One of the best boxers in the history of the ring, Henry Armstrong was the first fighter to hold world titles in three weight classes simultaneously. Born Henry Jackson in Columbus, Mississippi, Armstrong began fighting in 1929. Eight years later he won the world featherweight title from Petey Sarron. A year later he won the lightweight and welterweight titles. Also known as "Hammerin' Hank" because of his many knockouts, Armstrong was considered one of the best fighters in the world during this period. He successfully defended his welterweight title 19 times (still a record) and is fourth on the list for consecutive defenses of a title. After he retired in 1945 he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. His career included 150 wins (100 KOs), 21 losses, and 9 draws.

Henry Armstrong

Further Reading:

Andre, Sam, and Nat Fleischer. A Pictorial History of Boxing. New York, Random House, 1975.

Heller, Peter. In This Corner: Former World Champions Tell Their Stories. New York, Simon and Schuster, 1973.