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‘The Ring’ likens Pacquiao to Armstrong
Saturday, February 21, 2009
‘The Ring’ likens Pacquiao to Armstrong
By Jun Medina, Special Correspondent
Being considered a modern version of the legendary Henry Armstrong–regarded by experts as one of the best boxers, if not the best, of all time—is probably the biggest compliment that can be given to any boxer of the present generation.
And that’s exactly what The Ring Magazine, considered the “the Bible of Boxing” did as it showcased current pound-for-pound top boxer Manny Pacquiao along Armstrong in a six-page spread in its April issue.
The great Henry “Homicide Hank”Armstrong is the only boxer in history to win three world titles in different weight classes when there were only eight weight classifications and long before the alphabet title sanctioning bodies came into being.
“For not only had [Armstrong] once swept the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight championships in a 10-month period, but he’s embarked on a schedule that was punishing as the sport itself, defending the welterweight crown 18 times during a two-year period,” wrote Don Stradley in his article titled “The Modern-Day Henry Armstrong.”
Of course, Pacquiao duplicated or almost came close to duplicating Armstrong’s record in a nine-month span in 2008.
Pacquiao, 30, decked the durable The Ring and World Boxing Council super featherweight champ Juan Manuel Marquez en route to a split decision on March 15. He then scored a ninth round knock out to snatch Mexican American David Diaz’s WBC lightweight title on June 28.
And he capped his best year as a prizefighter on December 6 with a stunning eight round technical knockout of pay-per-view superstar Oscar De La Hoya, a 10-time world champion in six different weight classes.
Fight historian Bert Sugar, however, cautioned against comparing the peerless Armstrong with the four-division world champion Pacquiao.
“He [Pacquiao] may be the best Asian fighter of all-time, and perhaps the best southpaw of all-time. But you can’t compare him to Armstrong, because no one compares to Armstrong.” Sugar told The Ring.
Stradley wrote that the numbers put out by Armstrong were staggering: he defeated 15 world champions at a time when there was only one champion per weight class. Ten of these champions were installed into the International Boxing Hall of Fame like Armstrong.
In October 1939, Armstrong made four title defenses–or an average of one title fight a week when title fights were 15 rounds, Stradley said
“Where Pacquiao also differs from Armstrong is that he doesn’t have the aura of invincibility that glowed around Armstrong,” Stradley said. Armstrong would win 27 bouts that year, 26 by knockout.
Armstrong actually planned to win the three different titles at the advice of actor George Raft and boxing manager Eddie Meade who partnered to be his promoters and managers.
During that era, heavyweight fighters were the big draws and top earners, and winning three unprece*dented world titles in 10 months was Armstrong’s strategy for getting the attention he deserved.
Comparing the two great boxers’ jump to the welterweight class, Stradley said Pacquiao (who started his career at 106 pounds or flyweight), was even more impressive than Armstrong, who debuted at 120 pounds.
Armstrong scored a unanimous decision over then welterweight titlist Barney Ross, while Pacquiao forced De La Hoya to retire on his stool. Moreover, Stradley said, Pacquiao fought a bigger opponent with longer wingspan, as compared to Armstrong who fought a foe about his size.
In a sidebar “Pacman vs. Homicide Hank” Stradley extrapolated what might have happened if the two great fighters had an imaginary encounter, which he said would have been “the real dream match.”
Stradley said a fight by the two warriors in their younger years would have likely resulted in Homicide Hank “clawing Pacman to bloody submission, probably winning by late-round TKO.”
But in a clash between them as more mature fighters would have ended differently, Stradley surmised.
“Pacquiao is now a sharpshooter, jumping in, doing his damage and jumping out. The Pacquiao of recent vintage might earn a decision over Armstrong,” he said.
‘The Ring’ likens Pacquiao to Armstrong
By Jun Medina, Special Correspondent
Being considered a modern version of the legendary Henry Armstrong–regarded by experts as one of the best boxers, if not the best, of all time—is probably the biggest compliment that can be given to any boxer of the present generation.
And that’s exactly what The Ring Magazine, considered the “the Bible of Boxing” did as it showcased current pound-for-pound top boxer Manny Pacquiao along Armstrong in a six-page spread in its April issue.
The great Henry “Homicide Hank”Armstrong is the only boxer in history to win three world titles in different weight classes when there were only eight weight classifications and long before the alphabet title sanctioning bodies came into being.
“For not only had [Armstrong] once swept the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight championships in a 10-month period, but he’s embarked on a schedule that was punishing as the sport itself, defending the welterweight crown 18 times during a two-year period,” wrote Don Stradley in his article titled “The Modern-Day Henry Armstrong.”
Of course, Pacquiao duplicated or almost came close to duplicating Armstrong’s record in a nine-month span in 2008.
Pacquiao, 30, decked the durable The Ring and World Boxing Council super featherweight champ Juan Manuel Marquez en route to a split decision on March 15. He then scored a ninth round knock out to snatch Mexican American David Diaz’s WBC lightweight title on June 28.
And he capped his best year as a prizefighter on December 6 with a stunning eight round technical knockout of pay-per-view superstar Oscar De La Hoya, a 10-time world champion in six different weight classes.
Fight historian Bert Sugar, however, cautioned against comparing the peerless Armstrong with the four-division world champion Pacquiao.
“He [Pacquiao] may be the best Asian fighter of all-time, and perhaps the best southpaw of all-time. But you can’t compare him to Armstrong, because no one compares to Armstrong.” Sugar told The Ring.
Stradley wrote that the numbers put out by Armstrong were staggering: he defeated 15 world champions at a time when there was only one champion per weight class. Ten of these champions were installed into the International Boxing Hall of Fame like Armstrong.
In October 1939, Armstrong made four title defenses–or an average of one title fight a week when title fights were 15 rounds, Stradley said
“Where Pacquiao also differs from Armstrong is that he doesn’t have the aura of invincibility that glowed around Armstrong,” Stradley said. Armstrong would win 27 bouts that year, 26 by knockout.
Armstrong actually planned to win the three different titles at the advice of actor George Raft and boxing manager Eddie Meade who partnered to be his promoters and managers.
During that era, heavyweight fighters were the big draws and top earners, and winning three unprece*dented world titles in 10 months was Armstrong’s strategy for getting the attention he deserved.
Comparing the two great boxers’ jump to the welterweight class, Stradley said Pacquiao (who started his career at 106 pounds or flyweight), was even more impressive than Armstrong, who debuted at 120 pounds.
Armstrong scored a unanimous decision over then welterweight titlist Barney Ross, while Pacquiao forced De La Hoya to retire on his stool. Moreover, Stradley said, Pacquiao fought a bigger opponent with longer wingspan, as compared to Armstrong who fought a foe about his size.
In a sidebar “Pacman vs. Homicide Hank” Stradley extrapolated what might have happened if the two great fighters had an imaginary encounter, which he said would have been “the real dream match.”
Stradley said a fight by the two warriors in their younger years would have likely resulted in Homicide Hank “clawing Pacman to bloody submission, probably winning by late-round TKO.”
But in a clash between them as more mature fighters would have ended differently, Stradley surmised.
“Pacquiao is now a sharpshooter, jumping in, doing his damage and jumping out. The Pacquiao of recent vintage might earn a decision over Armstrong,” he said.
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