Henry Armstrong - greatest puncher

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Manassa, Feb 24, 2011.


  1. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Mar 21, 2007
    Armstrong is definitely the most fascinating offence of all time for me. I think often, he wasn't actually trying for the knockout if he felt he wasn't going to get it. The Ambers fight is instructive. Unless Ambers gets violent (When he starts wheeling out the really big shots) he is concentrating on work rate and accuracy, landing punches, collecting points, winning the round.

    Ambers plays ball IMO. He seems reluctant to attack Hank. As a pathology, it is pretty much the most frightening thing i've seen in the ring.

    I think he's a puncher. In composite terms he's with the very best.
     
  2. burt bienstock

    burt bienstock Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Jan 22, 2010
    What an immortal fighter was Armstrong.!At his best, I think he was probably the best featherweight that ever lived,[along with Terry McGovern]. His non-stop attack was
    unmatched in a little man over the distance. His head and shoulders ,always in his opponents face,made his overhand right even more lethal. Henry was reputed to have a resting pulse in the mid-40s, which gave him such endurance, enabling to sustain his
    offense,without tiring. The only fighter who had this ability to sustain such an attack through 15 rounds was the bigger Harry Greb. But Greb also had the footwork speed
    to avoid the punishment that Armstrong took ,and Greb was far less predictable and
    more varied in his offense.
    I saw Armstrong twice in my life.First time in 1943 at MSG when my favorite action fighter
    Beau Jack decisioned the past prime Armstrong,and a couple of months after when 22
    year old sensation Ray Robinson toyed with the fading Henry...Ray took it easy on his
    idol...Fritzie Zivic,about the same age as Armstrong tko'd, Henry in 12 rounds in 1941.
    Zivic was murder in close with an opponent that didn't run ,and his uppercuts,and
    roughness cut Armnstrong's face to pieces. A great accumulative puncher was Henry
    Armstrong ,who's likes we will never see again. IMO...