UNIQUE BOXING FEAT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 50, 27 August 1938, Page 25

UNIQUE BOXING FEAT

ARMSTRONG HOLDS THREE TITLES

SARRON, AMBERS, AND ROSS DETHRONED

Henry Armstrong, American negro boxer, has Had a meteoric rise to fame in the boxing world. A little over a year ago he was hailed as one of the most promising featherweights in the world, and he finally won the title off Pete Sarron with consummate ease. He jumped one division to win the highest honours in the next one when he trounced Barney Ross, welterweight champion of the world. A few days ago he accomplished the hat trick and helped himself to Lou Ambers's world lightweight crown.

Only three years ago Armstrong pounded the doors of the various fight clubs for, a chance to show his wares, but found neither sympathy nor charity at his disposal, states "The Ring." From city to city, East and West, he roamed for the opportunity to prove that he could fight, but with little success. Today every promoter is seeking his services. Like Joe Louis, another of his race, in the short span of three years, Armstrong has risen to the top. How long he will remain on that high: post future alone can,tell. At this stage there is no boxer in three divisions who is his equal. Usually boxers of the Armstrong type burn themselves out quickly, but in their case they have been hit a great deal, whereas Armstrong is;able to avoid severe punishment by his continuous rushing tactics in which he gives his opponent little opportunity to think of anything but to protect himself against the murderous assault. That is why Armstrong's lease should be. far beyond the average. It took Barney Ross to bring out the negro's real status in the boxing game. Though Ross was veteran of ten years'

standing it must be conceded that he was still rated one of the best. The hiding he received proves that' Armstrong is the first super-fighter the game has had since the days of Gans, Dixon, and Walcott. Ross in his training showed everything that could he desired. When he entered the ring against Armstrong he was in perfect, physical condition. His one-sided defeat therefore must be attributed to the superiority of his opponent. There was only one thing on which the victor failed to come up to expectations—his punching power. Against Ross, whom he had on the verge of a knock-out on several occasions, Henry failed even to score a knock-down. ' In that respect, therefore, it must be conceded that the hitting qualities of Armstrong have been, over-rated- It is his method of boxing that keeps his rival at sea. Swarming over his man as he does, Henry gives his adversary practically no chance to get set while he in turn is crashing home blows from all angles. The doughty little champion who is now a treble champion had amassed; in his -boutSj prior to his one with. Ambers, a sum of 140,000 dollars.