Henry Armstrong
Three world titles at once, and never slowing down.
- Born
- December 12, 1912, Columbus, Mississippi, US
- Died
- October 22, 1988 (aged 75)
- Nationality
United States- Height
- 166 cm (5′5″)
- Reach
- 170 cm (5′7″)
- Stance
- Orthodox
- Style
- Non-stop pressure fighter
- Weight
- Featherweight, Lightweight, Welterweight, Middleweight
- Active
- 1931–1945
The record
Professional; Wikipedia infobox figure. IBHOF lists 151-21-9 (101 KO) in 181 bouts and gives the death date as 24 Oct 1988 record
The story
enry Jackson Jr. was born in Columbus, Mississippi, grew up in St. Louis and started his pro career in 1931 with more losses than wins. Then he turned into a whirlwind. In 1937 he won all 27 of his fights, 26 inside the distance, and took the featherweight title from Petey Sarron. In 1938 he beat Barney Ross for the welterweight crown and Lou Ambers for the lightweight crown, holding three world titles at the same time, something no other boxer has done. He made 19 welterweight defences, still the division record, and missed a fourth title only through a disputed draw with middleweight Ceferino Garcia. After boxing he overcame alcoholism and became an ordained Baptist minister.
- World featherweight champion (1937–1938)
- World lightweight champion (1938–1939)
- World welterweight champion (1938–1940, division-record 19 defences)
- Only boxer to hold three world titles at the same time
- International Boxing Hall of Fame (1990)
- The Ring Fighter of the Year (1937)
- BWAA Fighter of the Year (1940)
Defining fights
- 1937WINvs Petey Sarron (KO 6, won featherweight title)
- 1938WINvs Barney Ross (UD 15, won welterweight title)
- 1938WINvs Lou Ambers (SD 15, won lightweight title)
- 1940DRAWvs Ceferino Garcia (PTS 10, middleweight title bid)
- 1940LOSSvs Fritzie Zivic (UD 15, lost welterweight title)
Build the engine for pressure: Armstrong's straight-ahead, wear-them-down style meant working just as hard in the last round as the first. Train full-length rounds where you keep walking forward and punching without a break.
