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. Ambers opened a cut on Armstrong's lower lip, and Armstrong, afraid the referee would stop the fight, swallowed the blood throughout the fight and succeeded in winning on points. He had fought 26 world title fights and from 1931 to 1945 had fought 175 bouts, winning 97 by knockouts. Henry Armstrong Stats, Bio. 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. Armstrong had his cornermen remove his mouthpiece so he could swallow the blood flowing in his mouth the last five rounds. Deceased : October 22, 1988. In 1931 Armstrong, accompanied by Harry Armstrong, hopped trains to Los Angeles to restart his amateur career. Encyclopedia of World Biography. Sims is 9-1 in his professional boxing career, with five knockouts in his nine wins. He defeated Sarron via 6th round KO to become the featherweight champion of the world. He was managed by Wirt Ross, Eddie Mead, jazz singer Al Jolson and Hollywood actor George Raft. Birth Abt 1861 - null. 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. But Garcia shut the challenger's left eye and gained a draw, enabling him to keep the title. // -->. Armstrong won the fight, knocking out Sarron in the sixth round, thus earning his first world title as the Featherweight Champion of the World. Ambers had Armstrong spitting blood from a torn bottom lip, and he cut the challenger's eyes as well. Encyclopedia of World Biography. var navclassicover = new Image(); 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. 1921-1989 While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. var navpostcardover = new Image(); Skip Ancestry main menu Main Menu. Armstrong had a 151-21-9 record in his 15-year professional career. Returning to St. Louis, he founded the Henry Armstrong Youth Foundation and directed the Herbert Hoover Boys Club. Born Henry Jackson, Jr., on December 12, 1912, in Columbus, Mississippi, Armstrong was the eleventh of the family's 15 children. That fight, before 29,088 fans at Yankee Stadium, was another brawl as the fighters pounded each other for 15 rounds. 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. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Armstrong made his professional boxing debut at the age of 18 on July 27, 1931. Info Share. For more details about these defeats, refer to "All of Henry Armstrong's losses". She died on the way to the hospital in Armstrong's arms, having suffered chest pains. William Henry Armstrong. Henry R Armstrong in 1940 United States Federal Census Henry R Armstrong was born circa 1887, at birth place, Connecticut, to John Birracase. [citation needed], Later in 1938, Armstrong, still the Featherweight division world champion, challenged Barney Ross for the title. 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 also taught young fighters how to box. His mother died a year later, and he was raised by his grandmother. the beginning to the end of every round; His goal was to knock his man First, he knocked out featherweight champion Petey Sarron in the sixth round on Oct. 29, 1937. After that, he concentrated once again on defending the world Welterweight title. Henry Armstrong, original name Henry Jackson, (born December 12, 1912, Columbus, Mississippi, U.S.died October 24, 1988, Los Angeles, California), American boxer, the only professional boxer to hold world championship titles in three weight divisions simultaneously. After retiring from boxing, Armstrong became an ordained Baptist minister, working with disadvantaged youth. Armstrong, at 133+12 pounds, beat Ross, at 142 pounds, by unanimous decision, adding the World Welterweight Championship to his belt. Armstrong fought his first major bout in November 1934, losing the world featherweight championship in a close decision to Baby Arizmendi. Armstrong was a busy welterweight champion, successfully defending the title 19 times in less than three years. Make sure to follow us on Twitter for updates and announcements. 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). The Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) named him Fighter of the Year in 1940. navgallerycold.src = "/i/sportscentury/nav_gallery_cold.gif"; . He first set his sights on the lightweight division, but his challenge to a title fight was declined by lightweight titleholder Lou Ambers. Historical Person Search Search Search Results Results Henry Armstrong (1768 - 1868) Try FREE for 14 days Try FREE for 14 days. Home; . In defending himself against bullies, he discovered his interest in boxing. 100% CAUCASIAN Our ethnicity data indicates the majority is Caucasian. 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.. 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 early childhood was spent on a plantation owned by Armstrong's grandfather, an Irishman who had married one of his slaves. Other honors include his being ranked 2nd on "The Ring's 2002 list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years." He lost by knockout only two times in his 15 years of boxing. Armstrong fought as an amateur from 1929 to 1932. As a youngster, he got into neighborhood street fights. document[imgName].src = eval(imgName + 'cold.src'); in the mid 1930s, Armstrong was as good as anyone has ever [10], In 1936, Armstrong split his time among Los Angeles, Mexico City and St. Louis. "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." [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. During his years attending Vashon High School, Armstrong excelled, earning good grades and gaining the respect of his peers. Seven months later, a fading Armstrong finally lost his welterweight title after the 19 successful defenses, including six in 1940. Birth 10 December 1850 - Detroit City, . Returning to St. Louis, he became a minister, helped run the Herbert Hoover Boys' Club and trained young boxers. By his last professional fight on February 14, 1945, Armstrong's boxing record stood at 151-22-10 (100 KO wins, 2 KO losses). (WLBT) - The inaugural Henry Armstrong Boxing Classic will be held in Columbus on Saturday. Referee Arthur Donovan took five rounds away from Armstrong for low blows. Armstrong knocked out 100 of his 183 opponents. was a high pressure, non-stop fighter who threw punches from navpostcardcold.src = "/i/sportscentury/nav_postcard_cold.gif"; In a publicity stunt, Jolson and Mead falsely advertised the buy-out price as $10,000. Comments below may relate to previous holders of this record. But the tides turned later in the year when he won against former flyweight champion Midget Wolgast. "If you spit any more blood on that floor," referee Billy Cavanaugh told Armstrong, "I'm going to stop this fight.". He was the first champion, Im going to be the next champion, Davis said. 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. . 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. The former fighter, who for. "Henry Jackson," Contemporary Authors Online, Gale Research, 1999. http://www.galenet.com(December 13, 2000). Omissions? Birth 22 Sep 1768 . . On November 25, 1938 Henry Armstrong defeated Filipino boxer Ceferino Garcia via 15 round unanimous decision. Higginbottom believes Davis can be among the best of the best. Birth abt 1887 - Iron Bridge, Shropshire, England. Hes fighting on the card, and he was the first person in Mississippi to win a title [since 1988], Higginbottom said. Armstrong was knocked out in the 12-round fight. To this day, he is the only boxer to . He defeated sixteen world champions. [13], In 1938, Armstrong started his season with seven more knockouts in a row, including one over Chalky Wright, a future world champion. Here he gained his first boxing experience, winning a competition among the pinboys. Henry Armstrong is recognized by boxing historians as one of the greatest fighters. His father, suffering from rheumatism, struggled to provide for the family. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. How do we create a person's profile? Mead was suspended 13 months after accusing commissioner Bill Brown of favoring Ambers. Historical Person Search Search Search Results Results Henry Armstrong (1887 - Unknown) Try FREE for 14 days Try FREE for 14 days. 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. [11] In February 1966, Rev. Archie Moore was one of the most colorful and respected figures in the modern history of boxing. The event is even more special for Davis. 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. November 25, 1938: Armstrong successfully defends the NBA and The Ring welterweight titles against Ceferino Garcia, winning the fight via 15 round unanimous decision. Henry has been found in 17 states including Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, Kansas, California. Hickok, Ralph. He won 14 fights before bypassing the lightweight title and challenging welterweight champion Barney Ross for his crown on May 31, 1938. Info Share. Armstrong successfully defended his NBA and Ring Magazine welterweight titles. Two boxers from the Pearl Boxing Club will be fighting in the event: Chown Chop Chop Sims, and Keshaun Big Baby Davis. So, its just a coincidence that all this is coming together like that.. Two years later he was ordained as a Baptist minister at Morning Star Baptist Church. 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. Henry Armstrong fought a total of 183 times during his professional career. High School Career. compiled a 59-1-1 record (51 KOs) competing against the best in the He grew up in, Frazier, Joe 1944 Full Q\u0026A episode here: https://youtu.be/KULHRj7H9l0**** Teddy's Audiobook Now Available. Armstrong was 25 years old with a record of 92-12-7 (60 KOs). He died at age 75 on Oct. 24, 1988, in Los Angeles. His first win came later that year, beating Sammy Burns by a decision in six. 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. 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. Davis is excited to fight in his hometown. He teamed up with -- and took the surname of -- a trainer and former boxer named Henry Armstrong. We encourage you to research and examine these records to determine their accuracy. As an amateur Armstrong fought under the name of Melody Jackson. Armstrong starred in the feature film Keep Punching (1939) in 1939. Armstrong's eighteen successful title defenses were the most in history in the Welterweight division. Henry Armstrong, original name Henry Jackson, (born December 12, 1912, Columbus, Mississippi, U.S.died October 24, 1988, Los Angeles, California), American boxer, the only professional boxer to hold world championship titles in three weight divisions simultaneously. Garraty, John A. and Mark C. Carnes, American National Biography, Volume 1. This ended Armstrong's reign as Welterweight Champion. Despite almost blacking out in the 15th round, Armstrong won a split decision to make history. Armstrong won his most significant fight when he overcame alcoholism. edited by David Crystal, Second edition. "Henry Armstrong," Notable Black American Men, Gale Research, 1998. http://www.galenet.com(December 13, 2000). 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. During the fight Armstrong suffered an eye injury that required surgery. var navclassiccold = new Image(); 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. He defeated Bobby Pacho at the Tropical Stadium in Havana, Cuba, in his fourth successful defence. When Cox sold his contract on Armstrong to Wirt Ross in 1932 for $250, Armstrong entered the professional ranks to stay. 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. By his last professional fight on February 14, 1945, Armstrong's boxing record stood at 151-22-10 (100 KO wins, 2 KO losses). After losing his first two professional fights in Los Angeles, Armstrong began to consistently win his bouts. Through 1937 Armstrong entered the ring 27 times, winning every fight and knocking out all but one of his opponents. Henry held three world titles - Welterweight, Please be sure to subscribe! Armstrong retired from the ring in 1945. He suffered his first loss in his professional debut against Al Lovino via 3rd round KO. 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. Henry Armstrong. 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. 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. He was the first boxer to hold three different titles simultaneously. We encourage you to research and examine these records to determine their accuracy. Henry Irwin Armstrong. Two local boxers fighting in inaugural Henry Armstrong Boxing Classic, The event will be held in Columbus on Saturday, Former wrestler tied to TANF scandal pleads guilty to conspiracy in federal court, 42K Mississippians without power after strong winds cause outages, JPD investigating after vehicle riddled with bullets on Maria Drive, Caver Ks 10, JSU baseball run-rules rival Alcorn State for 7th straight win, JSU footballs Blue and White game receives date, Tougaloo College to play Texas A&M Texarkana in first round of NAIA championship, Request a First Alert Weather School Visit. In 1990 his name was added posthumously to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Taking away Lou Ambers' lightweight crown on Aug. 17, 1938 in Madison Square Garden proved more difficult. These 11 fights are the highlight of his career. In a career spanning 13 years and 6 months, Henry Armstrong fought 183 times with 151 wins, 22 losses, and 10 draws. Lightweight, Featherweight - in a period when only eight weight divisions He voluntarily relinquished his featherweight crown, and the next August he lost the lightweight title back to Ambers on a unanimous decision. He tried for a fourth world title in middleweight but drew with champion Ceferino Garcia. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Hall of Fame in 1954 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. He defended his welterweight title a total of nineteen times. His father, also named Henry, was a mix of Indian, Irish and black blood. His biggest hit was "Sweet Adeline", written in 1903 with Richard Gerard . . Henry Armstrong now had one win and three losses in four pro fights. What makes a Guinness World Records title? . 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. #GreatestOfAllTime#HenryArmstrong#TeddyAtlas To pursue his third title, Armstrong dropped back a weight class to compete as a lightweight. 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. Henry held three world titles - Welterweight , Lightweight . He also wrote the autobiographical God, Gloves, and Glory (1956). $57k AVERAGE INCOME Our wealth data indicates income average is $57k. 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. After 152 victories in 14 years, Armstrong retired in 1945. 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. After a brief third marriage, Armstrong married his fourth wife, Gussie Henry, in 1978. In 1943, Armstrong lost a 10-round decision to an up-and-coming Sugar Ray Robinson, who had idolized the three-division champion. [10] Armstrong was given his first world title fight, for the title in the 126-pound weight class against World Featherweight Champion Petey Sarron at Madison Square Garden. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. Armstrong began his professional career on July 28, 1931, in a fight with Al Iovino, in which Armstrong was knocked out in three rounds. Bernard Hopkins has been nicknamed the Executioner for the way he dispatches opponents and for the way he enters the rin, Henrquez y Carvajal, Francisco (18591935), Henry Cogswell College: Narrative Description, Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery, Henry Ford Community College: Distance Learning Programs, Henry Ford Community College: Narrative Description, Henry Ford Community College: Tabular Data, https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/henry-armstrong. It began in 1964 when he won the Olym, Moore, Archie He made $35 for his pro debut, and was knocked out in three rounds. After taking 16 months off, he came back and stayed around until 1945, fighting 49 times although he had lost most of his skill. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Mother Ellen Lawrance. 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. Henry J Armstrong is thirty-eight. "Henry Armstrong 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. He had fulfilled his goal -- he reigned as champion over three divisions. Chambers Biographical Dictionary. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in 1990. Updates? worldCharley Rose ranked Armstrong as the #6 All-Time Welterweight; Nat To this day, he is the only boxer to simultaneously hold three world titles in different weight divisions. The streak finally ended when Arizmendi lasted ten rounds before losing a decision to Armstrong in their fourth fight. Historical Person Search Search Search Results Results Henry Armstrong (1861 - 1870) Try FREE for 14 days Try FREE for 14 days. It was one of only two knockouts Armstrong would suffer in his career. 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. navclassicover.src = "/i/sportscentury/nav_classic_over.gif"; Armstrong moved to Los Angeles, where he resumed his amateur status. However, he successfully defended his two other titles 12 times during 1939. 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. Armstrong lost the fight via 10 round PTS. His final professional record stood at 174 recorded bouts, 145 wins with 98 by knockout. 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. 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. Copyright 2023 WLBT. He returned to St. Louis in 1972 to become the director of the Herbert Hoover Boys Club. 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. navathletesover.src = "/i/sportscentury/nav_athletes_over.gif"; Born: December 12, 1912. But 1938 was an even better year for Armstrong, as he took the two more championships. var navpostcardcold = new Image(); Professional boxer, entertainer, businessman He graduated as an honor student from Vashon High School in St. Louis[9] Later he took the surname Armstrong as his fighting name. Armstrong, however, displayed no interest in fulfilling these wishes. 26 of those wins came via knockouts. The Ring magazine named him Fighter of the Year in 1937. Pulled from our recent Q\u0026A with Teddy Atlas, Teddy shares why Henry Armstrong is the greatest boxer of all time. Early in his career he boxed under the name Melody Jackson. 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. We encourage you to research and examine these records to determine their accuracy. . 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. After he retired, Armstrong overcame alcoholism. 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). 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 retired from professional boxing with a record of 151-22-10, which included 100 knockout wins and two losses via knockout, and three title wins. Career record 151-21-9 with 101 knockouts (Third All-Time behind Archie Moore & Sugar Ray Robinson) ." By the time Armstrong graduated from high school at the age of 17, the Great Depression had arrived. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. [CDATA[ One of the first inductees when the Boxing Hall of Fame opened in 1954, Henry Armstrong is considered one of the top three boxers of all time. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/henry-armstrong, "Henry Armstrong He became an ordained Baptist minister in 1951. [3] He was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 1990. He is currently ranked by BoxRec as the 12th-greatest pound-for-pound fighter of all time. ever hold three undisputed titles at the same time. Floyd Patterson was born on January 4, 1935 in Waco, North Carolinathe third of 11 children. All records listed on our website are current and up-to-date. edited by Melanie Parry, Larousse Kingfisher Chambers Inc., 1997. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"_9hAJy7CmJsKH07kPqMVqhJI9fwN_aHmPuAo7fcIZbM-86400-0"}; Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. package; He However, the date of retrieval is often important. While he was certainly a formidable boxer, he hadn't yet established himself as one of the all-time greats. Historical Person Search Search Search Results Results William Henry Armstrong (1847 - 1909) . navathletescold.src = "/i/sportscentury/nav_athletes_cold.gif"; But not for long. [12], Armstrong's two nicknames were Hurricane Henry and Homicide' Hank. [15], Returning to the welterweight division, Armstrong successfully defended the title five more times, until Fritzie Zivic beat him to take the world title in a 15-round decision. 1913-1998 Armstrong started 1937 off with a string of 22 straight wins, en route to 27 total wins that year. 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. But there was a sensitive side, too, as he showed at his high school graduation when he read an original poem. (You will need to register / login for access). Henry Armstrong (Homicide Hank) was an American professional boxer. var navgallerycold = new Image(); Al Silvani. He was born Henry Jackson, Jr. on December 12, 1912, in Columbus, Mississippi. He quit his job working for the Missouri-Pacific Railroad, figuring he could make his fortune fighting for pay. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. //]]>. In 2007, The Ring ranked Armstrong as the second-greatest fighter of the last 80 years. Alternate titles: Henry Jackson, Melody Jackson. 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.
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