Armstrong, Henry
[Henry Jackson, Jr.]
Boxing
b. Dec. 12, 1912, Columbus, MS
d. Oct. 22, 1988
As an amateur, originally fighting under the name Melody Jackson, Armstrong won 58 of 62 bouts. His professional career got off to a bad start on July 27, 1931, when he was knocked out by Al Iovino in the 3rd round at Braddock, PA. However, he went on to become the first fighter to hold three world championships simultaneously.
An unrelenting attacker, Armstrong was known variously as "Perpetual Motion," "Homicide Hank," the "Human Buzzsaw," and "Hurricane Henry." He won the world featherweight title by knocking out Petey Sarron in the 6th round on October 29, 1937. Then he stepped all the way up to the welterweight division and won that championship with 15-round decision over Barney Ross on May 31, 1938.
Less than three months later, Armstrong dropped down to win the lightweight championship with a hard-fought, controversial 15-round decision over Lou Ambers on August 17.
Armstrong never defended the featherweight championship, and surrendered it late in 1938 because he couldn't make the weight. He lost the lightweight title to Ambers on a 15-round decision on August 22, 1939. Armstrong went for a fourth championship, in the middleweight class, against Ceferino Garcia on March 1, 1940, but Garcia retained his title in a 10-round draw.
After 20 successful defenses, Armstrong lost the welterweight championship to Fritzie Zivic on a 15-round decision on October 4, 1940. Their rematch at Madison Square Garden on January 17, 1941, drew 23,190 fans, the largest crowd ever to watch an indoor sporting event at the time. Zivic knocked Armstrong out in the 12th round.
Armstrong continued fighting into early 1945 before retiring. He later became a Baptist minister and worked with young men in Los Angeles and St. Louis.
In 180 professional fights, Armstrong had 150 victories, 100 by knockout. He lost 21, 2 by knockout, and had 8 draws and 1 no-decision.