Its my first time in front of all my friends and family, so Im excited, he said. December 11, 1939: Armstrong successfully defends the NBA and The Ring welterweight titles against Jimmy Garrison, winning the fight via 7th round KO. He became known for his whirlwind combination of constant movement and knockout punches, earning him numerous new nicknames, including Homicide Hank, Perpetual Motion, and Hurricane Henry. Armstrong's attempt to win a world title in a fourth division was frustrated. His first win came later that year, beating Sammy Burns by a decision in six. Later a fellow member of the three division champions' club, Ross was then World Welterweight Champion. 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. GET IN TOUCH WITH A RECORD SPECIALIST (Opens in a new window), How to set or break a Guinness World Records title. Henry died on October 23, 1988 . How do we create a person's profile? His biggest hit was "Sweet Adeline", written in 1903 with Richard Gerard . In defending himself against bullies, he discovered his interest in boxing. He defeated Bobby Pacho at the Tropical Stadium in Havana, Cuba, in his fourth successful defence. navclassiccold.src = "/i/sportscentury/nav_classic_cold.gif"; Encyclopedia.com. Davis is excited to fight in his hometown. Make sure to follow us on Twitter for updates and announcements. Armstrong retired from the ring in 1945. 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. 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. . Five-time middleweight champion of the world, Sugar Ray Robinson is remembered as the greatest boxer ever, Patterson, Floyd 1935 Soon after his fight with Ambers, Armstrong, unable to meet the 126-pound limit, relinquished his featherweight title. [10], In 1936, Armstrong split his time among Los Angeles, Mexico City and St. Louis. Armstrong was 25 years old with a record of 92-12-7 (60 KOs). But not for long. Over the course of his career, Armstrong earned more than $1 million. 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. Info Share. 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. (February 23, 2023). Mother Ellen Lawrance. That was the last time Armstrong would fight for a championship. "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." Comments below may relate to previous holders of this record. Henry Armstrong (Homicide Hank) was an American professional boxer. RECORD. 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. Manage Settings American boxer His outstanding ring record was 151 wins, 21 defeats, and 9 draws with 101 knockouts. var navathletesover = new Image(); Please be sure to subscribe! Armstrong was the only boxer to hold world titles in three different weight divisions simultaneously, and all three titles were . He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in 1990. "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. He is considered to be one of the greatest boxers who lived on Earth. was a high pressure, non-stop fighter who threw punches from navpostcardover.src = "/i/sportscentury/nav_postcard_over.gif"; His mother, America, was half-Cherokee Indian. 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. 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 . Armstrong won three world titles at three weight classes. Henry Jackson was born in Columbus, MS. [14] According to boxing historian Bert Sugar, many commentators of the time said that Armstrong deserved the decision in this fight. After 152 victories in 14 years, Armstrong retired in 1945. For more details about these defeats, refer to "All of Henry Armstrong's losses". 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. existed; At the beginning, his performance was rather good but not . Ross was favored by odds makers three to one over Armstrong; however, when the two met in Long Island City on May 31, 1938, Armstrong won convincingly on points in 15 rounds, earning his second title, Welterweight Champion of the World. Working at the "colored" Young Men's Christian Association, Armstrong met Harry Armstrong, a former boxer, who became his friend, mentor, and trainer. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. Boxer navclassicover.src = "/i/sportscentury/nav_classic_over.gif"; After retiring from boxing, Armstrong became an ordained Baptist minister, working with disadvantaged youth. 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. In 1938 with 14 consecutive wins, 10 by knockout, Armstrong achieved his goal, becoming the first boxer to Encyclopedia of World Biography. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/henry-armstrong, "Henry Armstrong Armstrong was the first boxer ever to hold world championships in three different weight divisions at the same time. The Ring magazine named him Fighter of the Year in 1937. 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. worldCharley Rose ranked Armstrong as the #6 All-Time Welterweight; Nat 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. In 1932, Armstrong moved to Los Angeles, where he lost two four-round decisions in a row to Eddie Trujillo and Al Greenfield. Born Henry Jackson, Jr., on December 12, 1912, in Columbus, Mississippi, Armstrong was the eleventh of the family's 15 children. There he became involved in boxing. Armstrong was a busy welterweight champion, successfully defending the title 19 times in less than three years. He first set his sights on the lightweight division, but his challenge to a title fight was declined by lightweight titleholder Lou Ambers. He was the son of Henry Jackson Sr., a sharecropper of African American descent and America Jackson, said to be a "full-blooded" Iroquois. Updates? Death 9 Feb 1870 - null. Henry Armstrong (1912-1988) became the first boxer in history to hold world titles in three separate weight classes at the same time. Taking away Lou Ambers' lightweight crown on Aug. 17, 1938 in Madison Square Garden proved more difficult. His attempt to regain the welterweight championship on January 17, 1941, resulted in his knockout in the 12th round by Zivic. The Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) named him Fighter of the Year in 1940. October 30, 1939: Armstrong successfully defends the NBA and The Ring welterweight titles against Bobby Pacho, winning the fight via 4th round TKO. 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. Armstrong made his debut against Al Lovino at the age of 18 on July 27, 1931, losing to Lovino via 3rd round KO. [11] In February 1966, Rev. Armstrong was dynamite in a small Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. Jolson offered boxer Petey Sarron $15,000 to defend his featherweight title against Armstrong, and the two boxers met on October 29, 1937, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Henry Armstrong. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). On May 31, 1938, he took the welterweight (147-pound) championship . Armstrong knocked down the champ in the fifth and sixth rounds, but Ambers cut him severely. Henry Armstrong is a boxer from Mississippi and a world phenomenon in boxing. He had fulfilled his goal -- he reigned as champion over three divisions. out - if he didn't manage that, he certainly battered him thoroughly Armstrong is a Hall of Famer. All records listed on our website are current and up-to-date. He defeated sixteen world champions. navathletesover.src = "/i/sportscentury/nav_athletes_over.gif"; On May 31, 1938, he took the welterweight (147-pound) championship from Barney Ross by decision, and, on August 17 of that year, he defeated Lou Ambers by decision to win the lightweight (135-pound) title. Chambers Biographical Dictionary. Corrections? For United States nationwide collections, go to the United States Online Genealogy Records page. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. WHAT MAKES A GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS TITLE? Armstrong had his first world title fight at the age of 24 on October 29, 1937 after 93 professional fights, against Petey Sarron for the featherweight NBA and The Ring titles. Hes fighting on the card, and he was the first person in Mississippi to win a title [since 1988], Higginbottom said. Early in his career, he fought some fights under the ring name Melody Jackson. ", Ten weeks later, Armstrong's fight with Ambers was a war. "Henry Armstrong," Newsmakers 1989, Issue 4. As an amateur Armstrong fought under the name of Melody Jackson. What makes a Guinness World Records title? 1716-1914: New York State Religious Records at Findmypast; images only ($) 1809-1850: 10,000 Vital Records of Western New York at Ancestry; index & images, ($) 1875-1916: New York, Yonkers, Birth and Death Registration and Indexes at FamilySearch . been; During 1937, he was 27-0 with 26 knockouts; In 1938, he was 14-0 His professio, Hopkins, Bernard 1965 He was managed by Wirt Ross, Eddie Mead, jazz singer Al Jolson and Hollywood actor George Raft. Henry Armstrong (1912-1988) became the first boxer in history to hold world titles in three separate weight classes at the same time. Boxing. He gained fame in 1938 when he reigned as featherweight, lightweight and welterweight champion. Career record 151-21-9 with 101 knockouts (Third All-Time behind Archie Moore & Sugar Ray Robinson) After several more amateur fights, Armstrong moved to Pittsburgh to pursue a professional career. 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. PEARL, Miss. Henry held three world titles - Welterweight , Lightweight . navpostcardcold.src = "/i/sportscentury/nav_postcard_cold.gif"; sensational; However, when he hit stride He won 14 fights before bypassing the lightweight title and challenging welterweight champion Barney Ross for his crown on May 31, 1938. Through 1937 Armstrong entered the ring 27 times, winning every fight and knocking out all but one of his opponents. The event is even more special for Davis. Of 26 title fights, Armstrong won all but four (three losses and a draw). In 1990 his name was added posthumously to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. 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. 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. He continued to box actively until announcing his retirement in 1945 at the age of 32. 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. Herb Goldman ranked Armstrong as the #4 All-Time Lightweight; He was inducted into the Ring Boxing After a brief third marriage, Armstrong married his fourth wife, Gussie Henry, in 1978. Armstrong was inducted into Ring magazines Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954. When Armstrong was 4, the family moved to St. Louis. First of all, Ive got to thank Pearl Boxing Club, because without them this wouldnt be the possible or without God.. Two years later he was ordained as a Baptist minister at Morning Star Baptist Church. "Henry Armstrong 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. He is the only boxer to this day who simultaneously held three world boxing titles - in Featherweight, Lightweight, and welterweight champion in 1938. Professional boxer, entertainer, businessman For all the details about Armstrong's world title wins and defenses refer to "Henry Armstrong World Titles". 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. Armstrong had a 151-21-9 record in his 15-year professional career. Desiring to help at-risk youth, he created the Henry Armstrong Youth Foundation and funded the organization from the profits of two books he wrote: Twenty Years of Poem, Moods, and Mediations (1954) and his autobiography, Gloves, Glory, and God (1956). Boxing as a featherweight, he gained quite a bit of experience from 1933 to 1935, fighting 46 times, mostly in California and Mexico. Historical Person Search Search Search Results Results Henry Armstrong (1887 - Unknown) Try FREE for 14 days Try FREE for 14 days. Its a possibility that the heavyweight champion of the world will be from Mississippi one day, he said.