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HSC: 1938 Henry Armstrong Ring Magazine Champion.

Currency:USD Category:Sports - Cards & Fan Shop Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:30,000.00 - 40,000.00 USD
HSC: 1938 Henry Armstrong Ring Magazine Champion.
<B>1938 Henry Armstrong Ring Magazine Triple Championship Belt.</B></I> Henry Armstrong was born Henry Jackson on December 12, 1912 in Columbus, Mississippi, the eleventh in a line of fifteen children. His father, Henry Sr. was of Irish, Indian and African American descent. His mother, America Armstrong, was half Cherokee Indian. The family moved to St. Louis, Missouri when Henry was four. His mother died when he was six and he was raised by his paternal grandmother who insisted on Henry obtaining an education. Henry excelled in school and was voted class president and was eventually the valedictorian of his graduating class. After school, Armstrong took jobs as a laborer with the Missouri railroad and as a shoe shine boy. In 1931 he met a fight manager named Tom Cox and began his amateur career. During this time he knocked out sixty-six opponents and never lost a fight. <BR><BR>Henry turned professional in 1932 and quickly established himself as one of the best fighters in his weight class. He was also one of the busiest, often taking fights only days apart. Throughout his career he earned the nicknames of "Homicide Hank," "Perpetual Motion," and "The Human Buzzsaw." In 1936 he defeated Baby Arizmendi to claim a portion of the World Featherweight Title. After defeating notable fighters, Mike Belloise, Benny Bass and Frankie Klick, Armstrong took on Pete Sarron on October 29, 1937 and stopped him in six rounds to unify the World Featherweight Title. On May 31, 1938 Armstrong moved up in weight and defeated the great Barney Ross in fifteen rounds to win the World Welterweight Title. In his very next fight, only two and a half months later, he incredibly dropped down in weight and won a fifteen round decision over Lou Ambers on August 17, 1938 to win the World Lightweight Title. This incredible fighter had accomplished what most observers thought impossible. He had won three world titles in three separate weight classes and held the titles at the same time. Armstrong retired in 1945 after winning 151 of his 181 bouts, 101 of those by knockout. He was elected to the Boxing Hall Of Fame and is generally considered by most boxing historians to be one of the top five fighters of all time. <BR><BR>Presented here is the prestigious Ring Magazine World Championship Belt given to Henry Armstrong in commemoration of his incredible accomplishment of winning three world titles and holding them simultaneously. The belt is forty-seven inches long and seven and a quarter inches high. It consists of three metal plates attached to a red, white, blue and green cloth sash, which has leather straps still intact. The Everlast manufacturer's label also appears on the sash. The large center plate has an eagle atop and a small enamel flag. It is inscribed, "To Henry Armstrong Champion Featherweight Lightweight And Welterweight Divisions." The smaller right plate with eagle atop is inscribed, "The First Holder Of Three Titles At One Time." The smaller left plate with eagle atop is inscribed, "The Ring Magazine Award." The belt is fully intact and complete. There is some soiling and some separation on the cloth sash. Henry Armstrong gave this belt to his long time friend and bodyguard, Charles Stout. Mr. Stout willed this to another gentleman who has supplied a detailed letter of authenticity for the belt. A picture of Mr. Stout with Henry Armstrong will be supplied to the winner. Further, the winner of this belt will receive a photo of Henry Armstrong wearing the belt given to him from Nat Fleischer of Ring Magazine. Heritage is proud to present this Championship belt of Henry Armstrong, one of the greatest fighters of all time, as a first time offering at public sale. LOA from Craig Hamilton/ JO Sports.