2. Henry Armstrong (151-21-9, 101 KO)

Born: Dec. 12, 1912

Died: Oct. 24, 1988

 

Armstrong’s signature accomplishment of holding the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight titles simultaneously will never be equalled because current rules prevent a fighter from maintaining more than one divisional championship.  The fact that Armstrong achieved this during an era of eight weight classes and undisputed championships makes it even more special.  Armstrong came within an eyelash of winning a fourth belt, though not simultaneously, when he fought to a draw with middleweight champion Ceferino Garcia in a bout many thought Armstrong deserved to win.

 

Henry Armstrong is boxing’s bogeyman. Yes, he was skilled, so skilled in fact that he remains, seventy years after his retirement, the definitive exponent of the swarming pressure style, but it was not skill that defined him.  What made Armstrong perhaps the most dangerous fighter in all of boxing history was more elemental—violent pressure, a blackout punch, an inexhaustible engine, an iron-chin, an iron-will; these were the tools Armstrong used to drive himself to triple-crown immorality.  At the sharp end of this list there are only speedsters, technical geniuses, the most advanced of trapping counterpunchers, and Armstrong, and it was Armstrong who can be named the ultimate executioner of champions.

 

Imagine a featherweight title holder challenging – and beating – the welterweight champion, then dropping down to lightweight and winning that belt in his very next fight.  That’s what Armstrong did when he decisioned 147-pound king Barney Ross May 31, 1938 and beat 135-pound champion Lou Ambers over 15 rounds Aug. 17, 1938.  But Armstrong’s greatness is made up of more than just a singular feat. 'Homicide Hank' enjoyed one of the greatest years a fighter ever had in 1937, going 27-0 with 26 knockouts, all but two of which lasted six rounds or less.  Oh, and he dethroned featherweight champion Petey Sarron in the process.  From Jan. 1, 1937 through Sept. 23, 1940, Armstrong was an incredible 59-1-1 (51 KO) before losing his welterweight title to Fritzie Zivic on Oct. 4, 1940.

 

Armstrong’s welterweight reign was something to behold, and the consistency of his reign is one factor that separates Armstrong from Robinson.  He defended the belt 20 times between May 31, 1938 and Oct. 4, 1940 and five of those defences occurred between Oct. 9 and Oct. 30, 1939.  Some of today’s champions would be hard pressed to notch five defences in three years, much less three weeks.

 

Armstrong’s busy schedule eventually burned him out, and following a 12th round TKO loss to Zivic in the rematch, he took 18 months off and proceeded to go 40-7-3 (24 KO) before retiring in 1945.  One of those seven losses was to a 22 year-old known as Ray Robinson.  It might have been a different story had the 1937 Armstrong been in the ring with Sugar Ray instead of the 1943 model.