Should Henry Armstrong be ranked higher than Ray Robinson?

1. Greb
2. Armstrong
3. Robinson
4. Langford
5. B. Leonard

 

01 SRR
02 Greb
03 Armstrong

04 Langford
05 Fitzsimmons

06 Charles
07 Moore

08 B. Leonard
09 Pep

10 J. Louis
11 Ali

12 Gans
13 Duran
14 Burley
15 Ross

But it has been a few years since I have rethought this, and it is terribly subjective and not an exact science. I could see armstrong anywhere in the top 5, whereas I could not see SRR outside of the top 3. He edges it for me, but no complaints from me either way...especially as Armstrong is one of my all time favs.

 

Yeah. People kick Robinson a lot for not taking on some guys or waiting 'til they were shot (like Tiger Wade or the rematch against Basora) to call them out, but Hank took some pretty big detours himself too. As for his losses, at 135 he wasn't a hundred percent anymore, so I actually give him credit for being that competitive considering the opposition. That said, he just can't beat Robbie's dominance over two divisions for such a long time.

 

Depends what you like. 59-1-1 (arguably 61-0) with fifty one knockouts over three full divisions and nineteen title defences (eighteen of them in the most relatively difficult of said divisions, a record that still stands) in only three years just does it for me, and that's without mentioning before '37 and post '40.

Let us remember the sheer number of 'name' opponents and Hall of Famers Armstrong beat:

Frankie Covelli
Varias Milling (x2)
Bobby Levyas
Juan Zurita (x2)
Mike Belloise (x3)
Rodolfo Casanova
Tony Chavez (x2)
Moon Mullins
Aldo Spoldi (x4)
Frankie Klick
Ritchie Fontaine (x2)
Lew Massey
Enrique Venturi
Pete DeGrasse
Petey Sarron
Billy Beauhuld
Frankie Castillo
Everett Rightmire
Lew Feldman (x2)
Ceferino Garcia (x2)
Al Manfredo (x2)
Bobby Pacho (x2)
Davey Day
Ernie Roderick
Jimmy Garrison (x4)
Paul Junior (x2)
Joe Ghnouly
Ralph Zannelli (x3)
Sheik Rangel
Leo Rodak
Jimmy McDaniels
Tippy Larkin
Maxie Shapiro
Willie Joyce (x2)
Frankie Wills
John Thomas
Saverio Turiello (x3)
Al Davis

Midget Wolgast
Baby Arizmendi (x3)
Benny Bass
Chalky Wright
Barney Ross
Lou Ambers
Lew Jenkins (x2)
Fritzie Zivic
Sammy Angott
Pedro Montanez

All listed fighters were at some point featured in the RING's annual top ten.

 

Yeah, you've gotta give it to Henry. He was still beating top contenders like Willie Joyce and Sammy Angott (curiously in the same year Angott gave Pep his very first defeat) when people thought he had absolutely nothing else left.
He also has the distinction of being maybe the only fighter who can be argued among the top ten of three different weight divisions.

 

Combination of skills, technique, athletics and durability. I think p4p he's the h2h best fighter in history.

 

The case is there, of course, but I don't like it. Robinson's resume is on par, he was at least as dominant, has far superior longevity, and is one of the few (the only definite one, I feel) that actually looks more impressive on film than Hank. Armstrong shares place with Charles, both just falling short of the top 3 for me.

 

Their H2H encounter doesn`t come into it, Robinson was in his prime & Armstrong wasn`t... these 2 are arguably the top 2 greatest fighters in boxing history, I rank SRR no1 personally, Armstrong anywhere from 2-4 is fair as well.

If anyone can be ranked over Robinson then Armstrong has as good a claim as anyone I suppose... I think Robinson was more consistent & on film looks every bit the best fighter in history (& thats not even his absolute peak)... he has Henry beat for longevity too, he was never knocked out in a 25 year career, just that one time were he couldn`t come out for the 14th vs Maxim at 175 lbs... Armstrong did suffer a few knockout losses.

Robinson for me was the best that ever did it.

 

I don't buy that armstrong was past prime when robinson beat him.

Armstrong has very good longevity as a contender just not a champion. Sure he had his best run for those 3 years but I don't think he was any worse as a boxer just because zivic beat him twice. Henry actually overturned those defeats.

 

I rate Armstrong as the best P4P all-time -- at a given point in his career. Nothing in history stands up to holding three of the original eight weight-class championships at the same time. So if I look at it like who at their very peak stands as No. 1, I go with Armstrong.

Robinson I rate higher -- P4P best -- for career achievement.

 

SRR
Armstrong
Greb
Langford

Should be everyone's top 4.

 

I think I can completely agree with this. Noone else can match that achievement at any given point.

 

Tons of title defences, not losing his titles all the time like Robinson did. It is a possiblity worth discussion.

 

Fuuuuuck! :admin