Boxing: Akinwande aiming for world title

HENRY AKINWANDE is looking to step up in class after he easily retained his European heayweight title with a seventh-round knock-out of Germany's Mario Schiesser in Berlin on Saturday night.

His manager, Mickey Duff, is now planning to manoeuvre him to No 1 in the world rankings. Duff sees that as the only way to get Akinwande a fight against the World Boxing Council champion, Lennox Lewis, or Michael Moorer, the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation title holder.

Duff said: 'A series of good-looking fights will do him a power of good. I'll be happy to take him abroad; nobody cheers for him at home.

'No champion is going to tackle Henry unless he is the No 1 contender and had to fight him, not even Lennox Lewis, Michael Moorer or even Herbie Hide. I've had another approach for a fight with Riddick Bowe, but when his manager hears about this he may have second thoughts.'