Henry Armstrong's title reign is overrated

[nightowl]

I think there's way too much credit given to Armstrong's title accomplishments and reign. You always hear people talking about how Armstrong was a great champion in three divisions at the same time and about how great he ruled during his title reign.

Armstrong was only in one featherweight title fight, which he won. So he didn't really have a reign there.

Armstrong is 1-1 in lightweight title fights, fighting the same man twice.

His welterweight title reign is obviously the most impressive. He had good wins over Barney Ross, Ceferino Garcia and Baby Arizmendi. Unfortunately, those three along with Davey Day and Ernie Roderick are the fighters who were rated in the top 10 when he fought them. Meaning only 5 of his 20 welterweight title fights were against top 10 fighters.

I give respect to the man, because anyone who becomes champion in three weight classes deserves respect. I just think his title accomplishments and reign is given way more credit than it deserves.

Any thoughts/opinions?

[frankenfrank]

I think he should be rated even higher at 135 and 140 than he is already , because he was a LW when he was the champion at WW , it is a Pacmanic type of achievement , the essence of P4P.

[carlos slim]

henry armstrong wouldnt last today....he would get killed by manny, im not saying it as a joke but manny is 10x stronger faster smarter more determined...armstrong is so damn predictable...i could see him hanging with todays 140 because they are good not great, but not 147...

[TheGreatA]

henry armstrong wouldnt last today....he would get killed by manny, im not saying it as a joke but manny is 10x stronger faster smarter more determined...armstrong is so damn predictable...i could see him hanging with todays 140 because they are good not great, but not 147...

Even if Pacquiao were indeed faster and stronger, what is the proof of him being more determined? Not saying Pacquiao lacks heart at all, but Armstrong was one of the toughest men to ever box.

I do think that Armstrong is stronger than Pacquaio though, as Armstrong was able to push around the bigger Ceferino Garcia, while Pacquiao was not necessarily physically stronger than Clottey, Cotto, Hatton and De La Hoya, though obviously more powerful and faster. This same Ceferino Garcia dismantled one of the strongest middleweights of the era Fred Apostoli by outbullying the bully. Armstrong was unbelievably strong for a featherweight/lightweight. Pacquiao is unbelievably fast and powerful, but not necessarily even stronger than Mayweather.

Armstrong is fairly one-dimensional when compared to the top all-time greats, but very, very difficult to deal with. He bobs and weaves constantly, positions himself perfectly on the inside and works for the full 15 rounds without tiring. He was a good puncher, took a great punch and was fairly fast, not exactly slow by any means. The perfect pressure fighter, in my opinion.

Good head on his shoulders too, he didn't just walk in but figured out his opponents over the distance and utilized different strategies against different styles. You can see him using the jab and footwork more against a tough slugger like Arizmendi than against Barney Ross whom he swarmed constantly to prevent the clever Ross from using his brilliant boxing skills. The experience of hundreds of professional fights against numerous styles is very telling in those fights. He took on punchers, boxers, defensive artists and swarmers and beat them all. No one style could claim superiority over him, except possibly the rough tactics of a Fritzie Zivic who nearly gouged his eyes out, but Armstrong was able to beat him also.