Henry Armstrong: Boxing's Super Champ

by John Jarrett

Henry Boxing's Super Champ is the story of arguably the most incredible fighter in the history of boxing – told by one of the few surviving writers to have been around during Armstrong's unique world championship reign.When Henry had his arm raised on 17 August 1938, after winning a blood-spattered 15-round decision over Lou Ambers, he became the first boxer to simultaneously hold world titles at three different weights – and somehow he managed the feat in an era of just eight weight classes, with no ‘junior’ or ‘super’ divisions. He had entered Madison Square Garden as the reigning world feather and welterweight champion, and left with the world lightweight belt strapped around his waist.Now in his 90s, veteran boxing journalist and author John Jarrett looks back on the life and career of this ring hero of his a 5ft 5½in buzzsaw they nicknamed ‘Homicide Hank’.In the 85 years that have passed since then, nobody has matched Armstrong’s amazing triple-championship feat. It’s likely no one ever will.

352 pages, Hardcover

Published October 15, 2023

Reviews

[Josh · Rating 2 out of 5]

A comprehensive biography on Henry Armstrong has long been needed. His achievement of holding 3 world championships in 3 different weight classes simultaneously (during the era of only 8 weight classes) is one of the unsung accomplishments in sports history. Two biographies were published in 2023, one by Kenneth Bridgham and one by John Jarrett. I chose the Jarrett book. I don't know that I made the right choice.

Jarrett definitely researched Armstrong's career. He lets his research do the talking. Literally. The majority of this book's narrative directly quotes the source material. The result is a real tedious flow. Maybe this was a necessary evil in order to give the story authenticity, although it's clear old-time journalists often resorted to hyperbole in their reporting. Sorry, Grantland Rice, as great as Armstrong was, I doubt he ever threw anywhere near 180 punches per round (equaling 1 punch every second).

If you can put aside exaggerations like this, the old newspaper accounts of Armstrong's fights, particularly his lightweight championship victory over Lou Ambers, are the only reason I'd recommend the book. But there has to be a more engaging way to fill in the spaces than what Jarrett chose here. Without having even read it, I'd recommend readers interested in Armstrong choose the Bridgham biography instead.