The greatness swarmer of all time imo. No fighter has repeated Armstrong's work rate. Not even such swarmers like Fraizer or Marciano. Armstrong would fight his foes chest to chest, thowing punchings were ever they went. He never let off the gas, no matter how fast the other guy was, Armstrong was going to be in there chest. I have about 6 or so Armstrong fights, and I pretty amazing at this guy's work rate.
There were only eight weight divisions, he was champ in three at same time. Also, all were true titles, he could not pick and choose between belt holders to win a title, he had to beat the ONE champ, which is how it should be. He also came close to winning a fourth title, which is incredible. He can very well be greatest ever, is without a doubt in top ten of greatest ever list. He does not get enough recognition. When I see an *******, Paul Malinaggi, go on Friday Night Fights and say Floyd Mayweather is greatest of all time, I get sick.
Mayweather Jr, is still a few levels below a Armstrong. Perhaps he always will be. There is relly no one out there for him to prove it.
Tell me about it. When Armstrong faced a past prime Ross (a better fighter than DLH all time AND at the stage that Armstrong fought him compared to the time Floyd fought DLH) he didn't crawl over the line with a split decision, he beat him down mercilessly.
I have him ranked 3rd, behind Robinson and Greb. But I don't have any problems with anybody ranking him higher. You can't ignore his accomplishments; holding the 126, 135, and 147 pound titles at the same time (getting robbed at 160) and the great fighters he beat.
A much older friend of mine fought Henry Armstrong back in the early thirties out in California....as an amateur, or sparred together as pros. Can't remember which. His B-17 was shot down over the Germany and he was capured by the German army before the farmers pitchforked him, and they threw him into a POW camp for the rest of the war. I jokingly asked him which was tougher the Germans or Armstrong?, and he laughed and said: 'Armstrong".
No actually I'm saying it because I've seen his fights with Canzoneri (the second), McLarnin (all three) and Petrolle and he seemed to have slowed half a step. He wasn't as quick, nor as energetic.
I agree. Armstrong was a special fighter. Who did he get robbed with at 160? Regarding styles, a great swarmer is often the hardest man to beat in the lower weights.