Just finished watching quite a bit (tho not the full fight) of Henry Armstrong (126 lb champ) trying to take Barney Ross`s 147 lb title... **** me, he left no doubt in anyone`s mind as to who won that one did he ? Ive seen Barney Ross`s name on numerous ATG lists & he was clearly the bigger man but he just could not keep Homicide Hank off him from rds 1-15. Awesome display of pressure fighting, utterly relentless, cant believe I took so long to catch up on footage of Armstrong. Anyone that thinks Armstrong couldnt dominate these days needs their head checked, the footage was clearer than I expected, definitely a top 10 p4per IMO, Ive been convinced. :good
You do realize that Ross was at the tail-end of his career there, right? Still a very good and impressive win for Armstrong, as Ross was still a very game fighter, but that wasn't a prime Ross in there.
I didnt know that Ross was that far past his best... either way, incredible for a FWT champion to make that jump even tho WWT sounds as if it was Henry`s most comfortable weight. Apparently Hank was robbed for the MWT title vs Garcia when it was ruled a draw... Hank already beat Garcia earlier, tho at what weight Im not sure, Id guess WWT. Ive seen good highlights of one of their fights & Armstrong did look the boss... he seems as if he`d be a nightmare for any fighter in history at his own best hence his continual top 5 ranking.
wasnt rosses prime at lightweight and that fight was at welter so he was a bit past it but you cant take away from hank winning a welter title
Great win for Armstrong even though Ross was not at his best anymore. Armstrong gave alot of great fights and should have been awarded the Middleweight crown as well.
Henry Armstrong was an incredible fighter!!! His stamina, durability and will to win were amazing. In 1937, Armstrong had 27 FIGHTS, winning all 27 with 26 of the wins by KO!!! There is a very nice website that Henry Armstrong's grandchildren dedicated to his memory: http://www.henryarmstrong.net A truly alltime great fighter. Grebfan9 www.firstroundboxing.com
Ross had begun to lose some of his fire by then (as his previous title defense against Ceferino Garcia suggested), but he still was very highly regarded and was favored to beat Armstrong. NO ONE expected it to be a one-sided beating. The notion that Armstrong simply beat a "shot" Ross is a revisionist one.
What rounds did you give to Ross? I love Ross, but I didn't see any rounds he clearly won. He was never able to get the upper hand at any distance, inside or out, and that was the story of the fight from start to finish.
Armstrong actually hit his peak around where jr. lightweight is today. If he was fighting today, he'd not only have won that title, but would've gone down as arguably the best ever in that division, right alongside Arguello, Mayweather, Azumah, etc.
