Henry Armstrong :: Ring Legend

[NaptownBorn]

Your Ring Legend videos are great. Very impressive! Guess there's a reason you're the boxing historian? Ha, good show!

[AirJohnston]

some pacquiao fans have told me if pacquiao beats cotto.. he'll be more accomplished than armstrong for winning in 7 different weight classes... but they simply just font know how great henry was in his day.

[Randineous]

I'm not meaning to purposely pimp Peter Heller's writings again, Mark, but my favourite boxing book has to be his work on 'In This Corner'. It came out in the early 70's and the book is based on Heller interviewing something like 40 past champions covering all generations (going back to the 1910's). What is written in the book is largely based on each of the fighters' own words. It's excellant, and Armstrong's chapter is one of the best in the book.

[Randineous]

Great video, Mark.

And if you're curious at all, Barney Ross also won and held three titles simultaneously in three weight divisions after he defeated Jimmy McLarnin for the welter crown. Added that championship to his lightweight & jr welter titles before losing the welter crown back to McLarnin later in the year. Gave up the other two apx 1 month before the third fight (mid April of 1935 when he handed them over to the NYSAC).

(Cont)

[Randineous]

Ross doesn't get a whole lot of credit for being the first to accomplish the feat and that's probably to do with some considering the jr welterweight title as nothing but a synthetic title back in the day. But he is in the books now as a triple division champion, so the factual timeline of it all says that those who consider him as such have to also consider him accomplishing the 'simultaneous three division champion' feat.

[essexboy240]

This is spot on. Barney Ross was the first to do it. Take nothing away from Armstrong but Ross often doesnt get the props he deserves. Great vid though.

[Tenpin]

Good vid as always boxing historian but I think Armstrong won the welterweight title and then went down to lightweight to challenge Lou Ambers for his title. I'm not 100% but I think he also has the longest ko streak at 27. I'm going to the Froch vs Dirrell fight next month are you there?

[MyAragorn]

great vid!

[biltastic]

fantastic

[Voice4Vendetta]

after hearing all you just said I must admit,Henry really is amazing for all he did.

I did not know he challenged for the middleweight title and I thought he had only defended the welterweight crown 4 times,Was I off lol

He should be considered the best of all time,Aside from Pep and Robinson.

Great video thank you for the informational history on this mans career,I always love to learn more since im only 18

[Voice4Vendetta]

These are my all time favorites.

Willy Pep

Henry Armstrong

Ray Robinson

I favor the smaller men from those times mainly due to the fact the weight differences were so drastic when the classes limits spread out to 10lbs or so,in saying that I favored smaller men especially revolutionary like fighters Henry and Pep.