existed; At the beginning, his performance was rather good but not Determined to enter a title fight, Armstrong boldly offered to challenge welterweight champion Barney Ross. He tried for a fourth world title in middleweight but drew with champion Ceferino Garcia. While attending Toussaint L'Ouverture Grammar School in St. Louis, Armstrong acquired the nickname "Red" due to his curly sandy hair with a reddish tint. He had fulfilled his goal -- he reigned as champion over three divisions. The most consecutive boxing world welterweight title defences is 18 by Henry Armstrong (USA) from 25 November 1938 to 23 September 1940. The event is named after the late Mississippi boxer, Henry Armstrong, who, in 1938, became the first boxer to ever hold three world titles at the same time. Ill prepared and undernourished, Armstrong lost his first professional fight by a knockout. worldCharley Rose ranked Armstrong as the #6 All-Time Welterweight; Nat Armstrong retired from the ring in 1945. We encourage you to research and examine these records to determine their accuracy. All rights reserved. Of his total 151 wins, 100 of them were via KO (66.2%). December 11, 1939: Armstrong successfully defends the NBA and The Ring welterweight titles against Jimmy Garrison, winning the fight via 7th round KO. Armstrong had a 151-21-9 record in his 15-year professional career. In an attempt to gain popularity and therefore more important fights with bigger purses, they set a goal of winning titles in three different weight divisions, an accomplishment no boxer had ever achieved. While successfully defending this welterweight title, Armstrong was also featherweight world champion and defeated Lou Ambers to become world lightweight champion. When Cox sold his contract on Armstrong to Wirt Ross in 1932 for $250, Armstrong entered the professional ranks to stay. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. However, the fight was so brutal that Armstrong blacked out at the end and could later recall very little of what happened. He was managed by Wirt Ross, Eddie Mead, jazz singer Al Jolson and Hollywood actor George Raft. navathletescold.src = "/i/sportscentury/nav_athletes_cold.gif"; Armstrong was knocked out in the 12-round fight. He was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 1990.He was born Henry Jackson, Jr. on December 12, 1912, in Columbus, Mississippi. sensational; However, when he hit stride Early in his career, he fought some fights under the ring name Melody Jackson. [11] In February 1966, Rev. Having gained the fame and fortune that was his goal as a young man working on the railroad, Armstrong was able to produce and star in an autobiographical movie, Keep Punching, released in 1939. A few notable opponents of that year include Ritchie Fontaine, Baby Arizmendi, former world champion Juan Zurita, and Mike Belloise. Hickok, Ralph. After school, he worked as a pinboy at In the days when there were only 8 weight classes, Henry Armstrong held championship belts in three of them at the same time. ." document[imgName].src = eval(imgName + 'cold.src'); Referee Arthur Donovan took five rounds away from Armstrong for low blows. What makes a Guinness World Records title? He voluntarily relinquished his featherweight crown, and the next August he lost the lightweight title back to Ambers on a unanimous decision. ." On October 29, 1937, Armstrong returned to the featherweight division and challenged Petey Sarron for the . May 31, 1938: Armstrong wins the NBA and The Ring welterweight titles from Barney Ross, by beating Ross via 15 round unanimous decision. However, he successfully defended his two other titles 12 times during 1939. By his last professional fight on February 14, 1945, Armstrong's boxing record stood at 151-22-10 (100 KO wins, 2 KO losses). [citation needed], Later in 1938, Armstrong, still the Featherweight division world champion, challenged Barney Ross for the title. navgalleryover.src = "/i/sportscentury/nav_gallery_over.gif"; Henry Armstrong, born Henry Jackson, decided to become a boxer after reading in a St. Louis newspaper that Kid Chocolate had beaten Al Singer at the Polo Grounds in New York, and was paid a purse of $75,000.At the "colored" YMCA on Pine Street in St. Louis, he met an older fighter named Harry Armstrong, who became his friend, mentor, and trainer. "Henry Jackson," Contemporary Authors Online, Gale Research, 1999. http://www.galenet.com(December 13, 2000). compiled a 59-1-1 record (51 KOs) competing against the best in the The Ring, a boxing magazine, named Armstrong Boxer of the Year for 1938. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. Hall of Fame in 1954 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. These 11 fights are the highlight of his career. American boxer Henry Armstrong is recognized by boxing historians as one of the greatest fighters. Copyright 2023 WLBT. Armstrong won his most significant fight when he overcame alcoholism. He and Willa Mae Shony had one daughter, Lanetta. But there was a sensitive side, too, as he showed at his high school graduation when he read an original poem. He continued to box actively until announcing his retirement in 1945 at the age of 32. Armstrong was the first boxer ever to hold world championships in three different weight divisions at the same time. Want more WLBT news in your inbox? Mead was suspended 13 months after accusing commissioner Bill Brown of favoring Ambers. The streak finally ended when Arizmendi lasted ten rounds before losing a decision to Armstrong in their fourth fight. March 16, 1939: Armstrong successfully defends the NBA and The Ring lightweight titles against Lew Feldman, winning the fight via 1st round KO. Armstrong's streak of 27 knockout wins in a row qualifies as one of the longest knockout win streaks in the history of boxing, according to The Ring magazine. Upon his return, he became a boxing manager for a time, but his increasing use of alcohol led to his arrest in Los Angeles. In 1938 with 14 consecutive wins, 10 by knockout, Armstrong achieved his goal, becoming the first boxer to After losing at the trials, he returned to the professional ranks. However, upon his retirement he found the vast majority of his money had been lost to bad investments, management fees, and extravagant spending habits. He defended his welterweight title a total of nineteen times.The Ring magazine named him Fighter of the Year in 1937. Im defending my belt, I think this is about my fourth time to defend this title, and it just means so much for me, Sims said. African-American Sports Greats: A Biographical Dictionary. He defeated sixteen world champions. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Armstrong, however, displayed no interest in fulfilling these wishes. In 1990 his name was added posthumously to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. November 25, 1938: Armstrong successfully defends the NBA and The Ring welterweight titles against Ceferino Garcia, winning the fight via 15 round unanimous decision. Armstrong worked on his athletic abilities, often running the eight miles to school. He died at age 75 on Oct. 24, 1988, in Los Angeles. A few notable opponents of that year include Ritchie Fontaine, Baby Arizmendi, former world champion Juan Zurita, and Mike Belloise. Unknown +6.3 lbs He defeated Bobby Pacho at the Tropical Stadium in Havana, Cuba, in his fourth successful defence. Career record 151-21-9 with 101 knockouts (Third All-Time behind Archie Moore & Sugar Ray Robinson) Armstrong's purses had totaled between $500,000 and $1 million, but most of the money was gone when the Hall of Famer retired at age 32. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. . He died on October 24, 1988 at the age of 75 years. December 5, 1938: Armstrong successfully defends the NBA and The Ring welterweight titles against Al Manfredo, winning the fight via 3rd round TKO. Professional boxer (February 23, 2023). "Henry Armstrong [1] In 2007, The Ring ranked Armstrong as the second-greatest fighter of the last 80 years. On file we have 73 email addresses and 55 phone numbers associated with Henry in area codes such as 757, 941, 401, 609, 314, and 32 other area codes. He teamed up with -- and took the surname of -- a trainer and former boxer named Henry Armstrong. [13], In 1938, Armstrong started his season with seven more knockouts in a row, including one over Chalky Wright, a future world champion. December 12, 1912October 22, 1988 Born in Columbus, Mississippi, on December 12, 1912, boxer Henry Armstrong became the featherweight, welterweight and lightweight world champion in 1938. Other honors include his being ranked 2nd on "The Ring's 2002 list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years." Floyd Patterson was born on January 4, 1935 in Waco, North Carolinathe third of 11 children. Armstrong dedicated the next two years to defending the welterweight crown, beating, among others, Ceferino Garcia, a future World Middleweight Champion, and Bobby Pacho. Joe Frazier had many moments in boxing history. PEARL, Miss. Armstrong was the only boxer to hold world titles in three different weight divisions simultaneously, and all three titles were . Upon meeting fight manager Tom Cox at a local gym, Armstrong introduced himself as Harry Armstrong's brother, after which he became known by the name Henry Armstrong. Aldo Spoldi was the only opponent to take him the full 10 rounds. The event is even more special for Davis. WHAT MAKES A GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS TITLE? He was 27-0 with 26 knockouts in 1937, 14-0 with 10 knockouts in 1938, and 59-1-1 with 51 knockouts from December 1936 to October 1940. There he became involved in boxing. That didn't surprise anybody in boxing. Armstrong started 1937 off with a string of 22 straight wins, en route to 27 total wins that year. navpostcardcold.src = "/i/sportscentury/nav_postcard_cold.gif"; We encourage you to research and examine these records to determine their accuracy. Historical Person Search Search Search Results Results Henry Armstrong (1861 - 1870) Try FREE for 14 days Try FREE for 14 days. In 1931 Armstrong, accompanied by Harry Armstrong, hopped trains to Los Angeles to restart his amateur career. Henry Jackson Jr. (December 12, 1912 - October 24, 1988) was an American professional boxer and a world boxing champion who fought under the name Henry Armstrong.Armstrong was one of the few fighters to win in three or more different divisions: featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight. } Birth Abt 1861 - null. October 30, 1939: Armstrong successfully defends the NBA and The Ring welterweight titles against Bobby Pacho, winning the fight via 4th round TKO. See an An Overview of Records at the National Archives Relating to Military . He first won the featherweight (126-pound) title by knocking out Petey Sarron in six rounds on October 29, 1937. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/henry-armstrong, "Henry Armstrong On March 1, 1940, in Los Angeles, Armstrong sought to become the first-ever four-division champion when he attempted to wrest the middleweight crown from Ceferino Garcia, whom he had decisioned in a welterweight defense in 1938. He was 27-0 with 26 knockouts in 1937, 14-0 with 10 knockouts in 1938, and 59-1-1 with 51 knockouts from December 1936 to October 1940. American boxer The title bout came August 17, 1938, just three months after his fight with Ross, when Armstrong faced lightweight champion Lou Ambers before a packed house of almost 20,000 fans at Madison Square Garden. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. Well aware that his meager pay would never be sufficient to attend college, Armstrong's life changed one day when the sports section of a discarded newspaper landed at his feet. Armstrong had a 151-21-9 record in his 15-year professional career. He decided not to maintain the required 126-pound weight anymore and left the featherweight crown vacant.[12]. As a child, Henry Jr. moved with his family to St. Louis, Missouri, during the early period of the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to industrial cities of the Midwest and North. How do we create a person's profile? Garraty, John A. and Mark C. Carnes, American National Biography, Volume 1. His 1905 song "Nellie Dean" became the signature song of the British music hall singer Gertie Gitana , and a popular British pub song. His next fight was four days later, and he won a six-round decision. Garcia was 32 years old with a record of 101-24-12 (60 KOs). However, since he already had two professional fights under the name Jackson, he told people that he was Harry's little brother, Henry Armstrong.Armstrong competed in the 1932 Olympic trials. DISCLAIMER: Data may be outdated or incorrect, use at your own discretion. Returning to St. Louis, he founded the Henry Armstrong Youth Foundation and directed the Herbert Hoover Boys Club. After the decision was announced, the second fight started; both managers and the New York State Athletic Commission were the participants. Six years later he moved back to Los Angeles. He also wrote the autobiographical God, Gloves, and Glory (1956). Following these two losses, however, he started a streak of 11 wins.In 1936, Armstrong split his time among Los Angeles, Mexico City and St. Louis. Switch to interactive mode His biggest hit was "Sweet Adeline", written in 1903 with Richard H. Gerard. In 2007, The Ring ranked Armstrong as the second-greatest fighter of the last 80 years. Skip Ancestry main menu Main Menu. He was the first boxer to hold three different titles simultaneously. Alternate titles: Henry Jackson, Melody Jackson. navcontributeover.src = "/i/sportscentury/nav_contribute_over.gif"; Henry Armstrong. in the mid 1930s, Armstrong was as good as anyone has ever He first set his sights on the lightweight division, but his challenge to a title fight was declined by lightweight titleholder Lou Ambers. His outstanding ring record was 151 wins, 21 defeats, and 9 draws with 101 knockouts. (WLBT) - The inaugural Henry Armstrong Boxing Classic will be held in Columbus on Saturday. His final professional record stood at 174 recorded bouts, 145 wins with 98 by knockout. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Ambers had Armstrong spitting blood from a torn bottom lip, and he cut the challenger's eyes as well. First, he knocked out featherweight champion Petey Sarron in the sixth round on Oct. 29, 1937. Late in 1938 he resigned the featherweight championship without having defended it, and on August 22, 1939, he lost the lightweight crown in a 15-round return fight with Ambers. Born Henry Jackson on Dec. 12, 1912, in Columbus, Miss., he was the 11th of 15 children. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. package; He Armstrong fought his first major bout in November 1934, losing the world featherweight championship in a close decision to Baby Arizmendi. Armstrong fought as an amateur from 1929 to 1932 and first won the featherweight (126-pound) title by knocking out Petey Sarron in six rounds on October 29, 1937. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. After three amateur fights, he turned professional in 1931 under the name "Melody Jackson." On March 1, 1940, Armstrong attempted to win from Ceferino Garcia the New York State version of the middleweight (160-pound) title, which was then in dispute, but the decision was a draw, permitting Garcia to retain the championship. Armstrong knocked down the champ in the fifth and sixth rounds, but Ambers cut him severely. Armstrong was one of the few fighters to win in three or more different divisions: featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter. Armstrong began his professional career on July 28, 1931, in a fight with Al Iovino, in which Armstrong was knocked out in three rounds. 26 of those wins came via knockouts. Birth 22 Sep 1768 . As a youngster, he got into neighborhood street fights. With his aggressive attitude and incessant windmill style, he was all over opponents, as evidenced by his 101 knockouts and his nickname of Homicide Hank. His father, suffering from rheumatism, struggled to provide for the family. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1995. Armstrong went on to win his last 12 fights in 1936. Returning to St. Louis, he became a minister, helped run the Herbert Hoover Boys' Club and trained young boxers. Hometown: Columbus, MS. Year Induction: 2010. //]]>. FacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagramLinkedInSnapchatPinterestTiktok, Registered Office: Ground Floor, The Rookery, 2 Dyott Street, London, WC1A 1DE, United Kingdom, Otto - Longest human tunnel travelled through by a skateboarding dog, Ashrita Furman - Most Guinness World Records titles held. In 1932, Armstrong moved to Los Angeles, where he lost two four-round decisions in a row to Eddie Trujillo and Al Greenfield. He is currently the Mid America super middle weight title holder, winning the title in 2020. Professional boxer Henry Armstrong Stats, Bio. In the same year, he fought for an unprecedented fourth title in the middleweight division, but lost to Ceferina Garcia in a controversial decision. After several more amateur fights, Armstrong moved to Pittsburgh to pursue a professional career. After retirement, he became an ordained minister. Of 26 title fights, Armstrong won all but four (three losses and a draw). His debut as an 18-year-old pro was inauspicious, as he was knocked out in the third round by Al Iovino on July 27, 1931, in Pennsylvania. Armstrong and his managers realized that they needed to attract attention away from the rising fame of boxer Joe Louis. Up to 1937, Armstrong compiled a record of 52-10. if (document.images) { He was stopped two times and lost 20 times via decision. We encourage you to research and examine these records to determine their accuracy. Henry married Lou M Armstrong. After retiring from boxing, Armstrong became an ordained Baptist minister, working with disadvantaged youth. The Greatest Boxer of All Time - Henry Armstrong, Says Teddy Atlas - Here's Why He's The GOAT THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas 280K subscribers Subscribe 1.6K Share 74K views 2 years ago. Reading that a boxer named Kid Chocolate received $75,000 for one bout, Armstrong quickly abandoned his railroad job to pursue a career as a boxer. Boxing. Guinness World Records Kids (opens in a new window), GWR Merchandise Store (opens in a new window), Corporate Social Responsibility activities & fundraising ideas, Community engagement & tourism marketing activities. He defended his welterweight title a total of nineteen times. Fritzie Zivic, a veteran journeyman best known for questionable tactics, worked Armstrong's eyes, which were scarred and vulnerable to cutting, and took a unanimous decision. RECORD. Chester Slider, John Thomas, Sugar Ray Robinson, Beau Jack, and Willie Joyce are some of the boxers who have beaten Armstrong. . Securing a contract with Cox for three dollars, he had almost 100 amateur fights, in which he won more than half by knockout and lost none. By the time Armstrong graduated from high school at the age of 17, the Great Depression had arrived. October 13, 1939: Armstrong successfully defends the NBA and The Ring welterweight titles against Howard Scott, winning the fight via 2nd round KO. Historian Bert Sugar also ranked Armstrong as the second-greatest fighter of all time. Armstrong is a Hall of Famer. ESPN ranked Armstrong as number 3 on their list of the 50 greatest boxers of all time. . Historical Person Search Search Search Results Results Henry Armstrong (1887 - Unknown) Try FREE for 14 days Try FREE for 14 days. A victory would have given Armstrong a fourth divisional title at a time when there were only eight weight divisions.Armstrong defended the World Welterweight Championship a division record 19 times. Henry Jackson was born in Columbus, MS. His last professional fight was a non-title rematch against Chester Slider at 32 years of age, on February 14, 1945. First of all, Ive got to thank Pearl Boxing Club, because without them this wouldnt be the possible or without God.. During his years attending Vashon High School, Armstrong excelled, earning good grades and gaining the respect of his peers. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Taking away Lou Ambers' lightweight crown on Aug. 17, 1938 in Madison Square Garden proved more difficult. It began in 1964 when he won the Olym, Moore, Archie Fleischer ranked him as the #8 All-Time Welterweight; Henry died on October 23, 1988 . Professional Boxer. He defended it in eight fights in a row, the last of which was a nine-round knockout win over Puerto Rico's Pedro Montaez. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"_9hAJy7CmJsKH07kPqMVqhJI9fwN_aHmPuAo7fcIZbM-86400-0"}; document[imgName].src = eval(imgName + 'over.src'); Henry Armstrong Record & Stats Last Updated: February 6, 2023 In a career spanning 13 years and 6 months, Henry Armstrong fought 183 times with 151 wins, 22 losses, and 10 draws. "Latsios spent most of the time retreating before Henry." (Lethbridge Herald) "Nick fought a remarkable fight with his flicking left, back-stepping, hit and run method.Henry was disgusted with his inability to catch the elusive Latsios.In the final frame Armstrong almost scored a knockdown but the wily Nick regained his balance after landing against the ropes." Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. After 152 victories in 14 years, Armstrong retired in 1945. Al Weill, Ambers' manager, was suspended four months for his unsportsmanlike behavior. After Armstrong turned the trick in 1938, no boxer was ever again allowed to be a champion in more than one weight division simultaneously.In 1939, Armstrong lost the World Lightweight Championship in a rematch with Ambers by a fifteen-round unanimous decision. Use Link to Listen with 30-Day Audible Free Trial: http://bit.ly/ATLASaudiobook. His mother, America (Armstrong) Jackson was an Iroquois Indian. [citation needed], In 1945, Armstrong retired from boxing. Cambridge University Press, 1998. He kayoed Baby Casanova in three rounds, Belloise in four, Joe Rivers in three, former world champion Frankie Klick in four, and former world champion Benny Bass in four. On October 4, 1940, he lost the championship when Fritzie Zivic outpointed him in 15 rounds. On November 25, 1938 Henry Armstrong defeated Filipino boxer Ceferino Garcia via 15 round unanimous decision. Armstrong starred in the feature film Keep Punching (1939) in 1939. navpostcardover.src = "/i/sportscentury/nav_postcard_over.gif"; Armstrong lost the fight via 10 round PTS. the beginning to the end of every round; His goal was to knock his man The Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) named him Fighter of the Year in 1940. Taking the name Melody Jackson, Armstrong won his first amateur fight at the St. Louis Coliseum in 1929, by a knockout in the second round. His biggest hit was "Sweet Adeline", written in 1903 with Richard Gerard . Armstrong fought as an amateur from 1929 to 1932. He also wrote the autobiographical God, Gloves, and Glory (1956). He gained fame in 1938 when he reigned as featherweight, lightweight and welterweight champion. Velma Tartt was a former girlfriend from his high school days. "I carried him the last four rounds," Armstrong said. Please be sure to subscribe! 100% CAUCASIAN Our ethnicity data indicates the majority is Caucasian. Henry Jackson Jr. (December 12, 1912 October 24, 1988) was an American professional boxer and a world boxing champion who fought under the name Henry Armstrong.Armstrong was one of the few fighters to win in three or more different divisions: featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight. Birth 10 December 1850 - Detroit City, . "Henry Armstrong," Newsmakers 1989, Issue 4. But not for long. After that marriage ended in divorce, Armstrong married a second time in 1960. Henry Jackson Jr. (December 12, 1912 - October 24, 1988) was an American professional boxer and a world boxing champion who fought under the name Henry Armstrong . His father, Henry Jackson, Sr., was a sharecropper and a butcher. Encyclopedia.com. He finally relinquished his welterweight title to Fritzie Zivic by unanimous decision after 15 thrilling rounds. Early in his career, he boxed under Melody Jackson. Here he gained his first boxing experience, winning a competition among the pinboys. But 1938 was an even better year for Armstrong, as he took the two more championships. Two boxers from the Pearl Boxing Club will be fighting in the event: Chown Chop Chop Sims, and Keshaun Big Baby Davis. She died on the way to the hospital in Armstrong's arms, having suffered chest pains. We encourage you to research and examine these records to determine their accuracy. Research our Records The National Archives holds records relating to military service during the Revolutionary War, including both Continental troops and state troops that served as Continental troops. He officially turned pro a year later after failing to make the 1932 Olympic team, and he lost his first two fights, both four-round decisions in Los Angeles in 1932. 23 Feb. 2023 . #GreatestOfAllTime#HenryArmstrong#TeddyAtlas Bert Sugar ranks him #2, and I rank him #3 on my list of the greatest boxers of all time. In a career spanning 13 years and 6 months, Henry Armstrong fought 183 times with 151 wins, 22 losses, and 10 draws. Armstrong had his cornermen remove his mouthpiece so he could swallow the blood flowing in his mouth the last five rounds. While he was certainly a formidable boxer, he hadn't yet established himself as one of the all-time greats. Its my first time in front of all my friends and family, so Im excited, he said. High School Career. Father Charles Godfrey Armstrong. Chambers Biographical Dictionary. [2] Historian Bert Sugar also ranked Armstrong as the second-greatest fighter of all time. In 1932, Armstrong moved to Los Angeles, where he lost two four-round decisions in a row to Eddie Trujillo and Al Greenfield. Armstrong made his professional boxing debut at the age of 18 on July 27, 1931. His first win came later that year, beating Sammy Burns by a decision in six. His official record was 152 wins, 21 losses and 9 draws, with 101 knockout wins.[10]. Madison Square Garden Bowl, Long Island City, Queens, California-Mexico World Featherweight Title. Armstrong was 25 years old with a record of 92-12-7 (60 KOs). Armstrong fared even worse in their rematch in 1941, suffering a 12th-round TKO. To pursue his third title, Armstrong dropped back a weight class to compete as a lightweight. Henry Armstrong had a total of 22 losses in his professional boxing career three of them in title bouts and 19 in non-title bouts. "Henry Armstrong When Armstrong was 4, the family moved to St. Louis. When Ross demanded the full amount as publicized, entertainer George Raft put up the additional funds and became the third member of Armstrong's management team. The 23-year-old boxer was raised in Pearl, but is from Columbus. a bowling alley. He was elected class president and selected poet laureate of his class, which provided him the opportunity to read a valedictory poem at his graduation ceremony. [14] According to boxing historian Bert Sugar, many commentators of the time said that Armstrong deserved the decision in this fight. Armstrong's mother died of consumption in 1918, leaving the six-year-old under the care of his paternal grandmother. But he was learning how to harness his natural physical gifts; strength, quickness, stamina, and the ability to take a punch. Having competed as a featherweight at 126 pounds, Armstrong had to increase his weight to 138 pounds in order to qualify to fight in the welterweight division. Armstrong was penalized five rounds for low punches, and that cost him the fight as two officials had Ambers winning by only an 8-7 margin. We encourage you to research and examine these records to determine their accuracy. Armstrong sought to become the first boxer to win world titles in four different categories in a rematch with Garcia, already the World Middleweight Champion, but the fight ended in a ten-round draw. out - if he didn't manage that, he certainly battered him thoroughly With no money for college and the need to care for his family weighing heavily, Armstrong lied about his age, claiming he was 21 years old, in order to gain employment as a section hand on the Missouri Pacific Railroad. All records listed on our website are current and up-to-date. October 20, 1939: Armstrong successfully defends the NBA and The Ring welterweight titles against Richie Fontaine, winning the fight via 3rd round TKO.