Ike had his hands full with Beau Jack who was a bit similar to Armstrong stylewise but Henry is on another level, I think he edges Ike over 15. Over 10 I can see Ike beating him.
another good matchup, shommel.you're on a roll at the moment.i always think they're good match ups when its too close to close
I think Ike proved himself rather conclusively against Jack and the like. Historically and stylistically, this sort of fight is where he's at his best. Still, Armstrong's class makes it 50/50 for me. I'll have to sit and have a think.
Yeah, that's how I see it too. It's one of these fights where if they fought a trilogy, each fight could look pretty different. I don't think it is inevitable that Williams ploughs him given how skilled Armstrong was in his style. In a fight where, as you say, the styles favour Williams so heavily, it is tempting to plump for him. How big do you really think the class gap is here? I think that Armstrong was incredible, but I think this is a fight he could lose. I'll pick Williams, no money going down.
Not very big. There's just something about Armstrong's style that makes it hard for me to lump him in with the rest when it comes to styles. As the old ESB adage goes, "he went through styles". Not to insinuate that he'd go through Williams, it's just a doozy of a pick.
B' a few observations...I saw all three of them fight. First of all. Ike Williams never had his "hands full ' with Beau Jack. Ike beat Beau decisivley three times.. Secondly Beau Jack in p rime beat a 31 year old Henry Armstrong in 1943,a few months before I saw Ray Robinson toy with Armstrong . That being said, I think in their primes, i would give an edge to Armstrong' but wouldn't bet any money against the bigger destructive punching Ike Williams. Pick em fight for me...
Very close matchup, but my money is on my man, Henry Armstrong proved his fighting skills at differente weights always keeping a murderous punching power, he even managed to beat fighters who were supposed to be the "bigger guy" like Barney Ross.
I like Williams by UD or late TKO. Armstrong will push him to the limit with his workrate, but in the end, this will be Henry's undoing. Ike will catch him one too many times.
I got Armstrong, just. I reckon he is more durable and has the body attack to trouble Ike. In a war of attrition, I like Armstrong to do what he does best but in the process takes some career shortening punishment. I think Ike does very well early but ultimately gets worn down..It is a very interesting stylistic match.
One of those fights was a split decision and another was a draw, but in their only fight close to their primes, Williams did win by a decisive TKO although he had his teeth punched out before the stoppage and certainly looked to have his hands full. I think Beau Jack was a bit more stationary than Armstrong, and his punches were certainly less compact. Jack did beat an older Armstrong, who then claimed to have been robbed, but it was probably just a case of a younger, fresher man outworking the old pro. The question to me is whether Williams has it in him to stop or significantly hurt Armstrong, the way he did Beau Jack. Otherwise I'd go for Armstrong to win a decision, or even score a stoppage if the punishment really piles up.
Hm, what I have seen from their fights Williams got the better of Jack but in no way he had an easy time. And Armstrong is just one or two classes above Jack, even so he beat an older past-prime Henry. Like I wrote, I think Armstrong edges Williams, it would be aterrific and close bout. I certainly wouldn´t bet money. Over ten I think Williams has a better chance and I would make him the favourite.
