Henry Wharton (born 23 November 1967) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1989 to 1998. He challenged three times for super middleweight world championships; the WBC twice, firstly in 1994 and again in 1997, and the WBO title in 1994. At regional level, he held the British super middleweight title in 1992; the Commonwealth super middleweight title from 1991 to 1996; and the EBU European super middleweight title from 1995 to 1996. Wharton is best remembered for his world title fights with Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank in 1994.

Personal life

In 2012, Wharton was involved in a fight where he was cut with a machete as he fought three men. North Yorkshire Police said when speaking to The Press, "He's lucky to be alive". A few days earlier he was hit by a car after he reportedly tried to intervene in a pre-arranged bare-knuckle fight between members of the English Romany Travelling travelling community (which he is part of).^[1]

He currently resides in York. In 2013, Henry's Gym opened up on York Road. He is currently training professional George Davey who is signed under Frank Warren.

Professional career

Early career

Wharton made his professional debut on 21 September 1989, scoring a first-round technical knockout (TKO) victory over Dean Murray at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate, England. After winning his next 9 fights, 7 by knockout, Wharton won the vacant Commonwealth super middleweight title on 27 June 1991, beating Australian Rod Carr via points decision. On 30 October, Wharton fought Lou Gent to a draw, retaining his Commonwealth title. He won his next three fights, two by stoppage, before challenging Fidel Castro Smith for the British super middleweight title on 23 September 1992, winning the title by points decision. Wharton won his next three fights, all by stoppage, bringing his record to 18-0-1 (13 KOs).

World championship attempts

On 26 February 1994, Wharton challenged Nigel Benn (37-2-1 32 KOs) for the WBC super middleweight title at Earls Court Exhibition Hall, London, England. It would be Benn's fifth defence of the WBC title. Wharton went the distance with Benn, but ultimately lost by unanimous decision, with the three judges scoring the bout 117-112, 116-114 and 116-113.^[2]

His second attempt at a world title came just 10 months later on 10 December 1994, against undefeated WBO super middleweight champion Chris Eubank (40-0-2 19 KOs) at G-Mex Centre, Manchester, England. It would be Eubank's fifteenth defence of his world title. Wharton again lost by unanimous decision, with the judges’ scorecards reading 118-112, 116-112 and 115-113.^[3]

Wharton's third and final chance at world honours came on 3 May 1997 at Nynex Arena, Manchester, England, against undefeated WBC super middleweight champion Robin Reid in what was Reid's second defence of the belt. Wharton lost by majority decision with scores of 118-111, 117-113 and 114-114.^[4]

Professional boxing record

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
31	Win	27-3-1	Kostiantyn Okhrei	TKO	6 (10)	26 Sep 1998	Barbican Centre, York, England
30	Win	26-3-1	Franklin Edmondson	UD	8	28 Mar 1998	Boardwalk Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
29	Loss	25-3-1	Robin Reid	MD	12	3 May 1997	Nynex Arena, Manchester, England	For WBC super middleweight title
28	Win	25-2-1	Rick Thornberry	TKO	5 (12)	23 Oct 1996	North Bridge Leisure Centre, Halifax, England	Retained Commonwealth super middleweight title
27	Win	24-2-1	Stephane Nizard	PTS	10	4 Jun 1996	Barbican Centre, York, England
26	Win	23-2-1	Vincenzo Nardiello	TKO	6 (12)	13 Jan 1996	North Bridge Leisure Centre, Halifax, England	Retained EBU European super middleweight title
25	Win	22-2-1	Sam Storey	KO	4 (12)	11 Nov 1995	North Bridge Leisure Centre, Halifax, England	Retained Commonwealth & EBU European super middleweight titles
24	Win	21-2-1	Mauro Galvano	KO	4 (12)	8 Jul 1995	Barbican Centre, York, England	For vacant EBU European super middleweight title
23	Loss	20-2-1	Chris Eubank	UD	12	10 Dec 1994	G-Mex Centre, Manchester, England	For WBO super middleweight title
22	Win	20-1-1	Sipho Moyo	KO	1 (12)	26 Oct 1994	Leeds Town Hall, Leeds, England	Retained Commonwealth super middleweight title
21	Win	19-1-1	Guy Stanford	RTD	3 (10)	10 Sep 1994	National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England
20	Loss	18-1-1	Nigel Benn	UD	12	26 Feb 1994	Earls Court Exhibition Hall, London, England	For WBC super middleweight title
19	Won	18-0-1	Ron Amundsen	TKO	8 (8)	7 Oct 1993	Barbican Centre, York, England
18	Won	17-0-1	Royan Hammond	TKO	3 (8)	1 Jul 1993	Barbican Centre, York, England
17	Win	16-0-1	Ray Domenge	TKO	3 (8)	7 Apr 1993	Leeds Town Hall, Leeds, England
16	Win	15-0-1	Fidel Castro Smith	PTS	12	23 Sep 1992	Banqueting Suite, Elland Road, Leeds, England	Retained Commonwealth super middleweight title; Won British super middleweight title
15	Win	14-0-1	Rod Carr	TKO	8 (12)	8 Apr 1992	Leeds Town Hall, Leeds, England	Retained Commonwealth super middleweight title
14	Win	13-0-1	Kenny Schaefer	KO	1 (10)	19 Mar 1992	Barbican Centre, York, England
13	Win	12-0-1	Nicky Walker	PTS	10	23 Jan 1992	Barbican Centre, York, England
12	Draw	11-0-1	Lou Gent	Draw	12	30 Oct 1991	Leeds Town Hall, Leeds, England	Retained Commonwealth super middleweight title
11	Win	11-0	Rod Carr	PTS	12	27 Jun 1991	Leeds Town Hall, Leeds, England	Won vacant Commonwealth super middleweight title
10	Win	10-0	Frank Minton	KO	7 (8)	9 May 1991	Leeds Town Hall, Leeds, England
9	Win	9-0	Francisco Lara	KO	1 (8)	21 Mar 1991	Leisure Centre, Dewsbury, England
8	Win	8-0	Dino Stewart	PTS	8	31 Oct 1990	Wembley Conference Centre, London, England
7	Win	7-0	Chuck Edwards	KO	1 (8)	18 Oct 1990	Leisure Centre, Dewsbury, England
6	Win	6-0	Juan Elizondo	TKO	3 (8)	11 Apr 1990	Leisure Centre, Dewsbury, England
5	Win	5-0	Joe Potts	KO	4 (6)	3 Mar 1990	Wembley Arena, London, England
4	Win	4-0	Guillermo Chavez	KO	1 (8)	11 Jan 1990	Leisure Centre, Dewsbury, England
3	Win	3-0	Ron Malek	TKO	1 (6)	5 Dec 1989	Leisure Centre, Dewsbury, England
2	Win	2-0	Mike Aubrey	PTS	6	25 Oct 1989	Wembley Arena, London, England
1	Win	1-0	Dean Murray	TKO	1 (6)	21 Sep 1989	Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, England