Henry Armstrong vs Ray Robinson @ 147lbs

Rocky Balboa · Post by **Rocky Balboa** » 27 Jan 2004, 14:52

In my opinion, Armstrong and Robinson are the two gretest boxers ever, pound-4-pound. I believe in the debate of deciding who is the single best boxer ever, pound-4-pound, it is extremely difficult to seperate these two past greats!

A lot of Boxing people have in the past seemd to feel the best pound-4-pound debate was between Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali. How people can suggest that Ali should be higher on a pound-4-pound list than Armstrong, I will never know!

Imagine a prime Robinson and Armstrong boxed each other! What a contest this would have been. I know they fought each other, but I think Henry was maybe past it when that happened.

I would like to hear your views on this one! I am going to sit on 'the fence' as it were, and stay neutral - and not give a prediction.

Thanks.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 27 Jan 2004, 15:20

This would have been a real classic with both in there prime, they did fight in the mid 40s but Armstrong was just a shadow of his best by then... had they met when both were in their primes I see it being very close but I lean towards Armstrong... I think he'd be too busy too strong he'd be on Rays chest and crowd him and punish him on the inside... Ray was outhustled by sluggers like Lamotta, Fulmer, Basilo during his career... and although the latter defeats came when he was a middle and past his best I feel the way to beat Ray at his best was to pressure and out hustle him... no one could outbox him at his best... Armstrong had a iron chin and endless stamina and great speed... all would be needed... so I say Armstrong by points after classic.... mind you if it were a series of fights I'd go for both taking turns beating each other ...in close fights... but give Armstrong overall edge...

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 27 Jan 2004, 15:57

Yeah, I would say Armstrong by a close 15 round decision.

Personally I have Armstrong as the greatest Welterweight of All Time and Robinson as the greatest Middleweight of all time.

P4P i'd say Armstrong was the greatest, with Robinson a very close 2nd.

People talk about armstrongs work-rate but he was also very difficult to hit and had one of the greatest chins in the history of boxing.