Henry Armstrong would be disqualified for his style if he fought today

[billeau2]

Tremendous fighter. He avoids his opponents blows via head movement and parrying keeping his fists low always in position to counter. Don’t make fighters like this anymore.

Could not agree more... ray Robinson was the Apollonian archetype of the Fighting Man... Well- order graceful... Armstrong was the dionysian archetype... Nasty, brutish, and short. Both men we're technical Marvels.

[billeau2]

There seems General confusion on this thread regarding the difference between using the head effectively as a pivot, Placing correctly, versus butting with the head.

[dreamroom]

Problem is you are anticipating that just altering one aspect of Armstrong’s game he becomes ineffective. If he needed to make this adjustment he would do so and still have bountiful skills to put the present generation to shame.

I don't see it. I can't imagine him beating guys like Hearns, Duran, Canelo, Manny, Mayweather.

[dreamroom]

I could see pep giving him problems. Sanchez and Armstrong would be a fight though. I think Armstrong would beat Saddler as well. Which is ironic because foreman beat frazier (frazier emulated armstrong) and foreman emulated sandy saddlers mummy grab the shoulders defense style

I thought of Frazier when I saw him fight as well.

[The Old LefHook]

There seems General confusion on this thread regarding the difference between using the head effectively as a pivot, Placing correctly, versus butting with the head.

The only confusion is in YOUR mind. Armstrong was a dirty fighter, he headbutted all the time. What he is doing with his head is illegal. Just mere positioning. What a joke! End of discussion on that point.

[billeau2]

The only confusion is in YOUR mind. Armstrong was a dirty fighter, he headbutted all the time. What he is doing with his head is illegal. Just mere positioning. What a joke! End of discussion on that point.

So when a fighter is leading with the head, and the head comes into contact with the opponent... or when a fighter puts his head against a shoulder, or the chest this is illegal to you?

Going to agree to disagree. Elbows and a few butts now and then imo are part of professional prize fighting.

[HOUDINI563]

Head butting was just as illegal in the 30’s as it is today. I’ve never read during his time that Armstrong was a dirty fighter (as I have read regarding Greb as an example). Armstrong was a fantastic infighter smothering his opponents with pressure so they had little opportunity to attack.

Me thinks you are miss interpreting true infighting skill for something else totally different.

[BattlingNelson]

There seems General confusion on this thread regarding the difference between using the head effectively as a pivot, Placing correctly, versus butting with the head.

If you lead with your head, you commit a foul. Armstrong often led with his head. There's nothing to be confused about here.

[HOUDINI563]

I disagree. What Armstrong is doing is preventing being leaned on. The way a shorter swarming type fighter avoids this is by quickly coming out of his crouch once inside and putting his head into his opponents shoulder. You see Dempsey doing this as well against Willard.

[travestyny]

I'm not saying he is necessarily fouling...or at least it doesn't appear that he is intending to foul, but he does take a lot of liberty with his head.

In the video on the first page regarding his infighting, the commentator even shows that he sometimes used his head to turn an opponent's chin a certain direction to deliver a blow. Not by butting, but by pressing his head into the opponent's chin.

I mean it's not a tickling contest.....