BoxRec

What do you guys think of Henry Armstrong's 19 title defenses of the world welterweight crown? Was it overrated or an underrated feat?

How about his 11 title defenses in 1939? 3 in one month?

Overrated or Underrated in your opinion?

I believe that it was an amazing accomplishment.

Ummm...Elmer?

It's very difficult to overrate Armstrong IMO.

He achieved some remarkable things in his career.

Neither...rated the way it should be for the most part.

I would say underrated. Especially considering he did it in only a couple of years. Anytime you can defend a title that many times it means something, and even if all of his opposition wasn't so good he did beat a couple of good fighters. Some fighters base their whole careers on title reigns as long as Armstrong's (Holmes, Hopkins, Calzaghe) and yet this wasn't even Armstrong's biggest achievment. And those guys did it over the course of several years, compared to Armstrong who had defended his title ten times in one year while also defending his Lightweight title a couple of times. If it weren't for his holding three titles in three weight classes simultaneously his achievement of most Welterweight title defenses would get more attention.

I think most things about armstrong are over looked and under rated.

Only true fans know his name let alone his talent.

Its sad really, that such a tough, skilled guy should go over looked
by a great many 'fan's'.

Kym

He avoided Burley from the time he won the welter title .. as great a fighter as Armstrong was .. he could never be seen as one of the all time greats at any of the weights he held the titles at.

tonyevs wrote:He avoided Burley from the time he won the welter title .. as great a fighter as Armstrong was .. he could never be seen as one of the all time greats at any of the weights he held the titles at.

SAY WHAT? HE AVOIDED BURLEY? I COULD NOT PICTURE SOMEONE LIKE ARMSTRONG TO AVOID BURLEY.

In fairness to a number of top fighters who avoided
Charley Burley, it is probable that the latter made
less than $100,000. in ring earnings during his
entire career due to the fact that he wasn't
a good drawing card. Think about it......why
should someone face someone like Burley if
he can fight a much less formidable fighter
who was a top gate attraction?

- Chuck Johnston

elmersalsa wrote:

tonyevs wrote:He avoided Burley from the time he won the welter title .. as great a fighter as Armstrong was .. he could never be seen as one of the all time greats at any of the weights he held the titles at.

SAY WHAT? HE AVOIDED BURLEY? I COULD NOT PICTURE SOMEONE LIKE ARMSTRONG TO AVOID BURLEY.

The truth is sometimes hard to believe
Why do you find it so hard to believe he`d avoid Burley? .. after all Burley had twice already beaten the man who was to beat Armstrong for the title

Armstrong is one of the top 3 P4P fighters of all-time...certainly top 5. All of his accomplishments were remarkable, but his most impressive feat, in my opinion, is when he won world titles at 126, 135 and 147 within around a year of time, which should have been four titles as he deserved the win against Garcia for 160 pound honors, which he had beaten Garcia before. Winning belts in three divisions today is really cheap compared to what Armstrong did as fighters today can win three belts in a span of 10, or 11 total pounds and Armstrong's feat spanned 21 pounds and nearly a span of 34 pounds.

Armstrong is one of my fave fighters, and he was everything as good as people here are rightly saying.

It just seems a contradiction when I have to add that I cannot place him in the top 5 P4P of any of the divisions he won titles at

tonyevs wrote:Armstrong is one of my fave fighters, and he was everything as good as people here are rightly saying.

It just seems a contradiction when I have to add that I cannot place him in the top 5 P4P of any of the divisions he won titles at

Why not? I could see him in the top 126 and 147 pounders of all time in the top 3 easily.