Henry Armstrong
Former triple World Champion who knocked out Tippy Larkin in 1943.
Henry Armstrong was a former triple World Champion who fought Tippy Larkin on March 9, 1943, in San Francisco. Armstrong knocked out Larkin in the second round before a crowd of 8,000 at Civic Auditorium. He had formerly held the record for the most consecutive defenses of the World Welterweight Title.
- field
- Professional boxing
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- First boxer to hold world championships in three weight divisions at the same ti
Lore & Background
Henry Armstrong faced Tippy Larkin on March 9, 1943, in a bout at Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. Armstrong was attempting a comeback at the time. He knocked out Larkin in one minute and nine seconds of the second round. Both boxers weighed in at the light welterweight range of around 140 pounds. The fight drew a crowd of 8,000. Though the Light Welterweight division was not a strong draw in Armstrong's native state, Armstrong himself was a strong draw. Losing to Armstrong was no disgrace, as the great champion Barney Ross discovered in his career ending bout with Armstrong in May 1938.
Reader's Guide
Henry Armstrong's fight with Tippy Larkin on March 9, 1943, is a notable moment in his comeback attempt. Armstrong, a former triple World Champion, had formerly held the record for the most consecutive defenses of the World Welterweight Title. In the bout, Armstrong knocked out Larkin in one minute and nine seconds of the second round. Both fighters weighed around 140 pounds, in the light welterweight range. The fight took place at Civic Auditorium in San Francisco before 8,000 fans. Armstrong's victory over Larkin demonstrated his enduring power, as even the great champion Barney Ross had lost to Armstrong in a career-ending bout in May 1938.
Did You Know?
- Henry Armstrong knocked out Tippy Larkin in one minute and nine seconds of the second round on March 9, 1943.
- Armstrong was attempting a comeback when he fought Larkin in San Francisco.
- Both Armstrong and Larkin weighed around 140 pounds for their 1943 bout.
- Armstrong had formerly held the record for the most consecutive defenses of the World Welterweight Title.
- The great champion Barney Ross lost his career-ending bout to Armstrong in May 1938.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Henry Armstrong?
Henry Armstrong, born Henry Jackson Jr. in 1912, was an American professional boxer who made history as the first fighter to hold world championships in three weight classes at the same time. He is consistently ranked among the all-time greatest pound-for-pound competitors in the sport.
What weight divisions did Henry Armstrong hold world titles in simultaneously?
He held the bantamweight, featherweight, and lightweight world championships concurrently, a triple-belt run no other boxer had ever achieved. This unprecedented feat is the single accomplishment most associated with his name in boxing history.
Why is Henry Armstrong considered one of the greatest boxers of all time?
His ability to dominate three distinct weight classes at once showcased a rare blend of speed, power, and ring intelligence that very few fighters have ever displayed. Historians and fans alike point to that simultaneous three-belt reign as the core reason he tops pound-for-pound rankings.
When was Henry Armstrong born and when did he die?
He was born on December 12, 1912, and passed away on October 22, 1988. His professional career, during which he claimed and defended his historic triple-title reign, spanned the 1930s into the early 1940s.
What made Henry Armstrong's three-division title feat so hard to replicate?
Competing across bantamweight, featherweight, and lightweight meant facing opponents of markedly different builds while staying in peak condition for all three. No boxer before or after him has managed to hold all three belts at once, making his achievement essentially one-of-a-kind.
More in Boxing Legends 1-24
Elsewhere in the Boxing Legends universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record