People, Locations, Episodes

Henry Armstrong, Boxer born

Henry Armstrong

On this date, we mark the birth of Henry Armstrong in 1912. He was a Black boxer.

Henry Jackson was born in Columbus, MS. Early in his career, he boxed under Melody Jackson. Armstrong fought as an amateur from 1929 to 1932 and first won the featherweight (126-pound) title by knocking out Petey Sarron in six rounds on October 29, 1937. 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 a decision to win the lightweight (135-pound) title.

Late in 1938, he resigned from the featherweight championship without having defended it, and on August 22, 1939, he lost the lightweight crown in a 15-round return fight with Ambers.

Armstrong was a busy welterweight champion, successfully defending the title 19 times in two years.  On October 4, 1940, he lost the championship when Fritzie Zivic out-pointed him in 15 rounds. His attempt to regain the championship from Zivic on January 17, 1941, resulted in his knockout in the 12th round by Zivic.

On March 1, 1940, Armstrong attempted to win from Ceferino Garcia the New York State version of the middleweight (160-pound) title, which was then in dispute. Still, the decision was a draw, permitting Garcia to retain the championship. Armstrong retired from the ring in 1945. He had fought 26 world title fights and, from 1931 to 1945, had fought 175 bouts, winning 97 by knockouts.

Intelligent and a fluent speaker, he turned to preach and was ordained a Baptist minister in 1951. Henry Armstrong, the only professional boxer to hold three world championship titles simultaneously, died on October 24, 1988, in Los Angeles, California.

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