It began in 1964 when he won the Olym, Moore, Archie Determined to enter a title fight, Armstrong boldly offered to challenge welterweight champion Barney Ross. His first win came later that year, beating Sammy Burns by a decision in six. He lost by knockout only two times in his 15 years of boxing. Historical Person Search Search Search Results Results Henry Armstrong (1887 - Unknown) Try FREE for 14 days Try FREE for 14 days. 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. 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. Early in his career he boxed under the name Melody Jackson. Encyclopedia.com. Entertainer Al Jolson, who had witnessed the final bout between Armstrong and Arizmendi, was so impressed with Armstrong that he convinced New York manager Eddie Mead to take on the boxer, and Jolson supplied $5,000 to buy out Ross's contract rights to Armstrong. ." Joe Frazier had many moments in boxing history. But the tides turned later in the year when he won against former flyweight champion Midget Wolgast. He was among the very best of his generation and is one of the pound-for-pound best boxers of all time. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Star Info Other Info During the final years of the 1940s he traveled to China, Burma, and India with Raft as part of a group sent to entertain soldiers. Birth Abt 1861 - null. Armstrong had his first world title fight at the age of 24 on October 29, 1937 after 93 professional fights, against Petey Sarron for the featherweight NBA and The Ring titles. 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. "Henry Armstrong," Newsmakers 1989, Issue 4. been; During 1937, he was 27-0 with 26 knockouts; In 1938, he was 14-0 149-21-9 (100 KO) Armstrong was dynamite in a small package; He was a high pressure, non-stop fighter who threw punches from the beginning to the end of every round; His goal was to knock his man out - if he didn't manage that, he certainly battered him thoroughly. After several more amateur fights, Armstrong moved to Pittsburgh to pursue a professional career. To pursue his third title, Armstrong dropped back a weight class to compete as a lightweight. For a full list of record titles, please use our Record Application Search. Henry Armstrong (1912-1988) became the first boxer in history to hold world titles in three separate weight classes at the same time. . After retiring from boxing, Armstrong became an ordained Baptist minister, working with disadvantaged youth. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-Armstrong, African American Registry - Biography of Henry Armstrong, BlackPast.org - Biography of Henry Armstrong, International Boxing Hall of Fame - Biography of Henry Armstrong, Henry Armstrong - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). In 1931 Armstrong, accompanied by Harry Armstrong, hopped trains to Los Angeles to restart his amateur career. That was the last time Armstrong would fight for a championship. Birth 22 Sep 1768 . Early in his career, he fought some fights under the ring name Melody Jackson. Armstrong fought his first major bout in November 1934, losing the world featherweight championship in a close decision to Baby Arizmendi. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. worldCharley Rose ranked Armstrong as the #6 All-Time Welterweight; Nat After school, he worked as a pinboy at High School Career. In his 2006 book "Boxing's Greatest Fighters," historian Bert Sugar ranked Armstrong as the second greatest fighter of all-time. [10] Early in his career, he fought some fights under the ring name Melody Jackson. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter. His father, suffering from rheumatism, struggled to provide for the family. Cambridge University Press, 1998. A few notable opponents of that year include Ritchie Fontaine, Baby Arizmendi, former world champion Juan Zurita, and Mike Belloise. [10], In 1936, Armstrong split his time among Los Angeles, Mexico City and St. Louis. He met the minimum weight by upping his calorie intake, drinking beer the days before the bout and a lot of water on the day of weigh-in. . Henry J Armstrong has a residential history of 3 addresses in 2 cities and now lives at 3411 Kip St, Philadelphia, PA. Henry can be reached via 2 phone numbers. The final title bout of his career was a failed attempt to regain the lightweight title in a rematch with Zivic on January 17, 1941. var navgalleryover = new Image(); We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Armstrong was in many ways the complete prototype of a pressure. On May 31, 1938, he took the welterweight (147-pound) championship from Barney Ross by decision, and, on August 17 of that year, he defeated Lou Ambers by decision to win the lightweight (135-pound) title. Small in stature, he was often the target for teasing. However, the fight was so brutal that Armstrong blacked out at the end and could later recall very little of what happened. Historical Person Search Search Search Results Results Henry Armstrong (1768 - 1868) Try FREE for 14 days Try FREE for 14 days. Armstrong successfully defended his NBA and Ring Magazine welterweight titles. Audiobook also available on iTunes here: http://bit.ly/ATLASbook **** THE FIGHT T-SHIRTShttps://teddy-atlas.myshopify.com/TEDDY'S SOCIAL MEDIATwitter - http://twitter.com/teddyatlasrealInstagram - http://instagram.com/teddy_atlasTHE FIGHT WITH TEDDY ATLAS SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram - http://instagram.com/thefightWTATwitter - http://twitter.com/thefightwtaFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheFightwithTeddyAtlasBig thanks to VHS collection for intro music. 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. All records listed on our website are current and up-to-date. His next fight was four days later, and he won a six-round decision. He became an ordained Baptist minister in 1951. Intelligent and articulate, he turned to preaching and was ordained a Baptist minister in 1951. In defending himself against bullies, he discovered his interest in boxing. Fleischer ranked him as the #8 All-Time Welterweight; But 1938 was an even better year for Armstrong, as he took the two more championships. Henry W. Armstrong (July 22, 1879 - February 28, 1951) was an American boxer, booking agent, producer, singer, pianist, and Tin Pan Alley composer. 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. Born Henry Jackson on Dec. 12, 1912, in Columbus, Miss., he was the 11th of 15 children. ", Ten weeks later, Armstrong's fight with Ambers was a war. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in 1990. Armstrong and his managers realized that they needed to attract attention away from the rising fame of boxer Joe Louis. We encourage you to research and examine these records to determine their accuracy. So, its just a coincidence that all this is coming together like that.. In 1936, entertainer Al Jolson and actor George Raft underwrote the purchase of Armstrong's managerial contract from Edward Mead.Armstrong knocked out Petey Sarron in six rounds in 1937 to win the World Featherweight Championship, and was named "The Ring Fighter of the Year in 1937. 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. Armstrong is a Hall of Famer. Hometown: Columbus, MS. Year Induction: 2010. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. Armstrong was inducted into Ring magazines Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954. When Sims won the title in 20, he was the first Mississippi boxer to hold a title in more than 30 years, according to his coach, Bombay Higginbottom. Background. Some of Armstrong's best fights and notable victories include wins over 11 Hall-of-Famers (Sammy Angott, Lew Jenkins, Fritzie Zivic, Pedro Montanez, Baby Arizmendi, Lou Ambers, Barney Ross, Chalky Wright, Petey Sarron, Benny Bass, and Midget Wolgast), Ceferino Garcia, Al Manfredo, Bobby Pacho, Lew Feldman, Howard Scott, and Richie Fontaine. He was the first champion, Im going to be the next champion, Davis said. He is considered to be one of the greatest boxers who lived on Earth. Henry Armstrong. with 10 knockouts; From December, 1936 until September, 1940, Henry African-American Sports Greats: A Biographical Dictionary. More on VHS Collection here: http://www.vhscollection.com/.Thanks for tuning in. Henry Jackson was born in Columbus, MS. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. His attempt to regain the welterweight championship on January 17, 1941, resulted in his knockout in the 12th round by Zivic. 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. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Although Armstrong was outweighed by at least 15 pounds by Ross, he dominated their fight in Madison Square Garden, pounding the champion unmercifully for 11 rounds. 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 made his debut against Al Lovino at the age of 18 on July 27, 1931, losing to Lovino via 3rd round KO. Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/henry-armstrong. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Vashon High School (St. Louis, MO) . Armstrong won his most significant fight when he overcame alcoholism. Armstrong, at 133+12 pounds, beat Ross, at 142 pounds, by unanimous decision, adding the World Welterweight Championship to his belt. In a career spanning 13 years and 6 months, Henry Armstrong fought 183 times with 151 wins, 22 losses, and 10 draws. 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 was a busy welterweight champion, successfully defending the title 19 times in less than three years. #GreatestOfAllTime#HenryArmstrong#TeddyAtlas Twenty-six of the bouts were ended by a knockout, including that of Sarron in their 126-pound fight. Its kind of special saying that Im from Columbus, hes from Columbus. 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. Henry has been found in 17 states including Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, Kansas, California. The next year was an incredible one for Armstrong as he fought 27 times -- and won all of them. if (document.images) { 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. Armstrong defended the World Welterweight Championship a division record 19 times. Info Share. 23 Feb. 2023 . navcontributeover.src = "/i/sportscentury/nav_contribute_over.gif"; We collect and match historical records that Ancestry users have contributed to their family trees to create each person's profile. Working at the "colored" Young Men's Christian Association, Armstrong met Harry Armstrong, a former boxer, who became his friend, mentor, and trainer. He is currently ranked by BoxRec as the 12th-greatest pound-for-pound fighter of all time. We encourage you to research and examine these records to determine their accuracy. Comments below may relate to previous holders of this record. Henry R Armstrong in 1940 United States Federal Census Henry R Armstrong was born circa 1887, at birth place, Connecticut, to John Birracase. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. He graduated as an honor student from Vashon High School in St. Louis Later he took the surname Armstrong as his fighting name.Armstrong began his professional career on July 28, 1931, in a fight with Al Iovino, in which Armstrong was knocked out in three rounds. But not for long. It was one of only two knockouts Armstrong would suffer in his career. Armstrong fared even worse in their rematch in 1941, suffering a 12th-round TKO. Garraty, John A. and Mark C. Carnes, American National Biography, Volume 1. Armstrong made his professional boxing debut at the age of 18 on July 27, 1931. Two years later he was ordained as a Baptist minister at Morning Star Baptist Church. Garcia retained the title with a draw, but most at ringside felt that Armstrong had won. Historical Person Search Search Search Results Results William Henry Armstrong (1847 - 1909) . "In 1938, Armstrong defeated Barney Ross by a fifteen-round unanimous decision to win the World Welterweight Championship, and then defeated Lou Ambers by a fifteen-round split decision to win the World Lightweight Championship.Armstrong was the only boxer to hold world titles in three different weight divisions simultaneously, and all three titles were undisputed championships. package; He Research genealogy for Henry Armstrong of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland, England, as well as other members of the Armstrong family, on Ancestry. Because the purses were small, Armstrong fought often, usually at least 12 times a year, and supplemented his income by operating a shoe shine stand from 1931 to 1934. var navcontributecold = new Image(); Davis, who has been training at the Pearl Boxing Club, is undefeated so far in his professional career at 4-0, with four knockouts. He had fought 26 world title fights and from 1931 to 1945 had fought 175 bouts, winning 97 by knockouts. The current phone number is (214) 444-3246. There he became involved in boxing. Armstrong knocked Sarron out in six rounds, becoming the World Featherweight Champion. Nonetheless, Armstrong had achieved his goal, becoming simultaneously the undisputed champion of the featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight divisions. [11], In 1937 alone, Armstrong went 270 (26KO). He died of heart failure on October 22, 1988 in Los Angeles. His father, also named Henry, was a mix of Indian, Irish and black blood. . 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. The road to becoming a champion was not entirely smooth. WHAT MAKES A GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS TITLE? var navclassiccold = new Image(); A Who's Who of Sports Champions: Their Stories and Records. October 29, 1937: Armstrong wins his first world titles by defeating Petey Sarron via 6th round KO. Upon his return, he became a boxing manager for a time, but his increasing use of alcohol led to his arrest in Los Angeles. Early in his career, he boxed under Melody Jackson. His outstanding ring record was 151 wins, 21 defeats, and 9 draws with 101 knockouts. To this day, he is the only boxer to simultaneously hold three world titles in different weight divisions. He graduated as an honor student from Vashon High School in St. Louis[9] Later he took the surname Armstrong as his fighting name. Deceased : October 22, 1988. He died on October 24, 1988 at the age of 75 years. Armstrong was the first boxer ever to hold world championships in three different weight divisions at the same time. a bowling alley. Following these two losses, however, he started a streak of 11 wins. Henry Armstrong (Homicide Hank) was an American professional boxer. We encourage you to research and examine these records to determine their accuracy. Professional boxer, entertainer, businessman navgallerycold.src = "/i/sportscentury/nav_gallery_cold.gif"; the beginning to the end of every round; His goal was to knock his man Henry held three world titles - Welterweight , Lightweight . Make sure to follow us on Twitter for updates and announcements. (WLBT) - The inaugural Henry Armstrong Boxing Classic will be held in Columbus on Saturday. 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. Fighting true to form, Armstrong applied pressure throughout the bout. Pulled from our recent Q\u0026A with Teddy Atlas, Teddy shares why Henry Armstrong is the greatest boxer of all time. First, he knocked out featherweight champion Petey Sarron in the sixth round on Oct. 29, 1937. March 16, 1939: Armstrong successfully defends the NBA and The Ring lightweight titles against Lew Feldman, winning the fight via 1st round KO. Switch to interactive mode Encyclopedia of World Biography. 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. He defended his welterweight title a total of nineteen times. Henry Armstrong is recognized by boxing historians as one of the greatest fighters. "Henry Armstrong [16] He returned to settle again in St. Louis, Missouri where, apart from the ceremonies and galas that he attended afterward, he led a quiet retirement. After the decision was announced, the second fight started; both managers and the New York State Athletic Commission were the participants. 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. Despite almost blacking out in the 15th round, Armstrong won a split decision to make history. Like his mother, his grandmother hoped that he would pursue a career in the ministry. The event is even more special for Davis. Up to 1937, Armstrong compiled a record of 52-10. 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. In 1954 he became a charter member of the Boxing Hall of Fame, inducted in its opening year along with Joe Louis and Jack Dempsey. Professional Boxer. Armstrong was the only boxer to hold world titles in three different weight divisions simultaneously, and all three titles were . Facing Arizmendi once more in August 1936, Armstrong secured his first title as the new featherweight champion, beating Arizmendi so badly that he was forced to take six months off. Name: Henry Armstrong Alias: Homicide Hank Birth Name: Henry Jackson Hometown: Los Angeles, California, USA Birthplace: Columbus, Mississippi, USA Died: 1988-10-23 (Age:78) Stance: Orthodox Height: 166cm Reach: 170cm Promoter: Record Referee: Record Pro Boxer: Record Amateur Boxer: Record Unknown +6.3 lbs [1] In 2007, The Ring ranked Armstrong as the second-greatest fighter of the last 80 years. [13], In 1938, Armstrong started his season with seven more knockouts in a row, including one over Chalky Wright, a future world champion. After retirement, he became an ordained minister. Historian Bert Sugar also ranked Armstrong as the second-greatest fighter of all time. When Armstrong was four years old, his father moved the family to St. Louis, where he and Armstrong's older brothers found work at the Independent Packing Company. 1921-1989 Born: December 12, 1912. henry armstrong "homicide hank" 150 Wins 21 Losses 10 Draws 55.8% Stance: Orthodox Age: 113 Date Of Birth: 12 Dec 1909 Height: 5.45 ft (1.66 m) Reach: 66.93 inches (170 cm) Country: United States Universal ID : 8194 edit details henry armstrong opponents PTS Chester Slider (37-18-12) Wed, 14 Feb - 1945 round 10 of 10 . October 20, 1939: Armstrong successfully defends the NBA and The Ring welterweight titles against Richie Fontaine, winning the fight via 3rd round TKO. 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. We encourage . However, the date of retrieval is often important. Henry held three world titles - Welterweight, How do we create a person's profile? However, he successfully defended his two other titles 12 times during 1939. Later a fellow member of the three division champions' club, Ross was then World Welterweight Champion. 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. Armstrong went on to win his last 12 fights in 1936. Henry passed away in March 1981, at age 94. navpostcardover.src = "/i/sportscentury/nav_postcard_over.gif"; 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. In 1943, Armstrong lost a 10-round decision to an up-and-coming Sugar Ray Robinson, who had idolized the three-division champion.