you are a baby boomer, you may have selected baseball or if you are a child.

Bobby R. Henry, III and Bryce Henry.

Millennial Age, football perhaps was your preferred choice. I wager that most Generation X athletes, because of its simplicity, popularity and purity, would likely choose basketball as personal preference. I seriously doubt that many would have chosen boxing.

Unknown to many of today’s generation, boxing was extremely popular in the Black community. Joe Louis, Floyd Patterson, Sugar Ray Robinson and Archie Moore were boxing icons idolized by myriad sports fans, often shouldering the aspirations, dreams and hopes for a more just and equal society of an entire race of people. I recall the Joe Louis/ Max Schmeling Pre-World War II fight with its implicit political ramifications.

Bryce and Bobby Henry are two young men who surprisingly broke the mold, especially here in Broward County, choosing boxing over the more traditional sports.

Discovering that both their grandfather – Bobby Henry, Sr. – Westside Gazette Publisher and great grandfather- Levi Henry – Westside Gazette Founder- boxed while in the military, made the boys’ life-altering decision much less extraordinary.

Bryah Henry

Harkening back a few decades, imagine a strapping 6’2”, 180-pound Levi Henry preparing for basic training in Morganfield, Kentucky Camp Breckinridge. His foray into boxing began more as a humanitarian gesture as he observed a mess sergeant mistreat one of his fellow recruits who had accepted the challenge of taking on the sergeant in the ring. Missing a wild right punch, the sergeant took full advantage of the recruit’s aggressive but errant mistake, knocking him to his knees, then straddling him and delivering a fusillade of blows to his head. Visibly shaken, Levi immediately challenged the Sergeant to a match where he pummeled the punitive, miscreant Sergeant into submission, momentarily sealing his reputation as a promising pugilist. Spurred on by his initial ring success, Levi’s next opponent, a skilled experience army veteran, caused him to reconsider his future in boxing. Levi hopped into the ring beaming with confidence, but each time he threw a punch he missed wildly, while his opponent’s lethal counter punches found their intended target – Levi’s face. Brother Henry’s decision to chart a different career path was quick and easy.

Uncle Broderick Henry spent some time in a ring as well – pro wrestling – and offered his perspective on Bryce’s and Bobby’s decisions to become professional prize fighters. Broderick commented, “It’s two different arenas, but I have the utmost respect and admiration for what they are doing. It takes guts to step into any ring period, but I knew that for the most part the person stepping in the ring was performing with me. For Bobby and Bryce their opponent is literally trying to knock their heads off. They are true warriors for their sport. I was simply portraying a tough guy who liked to entertain.”

Of course, coming from a tight-knit family, decisions of this magnitude aren’t made in isolation as their parents Bobby Jr and Dominique Nesbitt have instilled certain innate qualities in all their children: Dorian Cowart, a Division II football star in South Dakota presently playing professionally in Brussels; Darian, a recent graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University; Bryah, a junior basketball player at Northeast High respectively and of course Bobby and Bryce. Education, respect, perseverance, high aspirations, spirituality and physical fitness are fundamental and foundational principles guiding this close-knit family. Furthermore, their athletic prowess was inherited from parents, gifted athletes themselves. Dominique was a star basketball player at Dillard while BJ not only boxed in the military but is now a certified trainer and teacher who started a boxing club training several young men in the building adjacent to the Westside Gazette location on Sistrunk Blvd and NW 7th Terrace.

Bobby, when asked how he became involved in boxing, stated that his interest began when he was 10 though he played football and basketball as well. Wanting to try something different, boxing was an obvious choice, but he was hesitant/reluctant, unable to gage his mother’s feelings or reaction because of boxing’s inherent danger. Having lost some interest in team sports, boxing became more appealing to him because he wanted to control his own destiny which the ring provided and his willingness to accept the accompanying autonomy and responsibility. Bobby has lofty goals, wanting to become a world champion, have a positive impact on not only his community but the world generally, be a role model for young people everywhere, and take advantage of every opportunity in and out of the ring including acting and motivational speaking. Heavily influenced by his father BJ, whom he states has taught him everything about the sport, he is 100 percent committed after recently turning pro and winning his first pro fight. One of Bobby’s greatest assets is his wisdom even at 18-years-old. Note what he says: “I’ve always been a disciplined kid, but boxing gave me confidence, taught me self-defense and the importance of physical conditioning. These principles I feel will take you far in life.” No doubt!

Bryce, the older of the two, said that he honestly had no interest in boxing but gave it a go only because of Bobby. He was also concerned about his mom; however, her trepidation was quickly mitigated when she realized that her boys could take care of themselves in the ring, that we were actually pretty good at boxing. So, she gave us her blessing. When asked about his commitment, Bryce stated that he was totally committed, will make certain that all the hard work, training, personal sacrifice, blood, sweat and tears would not be in vain and that it is now a dream and personal goal to not only fight professionally but become a world champion.

The patriarch of this family, Bobby or BJ, acquired his appreciation and love for boxing from his uncle, former pro boxer Tony Bradham, someone he observed and emulated, leading to his passion for the sport and his certification as an amateur and professional coach, official/referee and judge. His love of the sport continued in his youth, fighting in organized club events, but immaturity often led to clashes with coaches and subsequent dismissal from the program. In the military it was mostly division rivalries: ours is better than yours, that macho bent. Bobby’s love of boxing never waned so he and his boys spent countless hours watching and studying tapes, television productions of major championships and local bouts. Aware or not, Bobby and Bryce’s subtle indoctrination into boxing had already taken root. BJ stated, “I have always been an ultimate fan of boxing, so while the boys were young, we watched every boxing match we could find on TV, old or new – it didn’t matter. We just loved to watch them. One day around the age of 13 Bobby (Tre) asked could I find a gym for him to start boxing.” That simple request ignited their present journey.

BJ is involved in every aspect of his sons’ careers including management, nutrition, style, promotions and scheduling. The cutthroat nature of the sport – self-interest, greed- has bred some skepticism and concern, thus his penchant for keeping a tight rein on and maintain control of their careers until a legitimate sponsor is found. They are also fortunate to be under the tutelage of the number one trainer in Florida, Ryan Perez of Pembroke Pines. Bobby and Bryce are both 1-0 as pros, having won their first fights in Plant City in October 2020 and are looking to fight again in mid-February or early March.

Having personally observed a sparring match involving retired Jamaican pro Razor Ruddock at the former night club, Rogers, I discovered quickly that boxing is not for the faint of heart. Knowing their dedication and commitment to the sport doesn’t offer any guarantees but gives assurance and confidence to their family and friends of Bobby’s and Bryce’s probable professional success. Who knows, the next Sugar Ray Leonard, Joe Frazier or Muhammad Ali just might be lurking right here in Broward County, Deerfield. Godspeed in 2021 and beyond.

According to Bobby Henry, Sr. “As a person who’s played sports, coached,  boxed and just had fun enjoying it, I always wanted my sons to be involved in sports. One of my sons  earned an athletic scholarship to  play college football while also living his dream of becoming a wrestler so that was exciting. You know you always feel that you want a family member to be better than you were. So as a grandfather who has two grandsons boxing and they’re pretty good, that made me feel great. My only concern and objection to them boxing ever and I tell them always to this day is to not ever box each other. I try to make them understand that the competitiveness of  boxing is to win no matter who they face and I never want them to face each other. That may destroy their love for one another.”

About Carma Henry 24481 Articles
Carma Lynn Henry Westside Gazette Newspaper 545 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 Office: (954) 525-1489 Fax: (954) 525-1861

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