Quotes from boxer henry armstrong
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It should be noted that Armstrong had two professional fights in July 1931 under the name Melody Jackson (a kayo loss and a decision win), and changed his name to Armstrong when he resumed his amateur career in California.
His second professional debut was similar to his first; losing two four-round decisions. The name is known by some, but his achievements are rarely recognized.
“A lot of kids don’t even know who (Armstrong) was,” said Hall of Famer Teddy Atlas on a recent Ringside Boxing Show.
Armstrong would vacate the featherweight title, but for a brief time he held three of boxing’s eight traditional world championships at the same time, a feat never to be duplicated. Armstrong would finally get his win over Zivic, a 10-round decision in San Francisco, but it came Oct. 26, 1942, 15 months after he had lost the title to Freddie Cochrane.
Armstrong was no longer a championship fighter, but he still held his own against top-10 contenders.
Sensitive to the struggles of the young, he established the Henry Armstrong Youth Foundation in Los Angeles. His determination, quickness, stamina, strength--and chin, were becoming major assets-so much so that over two years, he lost only one fight.
Continuing his rapid improvement, Armstrong, fighting every couple of weeks, or sometimes days, defeated four top-10 ranked featherweights.
But that would change as he steadily progressed and ended 1936 with a 52-10-6 record, including wins over four top-10 featherweights.
By any measurement, Armstrong's 1937 campaign ranks with the greatest achievements in the sport. But before he ever crossed paths with “The Croat Comet,” Armstrong notched title defense number fourteen in his hometown of St.
Louis, Missouri when he took on one Joe Ghnouly, aka “The St. Louis Bearcat.”
The challenger was no slouch himself with 59 wins on his record, but he was not on the same level as his crosstown rival. From 1943 until his retirement two years later he had 35 bouts, with an 11-5-1 record against top-10 competition.
After overcoming alcoholism, Armstrong enjoyed his retirement years, becoming an ordained Baptist minister.
Born: Dec. 12, 1912
Died: Oct. 24, 1988
Bouts: 181
Won: 151
Lost: 21
Drew: 9
KOs: 101
Induction: 1990
Henry Armstrong
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Never forget: Henry Armstrong was a great fighter
Think of a time in the future when six-time world champion Manny Pacquiao is almost forgotten.
Armstrong, who by that time had relinquished the featherweight crown, ran off eight more welterweight defenses before challenging Garcia for the middleweight crown and an unprecedented fourth world title. The list of battlers he bested during those years, in addition to Sarron, Ross, Ambers and Garcia, includes such names as Baby Arizmendi, Benny Bass, Juan Zurita, Frankie Klick, Lew Feldman, Chalky Wright, and Lew Jenkins, a line-up of champions and title challengers that, collectively, eclipses Mayweather’s entire record in terms of quality opposition.
He beat Barney Ross for the welterweight crown May 31, then relieved lightweight champ Lou Ambers of his throne Aug. 17, both wins coming via 15-round decision.
After the win over Ambers, the new triple champion successfully defended the welterweight title against future middleweight king, Ceferino Garcia. In-fighting was his specialty.
He fought at the Olympic Auditorium twice, losing both times.
Armstrong had lost three of his first four fights. A different time and a different kind of fight game, when boxing fans could watch true legends do battle. But the man known as Henry Armstrong, whose real name was Henry Jackson, is still the only fighter to ever hold world championships in three divisions (featherweight, lightweight and welterweight) simultaneously.
Talk about “the real thing.”
Following the controversial loss to Ambers, which had only reinforced Armstrong’s reputation as the greatest boxer alive after Joe Louis, Henry focused his energies on defending his 147 pound title. Armstrong won the featherweight championship of the world by knocking out defending champion, Petey Sarron, in the sixth round at Madison Square Garden in New York, but he was only beginning.