Henry Armstrong v Sweat Pea Whitaker

As for current fighters being `better`... Some of the past greats had close to(or more than ) 200 fights ,against all types of competition... They also worked tediously and tirelessly on honing their skills. Moore,Louis, SRR,Armstrong etc... So saying their skill set is less than is inaccurate. Whitaker is an amazing defensive genius ! That being said,Armstrong was a whirling offensive dynamo ! I think he gets in Whitaker`s grill all night and flat out outhustle`s him. 15 Rd UD...

 

I think this is a great fight and it could go either way for me... I'm of the belief that as awkward as Henry could be.. he was there to be hit.. especially by somebody as good at staying in the pocket and countering.. using angles/side stepping and countering.. and fighting of his back foot with a jab and countering. Henry never faced anybody with as good a jab as pea nor as good defensively as pea... he also never fough anybody with as good a radar as pea... For me this fight stinks of controversy.. I could see Pea getting the nod for looking like the superior boxer and ring general.. but the crowd not being happy because they liked the workrate and aggression of Henry.

 

Making good points as always K ! Pea did have that radar,even standing right in front of you he could flat out make you miss. But, Armstrong is so damn physical and busy...I tell you this, for either one to win they`d have to bring their A game that night ! hey can we talk about 140 lbs of Pryor against Pea ??

 

Whitaker is just a bit better all style issues aside for my money.

But Whitaker beat Chavez and he wasn't just defence even if he didn't have the greatest dig.

 

Barney Ross had one of the great jabs of all time and Hank walked through him `47. I do agree that he never faced anyone as good defensively as Sweet Pea because there just isn`t many on that level. With that said Armstrong wasn`t just a head hunter he would focus on the body which is a bigger and easier targert than hitting Whitaker in the head consistently.

 

Good post.

 

These are some of the most knowledgeable threads Ive ever read!
There are great cases for both men.
Im taking the easy way out and taking Hank 2 out of 3

 

Homicide Hank by decision, Armstrong would hit Sweet Pea on the shoulders , hips, elbows , arms and anywhere he could. I see Whitaker having some beautiful moments counter punching , slipping and moving but it would get swallowed up by Henry's non stop attack and the fact Sweet Pea can't hurt Armstrong, 145 -142

 

That's almost like saying good hitting beat good pitching. Almost. Willie Pep would be in the dustbin of history if what you said was true.

 

Armstrong. Too active. Too forcefully and with great skills, his physicality trumps Whitaker's defensive moments and quickness.

Some judges might give an out landed Whitaker the nod based on defense and counting.

It's a fascinating fantasy match up.