Henry Armstrong

Early life He was born Henry Jackson Jr. on December 12, 1912, in Columbus, Mississippi. He was the son of Henry Jackson Sr., a sharecropper of African American descent and his mother America Jackson, a half-Cherokee. 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. There he became involved in boxing. He graduated as an honor student from Vashon High School in St. Louis

In 1936, Armstrong split his time among Los Angeles, Mexico City and St. Louis. A few notable opponents of that year include Ritchie Fontaine, Baby Arizmendi, former world champion Juan Zurita, and Mike Belloise.

In 1937 alone, Armstrong went 27–0 (26KO). Aldo Spoldi was the only opponent to take him the full 10 rounds. He knocked out Baby Casanova in three rounds, Belloise in four, Joe Rivers in three, former world champion Frankie Klick in four, and former world champion Benny Bass in four.

In 1938, Armstrong started the year with seven more knockouts in a row, including one over Chalky Wright, a future world champion. The streak finally ended when Arizmendi lasted ten rounds before losing a decision to Armstrong in their fourth fight. Armstrong's streak of 27 knockout wins in a row qualifies as one of the longest knockout win streaks in the history of boxing.

Later in 1938, Armstrong, still the Featherweight division world champion, challenged Barney Ross for the title. Later a fellow member of the three division champions' club, Ross was then World Welterweight Champion. Armstrong, at pounds, beat Ross, at 142 pounds, by unanimous decision, adding the World Welterweight Championship to his belt. Armstrong lost weight in order to compete in the lower weight division, and beat World Lightweight Champion Lou Ambers by split decision. Armstrong was the first boxer ever to hold world championships in three different weight divisions at the same time. He decided not to maintain the required 126-pound weight anymore and left the featherweight crown vacant. According to boxing historian Bert Sugar, many commentators of the time said that Armstrong deserved the decision in this fight. Armstrong (right) demonstrating some boxing techniques to a US Army member during an exhibition tour in 1943. 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. This ended Armstrong's reign as Welterweight Champion. Armstrong's 19 successful title defenses are still the most in history in the Welterweight division.

In 1945, Armstrong retired from boxing. His official record was 152 wins, 21 losses and 9 draws, with 101 knockout wins. 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. He became a born-again Christian and an ordained Baptist minister and youth advocate, helping to run the Herbert Hoover Boys Club. He also taught young fighters how to box. In 1987, he was among those inductees from The Ring list who were absorbed into the International Boxing Hall of Fame when it was established. In 2007, The Ring magazine ranked Armstrong as the second-greatest fighter of the last 80 years. In 2007, ESPN ranked Armstrong as number 3 on their list of the 50 greatest boxers of all time.

Professional boxing record

Titles in boxing Major world titles NYSAC featherweight champion (126 lbs) NBA (WBA) featherweight champion (126 lbs) NYSAC lightweight champion (135 lbs) NBA (WBA) lightweight champion (135 lbs) NYSAC welterweight champion (147 lbs) NBA (WBA) welterweight champion (147 lbs)

The Ring magazine titles The Ring featherweight champion (126 lbs) The Ring lightweight champion (135 lbs) The Ring welterweight champion (147 lbs)

Regional titles California State featherweight champion (126 lbs) California–Mexico featherweight champion (126 lbs)

Undisputed titles Undisputed featherweight champion Undisputed lightweight champion Undisputed welterweight champion