Earlier today in Chicago, friends and family paid their final respects to Omar Henry, who sadly passed away one week ago. The funeral service lands on what would have been his 26th birthday, perhaps fitting that it is staged in his city of birth. Henry (12-0-1, 9KO) turned pro in 2008.

A breakthrough opportunity was on the horizon for Henry when he was offered the headlining slot on a Nov. 2012 edition of Showtime's Shobox series. Henry was three days away from fight night when an afternoon jog was cut short due to sharp pains. From there came the discovery of gall stones, at which point he underwent emergency surgery at Broward Medical Health Center in South Florida.

Henry was released after a few days, but was admitted to University of Chicago hospital in early December. He remained in the facility for nearly two months, where he was eventually diagnosed with Stage Four gall bladder cancer. He was transferred from UIC Hospital to hopsice care in late January, where he spent his last days before passing away on February 1 at just 25 years of age.