At a time when boxing only had eight weight classes Henry Armstrong simultaneously held world titles in three of them. Armstrong collected everything but money in his impressive boxing career. He was a knockout artist with a killer punch and a killer attitude in the ring. His incessant windmill style dazed his opponents and he was extraordinarily resistant to punishment. Poorly paid and often cheated out of his ring earnings, Armstrong could rarely afford the high life that often went along with being a world champion, but prizefighting has to this day never seen a more deserving bearer of its top honors.
Born in Mississippi as Henry Jackson, Armstrong moved to St. Louis with his family when he was four years-old. As a youngster, he took part in neighborhood street brawls and soon decided that he wanted to become a fighter, realizing he had a knack for dust-ups. During the end of his tenure in high school, he fought briefly in the amateur ranks under the name Melody Jackson. His first professional bouts, a victory and one loss, took place in the Pittsburgh area where Armstrong lived for a short period. He later moved to Los Angeles where he resumed his amateur status, this time fighting as Henry Armstrong. Making a meager living operating a shoeshine parlor, he won 85 amateur bouts, demonstrating a God-given aptitude for the sport of boxing as he developed his craft the confines of the squared-circle. After failing to make the 1932 Olympic boxing team, he officially turned professional.
Campaigning as a featherweight, “Homicide Hank” fought often to support himself. His bouts were sometimes only mere days apart but despite the demanding schedule he met with great success. In 1934 The Ring ranked him as the sixth-best featherweight in the world in its annual rankings. In 1936 Armstrong won a ten-round decision over Baby Arizmendi for the California-Mexico version of the world featherweight title. A year later, Armstrong effectively seemed unstoppable, going 27-0 and stopping twenty-six of his foes inside of the scheduled distance. Among his victims was Petey Sarron, the reigning World Featherweight titleholder. Armstrong stopped Sarron in six shocking rounds to lay undisputed claim to the championship.
If the year 1937 made Armstrong look bigger than life, 1938 proved to be his the greatest year of his stellar career. Armstrong, the 126 pound division world champion, challenged a fellow member of the three division champions’ club, Barney Ross, the World Welterweight champion for the title. The match was held in the open-air Madison Square Garden Bowl in front of some twenty-eight thousand spectators. Although Ross struggled to make weight, the end was in fact just around the corner as his career had by that time peaked, and in no way was he prepared to deal with a whirlwind assault that bordered upon the supernatural. For fifteen rounds Armstrong administered a merciless shellacking that had members of the crowd calling for the match to be stopped. Armstrong, 126, beat Ross, 147, by unanimous decision, adding the World Welterweight championship to his featherweight belt.
With the both World Featherweight and Welterweight titles firmly in hand, Armstrong advanced to face reigning champion Lou Ambers for the World Lightweight championship. In a brutal encounter, Armstrong floored Ambers in both the fifth and sixth rounds, however Armstrong was so seriously cut around the eyes and bleeding considerably enough at the mouth that the referee considered stopping the contest. Fighting without a mouthpiece so that he could swallow the blood flowing into his mouth, Armstrong toughed it out and scraped by on a hard-fought fifteen round split decision to become our sport’s first simultaneous triple titleholder. A few days later, Armstrong relinquished the featherweight crown believing he couldn’t make 126 pounds any longer.
In 1939, he lost the World Lightweight crown back to Lou Ambers in a match where Armstrong was penalized several points for low blows. After that, he concentrated once again on defending the World Welterweight title, and made eight defenses in a row, the last of which was a nine-round knockout win over Puerto Rico’s Pedro Montanez, a bout in which he weighed just a hair over 139lbs, below today’s limit for the junior welterweight division. So destructive was his showing against Montanez, the New York Times was compelled to comment – “For savagery and bruising fighting, virtually all of it displayed by the irrepressible Armstrong, this was a fight that has seldom been excelled. No welterweight, no man near Armstrong’s inches or poundage could have survived the blistering firepower”. Montanez was down for the first time in his career in the 4th. Down again at the end of the 8th, he had to be carried to his corner”.
In search of even greater glory, Armstrong eyed the World Middleweight title with the intent to become the first four-division champion in history. Weighing 142lbs, “Homicide Hank” failed to win it against the heavy-handed Ceferino Garcia in a contest that was ruled a draw despite many in the press believing that he had in fact done enough to win the title and again make boxing history. Later that same year, Armstrong lost the World Welterweight championship, the last of his titles, to Fritzie Zivic by unanimous fifteen-round decision in a bout that according to the New York Times, he was battered so badly in the last round and nearly stopped, being pushed to the canvas right before the final bell. The loss ended his successful defense streak at eighteen, the most title defenses by a champion ever in the welterweight division.
A shrewd if rugged and experienced fighter in his own right, Zivic purposefully worked the scar tissue around Armstrong’s eyes three months later in the rematch. Armstrong, who considered Zivic a dirty fighter, failed in his quest to regain the welterweight title, losing by technical knockout in round twelve. A couple of years later when they ultimately went on to face each other in a rubber match, Armstrong managed to hand him a defeat, but by that time Zivic had lost his title and was no longer the champion. Armstrong continued to make a living as a professional fighter, notably losing to Beau Jack and a 44-1 “Sugar” Ray Robinson by unanimous decision in the autumn of his career in 1943.Hanging on well into 1945, the days of his unbeatable rapid-fire attack and larger than life image were well behind him when he hung up the gloves at age 32 with mileage on his odometer that suggested years well beyond his listed age. The final career tally for “Homicide Hank” reads 149-21-10, 101 KO’s, with simultaneous reigns as World Featherweight, World Lightweight and World Welterweight champion – in an era with far fewer weight classes and with fighters that were forged in the furnaces of sheer competition. Never again will boxing be blessed with such a hungry, natural fighting machine as Henry Armstrong. An all-time great, he was one for the ages.
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Henry Armstrong Nickname: “Homicide Hank” Division: Welterweight Professional Record: 149-21-10, 101 KO’s
Date Opponent Location Result
1931-07-27 Al Iovino North Braddock, USA L KO 3 1931-07-31 Sammy Burns Millvale, USA W PTS 6 1932-08-30 Eddie Trujillo Los Angeles, USA L PTS 4 1932-09-27 Al Greenfield Los Angeles, USA L PTS 4 1932-10-01 Maximo Tarley Los Angeles, USA W PTS 4 1932-12-01 Vince Trujillo Los Angeles, USA W KO 2 1932-12-13 Gene Espinosa Los Angeles, USA W PTS 4 1932-12-31 Young Corpuz Pismo Beach, USA W PTS 4
1933-02-03 Johnny Ryan Ventura, USA W PTS 6 1933-02-17 George Dundee Ventura, USA W PTS 6 1933-03-21 Paul Wangley Los Angeles, USA W KO 4 1933-04-28 Perfecto Lopez Ventura, USA W PTS 6 1933-05-24 Young Bud Taylor Los Angeles, USA W KO 2 1933-05-31 Maximo Tarley Los Angeles, USA W KO 3 1933-06-07 Ricky Hall Pismo Beach, USA W KO 3 1933-07-11 Baby Manuel Los Angeles, USA L PTS 6 1933-08-08 Bobby Calmes Los Angeles, USA W KO 5 1933-08-30 Hoyt Jones Los Angeles, USA D PTS 4 1933-09-05 Perfecto Lopez Los Angeles, USA D PTS 4 1933-10-11 Perfecto Lopez Los Angeles, USA D PTS 4 1933-10-19 Johnny Granone Sacramento, USA W TKO 6 1933-11-03 Kid Moro Pismo Beach, USA D PTS 10 1933-11-23 Kid Moro Stockton, USA D PTS 10 1933-12-14 Gene Espinosa Sacramento, USA W KO 7
1934-01-26 Baby Manuel Sacramento, USA W PTS 10 1934-02-13 Benny Pelz Los Angeles, USA W PTS 6 1934-03-08 Perfecto Lopez Bakersfield, USA W PTS 8 1934-03-27 Young Danny Los Angeles, USA W KO 1 1934-05-04 Kid Moro Watsonville, USA D PTS 10 1934-05-22 Johnny DeFoe Los Angeles, USA W TKO 6 1934-06-05 Vicente Torres Los Angeles, USA W PTS 6 1934-06-14 Davey Abad Sacramento, USA W PTS 10 1934-07-17 Perfecto Lopez Los Angeles, USA W PTS 6 1934-08-28 Perfecto Lopez Los Angeles, USA W TKO 5 1934-09-07 Joe Sanchez Ventura, USA W TKO 4 1934-09-13 Maximo Tarley Sacramento, USA W KO 3 1934-09-28 Perfecto Lopez Ventura, USA W PTS 8 1934-11-04 Baby Arizmendi Mexico City, Mexico L PTS 10 1934-12-01 Joe Conde Mexico City, Mexico W KO 7 1934-12-15 Ventura Arana Mexico City, Mexico W TKO 5
1935-01-01 Baby Arizmendi Mexico City, Mexico L PTS 12 1935-02-16 Rodolfo Casanova Mexico City, Mexico L DQ 5 1935-03-19 Sal Hernandez Los Angeles, USA W TKO 2 1935-03-31 Davey Abad Mexico City, Mexico L PTS 10 1935-04-06 Tully Corvo Sacramento, USA W TKO 5 1935-04-16 Frankie Covelli Los Angeles, USA W PTS 8 1935-05-10 Mark Diaz Ventura, USA W PTS 8 1935-05-28 Davey Abad Los Angeles, USA W PTS 10 1935-06-25 Varias Milling Los Angeles, USA W PTS 10 1935-09-13 Alton Black Reno, USA W TKO 8 1935-09-18 Perfecto Lopez San Francisco, USA D PTS 8 1935-10-21 Lester Marston Oakland, USA W TKO 7 1935-11-12 Leo Lomelli Oakland, USA W TKO 6 1935-11-27 Midget Wolgast Oakland, USA W PTS 10 1935-12-06 Alton Black Reno, USA W TKO 8
1936-01-01 Joe Conde Mexico City, Mexico L PTS 10 1936-02-26 Ritchie Fontaine Oakland, USA L PTS 10 1936-03-31 Ritchie Fontaine Los Angeles, USA W PTS 10 1936-05-19 Bobby Leyvas Los Angeles, USA W TKO 4 1936-06-22 Johnny DeFoe Butte, USA W PTS 10 1936-08-04 Baby Arizmendi Los Angeles, USA W PTS 10 1936-08-18 Juan Zurita Los Angeles, USA W KO 4 1936-09-03 Elmer (Buzz) Brown Portland, USA W PTS 10 1936-09-08 Dommy Ganzon Stockton, USA W KO 1 1936-10-27 Mike Belloise Los Angeles, USA W PTS 10 1936-11-02 Gene Espinosa Los Angeles, USA W KO 1 1936-11-17 Joey Alcanter Saint Louis, USA W KO 6 1936-12-03 Tony Chavez Saint Louis, USA L DQ 8
1937-01-01 Rodolfo Casanova Mexico City, Mexico W KO 3 1937-01-19 Tony Chavez Los Angeles, USA W KO 10 1937-02-02 Moon Mullins Los Angeles, USA W TKO 2 1937-02-19 Varias Milling San Diego, USA W KO 4 1937-03-02 California Joe Rivers Los Angeles, USA W TKO 4 1937-03-12 Mike Belloise New York, USA W TKO 4 1937-03-19 Aldo Spoldi New York, USA W PTS 10 1937-04-06 Pete DeGrasse Los Angeles, USA W KO 10 1937-05-04 Frankie Klick Los Angeles, USA W TKO 4 1937-05-28 Wally Hally Los Angeles, USA W TKO 4 1937-06-09 Mark Diaz Pasadena, USA W KO 4 1937-06-15 Jackie Carter Los Angeles, USA W TKO 3 1937-07-08 Alf Blatch New York, USA W TKO 3 1937-07-19 Lew Massey Woodhaven, Queens, USA W TKO 4 1937-07-27 Benny Bass Philadelphia, USA W KO 4 1937-08-13 Eddie Brink New York, USA W KO 3 1937-08-16 Johnny Cabello Washington, USA W TKO 2 1937-08-31 Orville Drouillard Detroit, USA W TKO 5 1937-09-09 Charley Burns Millvale, USA W KO 4 1937-09-16 Johnny DeFoe New York, USA W TKO 4 1937-09-21 Bobby Dean Youngstown, USA W KO 1 1937-10-18 Joe Marciente Philadelphia, USA W KO 3 1937-10-29 Petey Sarron New York, USA W KO 6 National Boxing Association World Featherweight Title NYSAC World Featherweight Title 1937-11-19 Billy Beauhuld New York, USA W TKO 5 1937-11-23 Joey Brown Buffalo, USA W KO 2 1937-12-06 Tony Chavez Cleveland, USA W TKO 1 1937-12-12 Johnny Jones New Orleans, USA W KO 2
1938-01-12 Enrico Venturi New York, USA W KO 6 1938-01-21 Frankie Castillo Phoenix, USA W TKO 3 1938-01-22 Tommy Kayo Brown Tucson, USA W KO 2 1938-02-01 Chalky Wright Los Angeles, USA W KO 3 1938-02-09 Al Citrino San Francisco, USA W TKO 4 1938-02-25 Everett Rightmire Chicago, USA W TKO 4 1938-02-28 Charley Burns Minneapolis, USA W KO 2 1938-03-15 Baby Arizmendi Los Angeles, USA W PTS 10 1938-03-25 Eddie Zivic Detroit, USA W TKO 4 1938-03-30 Lew Feldman New York, USA W KO 5 1938-05-31 Barney Ross Long Island City, Queens, W UD 15 1938-08-17 Lou Ambers New York, USA W SD 15 1938-11-25 Ceferino Garcia New York, USA W UD 15 1938-12-05 Al Manfredo Cleveland, USA W TKO 3
1939-01-10 Baby Arizmendi Los Angeles, USA W PTS 10 1939-03-04 Bobby Pacho Havana, Cuba W TKO 4 1939-03-16 Lew Feldman Saint Louis, USA W KO 1 1939-03-31 Davey Day New York, USA W TKO 12 1939-05-25 Ernie Roderick Harringay, United Kingdom W PTS 15 1939-08-22 Lou Ambers Bronx, USA L UD 15 1939-10-09 Al Manfredo Des Moines, USA W TKO 4 1939-10-13 Howard Scott Minneapolis, USA W KO 2 1939-10-20 Ritchie Fontaine Seattle, USA W TKO 3 1939-10-24 Jimmy Garrison Los Angeles, USA W PTS 10 1939-10-30 Bobby Pacho Denver, USA W TKO 4 1939-12-11 Jimmy Garrison Cleveland, USA W KO 7
1940-01-04 Joe Ghnouly Saint Louis, USA W KO 5 1940-01-24 Pedro Montanez New York, USA W TKO 9 1940-03-01 Ceferino Garcia Los Angeles, USA D PTS 10 1940-04-26 Paul Junior Boston, USA W TKO 7 1940-05-24 Ralph Zannelli Boston, USA W TKO 5 1940-06-21 Paul Junior Portland, USA W TKO 3 1940-07-17 Lew Jenkins New York, USA W TKO 6 1940-09-23 Phil Furr Washington, USA W KO 4 1940-10-04 Fritzie Zivic New York, USA L UD 15
1941-01-17 Fritzie Zivic New York, USA L TKO 12
1942-06-01 Johnny Taylor San Jose, USA W TKO 4 1942-06-24 Sheik Rangel Oakland, USA W PTS 10 1942-07-03 Reuben Shank Denver, USA L UD 10 1942-07-20 Joe Ybarra Sacramento, USA W TKO 3 1942-08-03 Aldo Spoldi San Francisco, USA W TKO 7 1942-08-13 Jackie Burke Ogden, USA W PTS 10 1942-08-26 Rodolfo Ramirez Oakland, USA W KO 8 1942-09-07 Johnny Taylor Pittman, USA W TKO 3 1942-09-14 Leo Rodak San Francisco, USA W TKO 8 1942-09-30 Earl Turner Oakland, USA W KO 4 1942-10-13 Juan Zurita Los Angeles, USA W KO 2 1942-10-26 Fritzie Zivic San Francisco, USA W UD 10 1942-12-04 Lew Jenkins Portland, USA W TKO 8 1942-12-14 Saverio Turiello San Francisco, USA W TKO 4
1943-01-05 Jimmy McDaniels Los Angeles, USA W UD 10 1943-03-02 Willie Joyce Los Angeles, USA L MD 10 1943-03-08 Tippy Larkin San Francisco, USA W KO 2 1943-03-22 Al Tribuani Philadelphia, USA W UD 10 1943-04-02 Beau Jack New York, USA L UD 10 1943-05-03 Saverio Turiello Washington, USA W TKO 5 1943-05-07 Tommy Jessup Boston, USA W KO 1 1943-05-24 Maxie Shapiro Philadelphia, USA W TKO 7 1943-06-11 Sammy Angott New York, USA W UD 10 1943-07-24 Willie Joyce Los Angeles, USA W UD 10 1943-08-06 Jimmy Garrison Portland, USA W PTS 10 1943-08-14 Joey Silva Spokane, USA W PTS 10 1943-08-27 Sugar Ray Robinson New York, USA L UD 10
1944-01-14 Aldo Spoldi Portland, USA W KO 3 1944-01-25 Saverio Turiello Kansas City, USA W KO 7 1944-02-07 Lew Hanbury Washington, USA W KO 3 1944-02-23 Jimmy Garrison Kansas City, USA W TKO 5 1944-02-29 Jackie Byrd Des Moines, USA W KO 4 1944-03-14 Johnny Jones Miami, USA W KO 5 1944-03-20 Frankie Wills Washington, USA W UD 10 1944-03-24 Ralph Zannelli Boston, USA W UD 10 1944-04-25 John Thomas Los Angeles, USA W SD 10 1944-05-16 Ralph Zannelli Boston, USA W UD 10 1944-05-22 Aaron Perry Washington, USA W TKO 6 1944-06-02 Willie Joyce Chicago, USA L UD 10 1944-06-15 Al (Bummy) Davis New York, USA W TKO 2 1944-06-21 Nick Latsios Washington, USA W PTS 10 1944-07-04 John Thomas Los Angeles, USA L UD 10 1944-07-14 Slugger White Hollywood, USA D PTS 10 1944-08-21 Willie Joyce San Francisco, USA W PTS 10 1944-09-15 Aldo Spoldi Saint Louis, USA W KO 2 1944-11-04 Mike Belloise Portland, USA W KO 4
1945-01-17 Chester Slider Oakland, USA D PTS 10 1945-02-06 Genaro Rojo Los Angeles, USA W UD 10 1945-02-14 Chester Slider Oakland, USA L PTS 10
