Armstrong - who didn't he face, why and how would it have gone down?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by PowerPuncher, Nov 16, 2008.


  1. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    Charles Burley - probably the best Welter of the time

    Holman Williams - maybe the second best Welter of the day, great from lightweight to MW beating Burley, Archie Moore, Cocoa Kid amongst others

    Cocoa Kid - coloured Welterweight champion, it would seem a natural fight

    Willie Pep - different divsions but both Joyce fought a series of Armstrong-Pepp-Armstrong, and ANgott fought them both back to back, if only Pepp and Armstrong had fought instead.

    So why didn't these fights happen and how would they go down? Who else didn't Armstrong face of his era?
     
    PowerPuncher, Nov 16, 2008
    PowerPuncher, Nov 16, 2008
    #1
  2. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Burley lost a couple when Armstrong came to the title (Williams and Bivins). He also broke his hand right before Zivic got his shot at Armstrong, which was the real kicker of course (Burley having proved his superiority to Zivic). So Burley had neither luck, nor curcumstance on his side.

    Burley ws trying to make the fight during this time, and was repeatedly told that Armstrong was not going to defend his title at 147 and was dropping back down (not true - someone was ducking Burley on Armstrong's behalf).

    Obviously Burley would have won, had Charley fought Armstrong instead of Zivc.
     
    McGrain, Nov 16, 2008
    McGrain, Nov 16, 2008
    #2
  3. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    YEs I don't really hold the Burley fight too much against Armstrong, he probably was steered away from Armstrong but Zivic bought his contract out and effectively blacked him out the division, pardon the pun. We all know Burley should have got the shot instead of Zivic. Losing at 160 to the future LHW no1 and Ezzard Charles conquoror in Bivins isn't too much of a black mark.

    I still think Burley was the uncrowned Welter king of the period and would trounce Armstrong none the less
     
    PowerPuncher, Nov 16, 2008
    PowerPuncher, Nov 16, 2008
    #3
  4. My2Sense

    My2Sense Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Armstrong was supposedly all set to defend his title against Marcel Cerdan (who was a welterweight at the time), but the war came and Cerdan's career was sidelined. What a shame that fight didn't happen. Who knows what would've happened if it had.
     
    My2Sense, Nov 17, 2008
    My2Sense, Nov 17, 2008
    #4
  5. Freedom

    Freedom Guest

    This would be a great fight.
    Armstrong was strong and determined, he was a great and it would be no surprise if he caught up with Pep in the later rounds. Remember when boxing was great, there were 15 rounds to prove who the real champions were.

    Two out of three fights for Armstrong.
     
    Freedom, Nov 17, 2008
    Freedom, Nov 17, 2008
    #5
  6. pmfan

    pmfan Active Member Full Member

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    Although he did fight a lot of guys as well, scooting around from division to division as he did. I would give the guy a break. Didn't Charles beat Burley twice? Charles is one of the greatest fighters of all time.
     
    pmfan, Nov 18, 2008
    pmfan, Nov 18, 2008
    #6
  7. My2Sense

    My2Sense Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Armstrong was a welterweight at that time, Pep a featherweight. Pep was able to fight those other guys because they were only lightweights. Pep would've had to go up two major weight classes to fight Armstrong, not one.

    And given how badly Pep fared against Angott (who was beaten by Armstrong in his next time out), it was probably wise that he didn't do that.
     
    My2Sense, Nov 18, 2008
    My2Sense, Nov 18, 2008
    #7