Puzzled By Henry Armstrong’s Fighting Style

By outworking, I mean punches thrown, and roughing / grappling in the clinches combined. I never saw his punch stats.

 

Advantage Pat M.

Game, set and match, Pat M.

 

He would also bring his head upwards from down low into his opponents head slot, which would make any opponent trying to crouch or bend straighten up, then Hank could apply his pressure on the sides, head on the opponents right shoulder for left body shots and hooks (like Olivares), on the left shoulder for conventional inside defence and uppercuts (like Duran). A very wrestler like tactic; Chavez was also a master at it, but Armstrong is unique in how he seamlessly juggled all three head positions constantly.

 

Just in case you haven't watched these. Very good analyses of Armstrong's style. He did so many things at a very high level that he gets underrated for.

 

From the footage I've seen of him that's widely available, he seems a master at getting his opponent to fight his fight. Ross, Ambers, Garcia - they are all forced into unnatural fighting positions, their own work smothered. Armstrong uses his shoulders (and his head) to keep them on the back foot perpetually.

If he was around today, I don't think he would be able to use that style because he would be constantly at risk of being docked points or being disqualified for using his head too much.

 

**** off with any refs that wouldn't give Armstrong fighting his fight, it's a beautiful boxing. Purest infighting imaginable.

 

No argument from me on that!