The good Henry Armstrong
Consider a time sooner or later when six-time world champion Manny Pacquiao is sort of forgotten. Appears unfathomable, doesn’t it to neglect a man of unquestioned fortitude and immense reputation?
The old-timers bear in mind him, however the youthful technology, who needs to be reveling in his pugilistic greatness, shrug. They’ve heard the identify, however the particulars are misplaced in some shallow time warp.
That is what’s occurred to Henry Armstrong. The identify is understood by some, however his achievements are hardly ever acknowledged.
“A number of children don’t even know who (Armstrong) was,” mentioned Corridor of Famer Teddy Atlas on a current Ringside Boxing Present. “He was preventing “A” fighters on a regular basis. He was phenomenal.”
From 1936 to 1940, Armstrong was arguably the best fighter on the planet.
Armstrong, born Henry Jackson in 1912, compiled a 59-1-1 report with 51 knockouts. As phenomenal as his report was–his achievements topped it.
In 1931, Armstrong, a local of Columbus, MS, made his skilled debut. Combating below the identify of Melody Jackson, he was knocked out within the third spherical by one Al Lovino. Undaunted, he returned to the ring 4 days later—profitable a call.
Dissatisfied over not making the Olympic group in 1932, Jackson went again to the skilled ranks, altering his identify to Armstrong. He fought on the Olympic Auditorium twice, shedding each instances.
Armstrong had misplaced three of his first 4 fights. Many would have stop, however giving up was not in Armstrong’s DNA. He was studying on the job. His dedication, quickness, stamina, strength–and chin, had been turning into main assets-so a lot so that over two years, he misplaced just one struggle.
Persevering with his fast enchancment, Armstrong, preventing each couple of weeks, or generally days, defeated 4 top-10 ranked featherweights.
Armstrong peaked in 1937, profitable all 27 of his fights, scoring 26 knockouts. He was a whirling dervish within the ring, all the time attacking and breaking his opponents down. In-fighting was his specialty. His fashion was calculated mayhem. Armstrong gained the featherweight championship of the world by knocking out defending champion, Petey Sarron, in the sixth spherical at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York, however he was solely starting.
In a span of 9 months, Armstrong added the welterweight and light-weight titles by defeating future Corridor of Famers Barney Ross and Lew Ambers. He’s the one fighter in historical past to carry three world championships concurrently.
“He held three-titles on the identical time,” mentioned Atlas. “It’s mind-boggling.”
In 1939, Armstrong engaged in 12 title fights, profitable eleven. A yr later, on the previous Gilmore Stadium in Los Angeles, CA, Armstrong challenged middleweight champion, Ceferino Garcia, competing to win an unprecedented fourth world title. Although the bout was judged a draw, most at ringside thought Armstrong deserved the
nod.
“He actually gained the middleweight title towards Garcia, however he was robbed,” Atlas mentioned. “They gave him a draw, as a result of he wouldn’t do enterprise with the fellas. He actually ought to have been featherweight, light-weight, welterweight, and middleweight champion on the identical time.”
Armstrong retired in 1945. He fought an unbelievable 183 instances, knocking out 101 opponents.
After overcoming alcoholism, Armstrong turned a Baptist minister in 1951. Delicate to the struggles of the younger, he established the Henry Armstrong Youth Basis in Los Angeles. He died in 1988 on the age of 75. Two years later, he was inducted into the Worldwide Boxing Corridor of Fame. Why it took that lengthy is a thriller.
Armstrong’s greatness is with out query. His identify is synonymous with grit, expertise and drive.
Always remember “Hammerin Hank” Henry Armstrong.
