Henry Armstrong Stats, Bio. . Henry Armstrong Found! - See Phones, Email, Addresses, and More "Latsios spent most of the time retreating before Henry." (Lethbridge Herald) "Nick fought a remarkable fight with his flicking left, back-stepping, hit and run method.Henry was disgusted with his inability to catch the elusive Latsios.In the final frame Armstrong almost scored a knockdown but the wily Nick regained his balance after landing against the ropes." document[imgName].src = eval(imgName + 'over.src'); Garcia retained the title with a draw, but most at ringside felt that Armstrong had won. But he was learning how to harness his natural physical gifts; strength, quickness, stamina, and the ability to take a punch. He is the only boxer to this day who simultaneously held three world boxing titles - in Featherweight, Lightweight, and welterweight champion in 1938. function inact(imgName) { Armstrong's eighteen successful title defenses were the most in history in the Welterweight division. However, since he already had two professional fights under the name Jackson, he told people that he was Harry's little brother, Henry Armstrong.Armstrong competed in the 1932 Olympic trials. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Henry "Hurricane Hank" Armstrong (1912-1988) - Find a Grave He won 14 fights before bypassing the lightweight title and challenging welterweight champion Barney Ross for his crown on May 31, 1938. The event is named after the late Mississippi boxer, Henry Armstrong, who, in 1938, became the first boxer to ever hold three world titles at the same time. Henry J Armstrong is thirty-eight. Garcia was 32 years old with a record of 101-24-12 (60 KOs). Father Charles Godfrey Armstrong. Of his total 151 wins, 100 of them were via KO (66.2%). Armstrong appeared on the TV game show I've Got a Secret with his simultaneous triple championship as his secret. After several more amateur fights, Armstrong moved to Pittsburgh to pursue a professional career. He defeated sixteen world champions. Hometown: Columbus, MS. Year Induction: 2010. Pulled from our recent Q\u0026A with Teddy Atlas, Teddy shares why Henry Armstrong is the greatest boxer of all time. More on VHS Collection here: http://www.vhscollection.com/.Thanks for tuning in. Armstrong was the only boxer to hold world titles in three different weight divisions simultaneously, and all three titles were . In the days when there were only 8 weight classes, Henry Armstrong held championship belts in three of them at the same time. Henry Armstrong, original name Henry Jackson, (born December 12, 1912, Columbus, Mississippi, U.S.died October 24, 1988, Los Angeles, California), American boxer, the only professional boxer to hold world championship titles in three weight divisions simultaneously. Securing a contract with Cox for three dollars, he had almost 100 amateur fights, in which he won more than half by knockout and lost none. His mother died a year later, and he was raised by his grandmother. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. His last professional fight was a non-title rematch against Chester Slider at 32 years of age, on February 14, 1945. Entertainer Al Jolson, who had witnessed the final bout between Armstrong and Arizmendi, was so impressed with Armstrong that he convinced New York manager Eddie Mead to take on the boxer, and Jolson supplied $5,000 to buy out Ross's contract rights to Armstrong. Henry Armstrong | Walk of Fame First, he knocked out featherweight champion Petey Sarron in the sixth round on Oct. 29, 1937. The next year was an incredible one for Armstrong as he fought 27 times -- and won all of them. We collect and match historical records that Ancestry users have contributed to their family trees to create each person's profile. However, the fight was so brutal that Armstrong blacked out at the end and could later recall very little of what happened. Armstrong made his debut against Al Lovino at the age of 18 on July 27, 1931, losing to Lovino via 3rd round KO. Facing Arizmendi once more in August 1936, Armstrong secured his first title as the new featherweight champion, beating Arizmendi so badly that he was forced to take six months off. 1913-1998 #GreatestOfAllTime#HenryArmstrong#TeddyAtlas henry armstrong "homicide hank" 150 Wins 21 Losses 10 Draws 55.8% Stance: Orthodox Age: 113 Date Of Birth: 12 Dec 1909 Height: 5.45 ft (1.66 m) Reach: 66.93 inches (170 cm) Country: United States Universal ID : 8194 edit details henry armstrong opponents PTS Chester Slider (37-18-12) Wed, 14 Feb - 1945 round 10 of 10 . His early childhood was spent on a plantation owned by Armstrong's grandfather, an Irishman who had married one of his slaves. Of 26 title fights, Armstrong won all but four (three losses and a draw). How do we create a person's profile? The most consecutive boxing world welterweight title defences is 18 by Henry Armstrong (USA) from 25 November 1938 to 23 September 1940. In defending himself against bullies, he discovered his interest in boxing. November 25, 1938: Armstrong successfully defends the NBA and The Ring welterweight titles against Ceferino Garcia, winning the fight via 15 round unanimous decision. navclassiccold.src = "/i/sportscentury/nav_classic_cold.gif"; Early in his career he boxed under the name Melody Jackson. Henry Armstrong, original name Henry Jackson, (born December 12, 1912, Columbus, Mississippi, U.S.died October 24, 1988, Los Angeles, California), American boxer, the only professional boxer to hold world championship titles in three weight divisions simultaneously. In 1932, Armstrong moved to Los Angeles, where he lost two four-round decisions in a row to Eddie Trujillo and Al Greenfield. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. Armstrong was 25 years old with a record of 92-12-7 (60 KOs). Henry Armstrong boxer - BoxerList The 23-year-old boxer was raised in Pearl, but is from Columbus. var navclassiccold = new Image(); Two boxers from the Pearl Boxing Club will be fighting in the event: Chown 'Chop Chop' Sims, and Keshaun 'Big Baby' Davis. He officially turned pro a year later after failing to make the 1932 Olympic team, and he lost his first two fights, both four-round decisions in Los Angeles in 1932. [15], Returning to the welterweight division, Armstrong successfully defended the title five more times, until Fritzie Zivic beat him to take the world title in a 15-round decision. //Henry Armstrong, Boxing Champion, Dead at 75 - The New York Times Armstrong, at 133+12 pounds, beat Ross, at 142 pounds, by unanimous decision, adding the World Welterweight Championship to his belt. var navathletesover = new Image(); (WLBT) - The inaugural Henry Armstrong Boxing Classic will be held in Columbus on Saturday. Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/henry-armstrong. In 1936, entertainer Al Jolson and actor George Raft underwrote the purchase of Armstrong's managerial contract from Edward Mead.Armstrong knocked out Petey Sarron in six rounds in 1937 to win the World Featherweight Championship, and was named "The Ring Fighter of the Year in 1937. Through 1937 Armstrong entered the ring 27 times, winning every fight and knocking out all but one of his opponents. Up to 1937, Armstrong compiled a record of 52-10. After winning his second pro fight by decision, he moved to Los Angeles with Harry Armstrong.Once in Los Angeles, he decided to return to the amateur ranks. As a youngster, he got into neighborhood street fights. What makes a Guinness World Records title? Henry Armstrong, born Henry Jackson, decided to become a boxer after reading in a St. Louis newspaper that Kid Chocolate had beaten Al Singer at the Polo Grounds in New York and was paid a purse of $75,000. We encourage . We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Henry Armstrong, Maryland (21 matches): Phone Number, Email, Address Armstrong had a 151-21-9 record in his 15-year professional career. Encyclopedia.com. . Al Silvani. Higginbottom believes Davis can be among the best of the best. Henry Armstrong, who moved to St. Louis with his family as a youngster, was the only boxer ever to hold three world titles simultaneously. All records listed on our website are current and up-to-date. He was a Black boxer. Please be sure to subscribe! Henry Armstrong Boxer Stats - BoxStat.co [14] According to boxing historian Bert Sugar, many commentators of the time said that Armstrong deserved the decision in this fight. Henry Armstrong, the only boxer ever to hold three world titles simultaneously, died of heart failure yesterday in Los Angeles after a lengthy series of illnesses. "In 1938, Armstrong defeated Barney Ross by a fifteen-round unanimous decision to win the World Welterweight Championship, and then defeated Lou Ambers by a fifteen-round split decision to win the World Lightweight Championship.Armstrong was the only boxer to hold world titles in three different weight divisions simultaneously, and all three titles were undisputed championships. He is currently the Mid America super middle weight title holder, winning the title in 2020. Professional Boxer. Armstrong made his professional boxing debut at the age of 18 on July 27, 1931. ESPN.com: He was 'Homicide Hank' for a reason Most consecutive boxing world welterweight title defences For more details about these defeats, refer to "All of Henry Armstrong's losses". His father, also named Henry, was a mix of Indian, Irish and black blood. Henry Armstrong | Encyclopedia.com After Armstrong turned the trick in 1938, no boxer was ever again allowed to be a champion in more than one weight division simultaneously.In 1939, Armstrong lost the World Lightweight Championship in a rematch with Ambers by a fifteen-round unanimous decision. in the mid 1930s, Armstrong was as good as anyone has ever //]]>. [11], In 1937 alone, Armstrong went 270 (26KO). Deceased : October 22, 1988. When Ross demanded the full amount as publicized, entertainer George Raft put up the additional funds and became the third member of Armstrong's management team. The American Revolution | National Archives Armstrong successfully defended his NBA and Ring Magazine welterweight titles. Henry has been found in 17 states including Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, Kansas, California. The event is named after the late Mississippi boxer, Henry Armstrong, who, in 1938, became the first boxer to ever hold three world titles at the same time. He was 27-0 with 26 knockouts in 1937, 14-0 with 10 knockouts in 1938, and 59-1-1 with 51 knockouts from December 1936 to October 1940. ." First of all, Ive got to thank Pearl Boxing Club, because without them this wouldnt be the possible or without God.. That was the last time Armstrong would fight for a championship. It was one of only two knockouts Armstrong would suffer in his career. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Henry Armstrong - Missouri Sports Hall of Fame ESPN ranked Armstrong as number 3 on their list of the 50 greatest boxers of all time. Henry Jackson Jr. (December 12, 1912 - October 24, 1988) was an American professional boxer and a world boxing champion who fought under the name Henry Armstrong . Henry Armstrong (1912-1988) became the first boxer in history to hold world titles in three separate weight classes at the same time. . He tried for a fourth world title in middleweight but drew with champion Ceferino Garcia. Henry Armstrong 1887-1955 - Ancestry Armstrong fought as an amateur from 1929 to 1932 and first won the featherweight (126-pound) title by knocking out Petey Sarron in six rounds on October 29, 1937. After losing his first two professional fights in Los Angeles, Armstrong began to consistently win his bouts. Armstrong fought as an amateur from 1929 to 1932. During the final years of the 1940s he traveled to China, Burma, and India with Raft as part of a group sent to entertain soldiers. Standing five feet five and one half inches tall, Armstrong fought in the featherweight class. African-American Sports Greats: A Biographical Dictionary. While he was certainly a formidable boxer, he hadn't yet established himself as one of the all-time greats. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. Professional boxer, entertainer, businessman Henry Armstrong Record & Stats Last Updated: February 6, 2023 In a career spanning 13 years and 6 months, Henry Armstrong fought 183 times with 151 wins, 22 losses, and 10 draws. Twenty-six of the bouts were ended by a knockout, including that of Sarron in their 126-pound fight. One of the first inductees when the Boxing Hall of Fame opened in 1954, Henry Armstrong is considered one of the top three boxers of all time. window.__mirage2 = {petok:"_9hAJy7CmJsKH07kPqMVqhJI9fwN_aHmPuAo7fcIZbM-86400-0"}; He defeated sixteen world champions.After he quit boxing, he became an ordained minister and devoted himself to underprivileged children. Henry Armstrong: Record and Stats - MartialBot Archie Moore was one of the most colorful and respected figures in the modern history of boxing. Upon his return, he became a boxing manager for a time, but his increasing use of alcohol led to his arrest in Los Angeles. Henry passed away in March 1981, at age 94. However, upon his retirement he found the vast majority of his money had been lost to bad investments, management fees, and extravagant spending habits. On August 22, 1939, he lost his lightweight title in a rematch with Ambers, and in 1940 he defended his welterweight crown six times before losing the title to Fritzie Zivic on October 4, 1940. His final professional record stood at 174 recorded bouts, 145 wins with 98 by knockout. 26 of those wins came via knockouts. Chester Slider, John Thomas, Sugar Ray Robinson, Beau Jack, and Willie Joyce are some of the boxers who have beaten Armstrong. Armstrong retired from professional boxing with a record of 151-22-10, which included 100 knockout wins and two losses via knockout, and three title wins. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Mother Ellen Lawrance. In 1949 Armstrong experienced a religious conversion and turned his life around. $57k AVERAGE INCOME Our wealth data indicates income average is $57k. When Armstrong was 4, the family moved to St. Louis. Henry J Armstrong has a residential history of 3 addresses in 2 cities and now lives at 3411 Kip St, Philadelphia, PA. Henry can be reached via 2 phone numbers. He had fought 26 world title fights and from 1931 to 1945 had fought 175 bouts, winning 97 by knockouts. // -->. We encourage you to research and examine these records to determine their accuracy. "If you spit any more blood on that floor," referee Billy Cavanaugh told Armstrong, "I'm going to stop this fight.". Armstrong defended the World Welterweight Championship a division record 19 times. When Cox sold his contract on Armstrong to Wirt Ross in 1932 for $250, Armstrong entered the professional ranks to stay. In 2007, The Ring ranked Armstrong as the second-greatest fighter of the last 80 years. Some of Armstrong's best fights and notable victories include wins over 11 Hall-of-Famers (Sammy Angott, Lew Jenkins, Fritzie Zivic, Pedro Montanez, Baby Arizmendi, Lou Ambers, Barney Ross, Chalky Wright, Petey Sarron, Benny Bass, and Midget Wolgast), Ceferino Garcia, Al Manfredo, Bobby Pacho, Lew Feldman, Howard Scott, and Richie Fontaine. var navcontributeover = new Image(); Full Q\u0026A episode here: https://youtu.be/KULHRj7H9l0**** Teddy's Audiobook Now Available. (You will need to register / login for access). ." . He also wrote the autobiographical God, Gloves, and Glory (1956). Two years later he was ordained as a Baptist minister at Morning Star Baptist Church. Despite losing three rounds on fouls, having both eyes cut and swollen, and needing 37 stitches later to close the wound inside his mouth, Armstrong won a split decision. Early in his career, he fought some fights under the ring name Melody Jackson. He teamed up with -- and took the surname of -- a trainer and former boxer named Henry Armstrong. In a career spanning 13 years and 6 months, Henry Armstrong fought 183 times with 151 wins, 22 losses, and 10 draws. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). existed; At the beginning, his performance was rather good but not He met the minimum weight by upping his calorie intake, drinking beer the days before the bout and a lot of water on the day of weigh-in. [1] In 2007, The Ring ranked Armstrong as the second-greatest fighter of the last 80 years. His preaching drew significant crowds to revivals and other meetings. Hickok, Ralph. He continued to box actively until announcing his retirement in 1945 at the age of 32. Henry Armstrong (December 12, 1912 October 24, 1988), American Boxer American boxer His attempt to regain the welterweight championship on January 17, 1941, resulted in his knockout in the 12th round by Zivic. Al Weill, Ambers' manager, was suspended four months for his unsportsmanlike behavior. Velma Tartt was a former girlfriend from his high school days. Its my first time in front of all my friends and family, so Im excited, he said. October 13, 1939: Armstrong successfully defends the NBA and The Ring welterweight titles against Howard Scott, winning the fight via 2nd round KO. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1995. package; He In the same year, he fought for an unprecedented fourth title in the middleweight division, but lost to Ceferina Garcia in a controversial decision. By his last professional fight on February 14, 1945, Armstrong's boxing record stood at 151-22-10 (100 KO wins, 2 KO losses). His 1905 song "Nellie Dean" became the signature song of the British music hall singer Gertie Gitana , and a popular British pub song. He grew up in, Frazier, Joe 1944 These 11 fights are the highlight of his career. He died at age 75 on Oct. 24, 1988, in Los Angeles. Six years later he moved back to Los Angeles. Henry Armstrong had a total of 22 losses in his professional boxing career three of them in title bouts and 19 in non-title bouts. We encourage you to research and examine these records to determine their accuracy. Davis is excited to fight in his hometown. Two boxers from the Pearl Boxing Club will be fighting in the event: Chown Chop Chop Sims, and Keshaun Big Baby Davis. One of the greatest fighters in history, Hurricane Hank is the only fighter to hold 3 world Championships simultaneously. After retiring from boxing, Armstrong became an ordained Baptist minister, working with disadvantaged youth. Armstrong knocked out 100 of his 183 opponents. It is a testament to Sugar Ray Robinsons greatness as a boxer that when people discuss who was the, Sugar Ray Robinson [citation needed], Later in 1938, Armstrong, still the Featherweight division world champion, challenged Barney Ross for the title. That fight, before 29,088 fans at Yankee Stadium, was another brawl as the fighters pounded each other for 15 rounds. navathletesover.src = "/i/sportscentury/nav_athletes_over.gif"; On file we have 73 email addresses and 55 phone numbers associated with Henry in area codes such as 757, 941, 401, 609, 314, and 32 other area codes. Armstrong and his managers realized that they needed to attract attention away from the rising fame of boxer Joe Louis. Robinson, Sugar Ray 19211989 Encyclopedia of World Biography. For United States nationwide collections, go to the United States Online Genealogy Records page. His official record was 152 wins, 21 losses and 9 draws, with 101 knockout wins.[10]. Henry married Lou M Armstrong. To this day, he is the only boxer to . After the decision was announced, the second fight started; both managers and the New York State Athletic Commission were the participants. Armstrong was penalized five rounds for low punches, and that cost him the fight as two officials had Ambers winning by only an 8-7 margin. Following these two losses, however, he started a streak of 11 wins.In 1936, Armstrong split his time among Los Angeles, Mexico City and St. Louis. Henry W. Armstrong - Wikipedia Armstrong fought his first major bout in November 1934, losing the world featherweight championship in a close decision to Baby Arizmendi. March 16, 1939: Armstrong successfully defends the NBA and The Ring lightweight titles against Lew Feldman, winning the fight via 1st round KO. With his aggressive attitude and incessant windmill style, he was all over opponents, as evidenced by his 101 knockouts and. Use Link to Listen with 30-Day Audible Free Trial: http://bit.ly/ATLASaudiobook. BoxRec: Henry Armstrong "Henry Armstrong," Notable Black American Men, Gale Research, 1998. http://www.galenet.com(December 13, 2000). It was no contest, with Armstrong's rapid-fire attack overwhelming Ross to gain the 15-round decision. Henry Armstrong. For other people named Henry Armstrong, see, Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri, Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, Billed as a World Middleweight Title fight recognized only by California, Municipal Audiotrium, Saint Louis, Missouri, Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, England, Municipal Audtiorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, Madison Square Garden Bowl, New York City, New York, International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois, University of Detroit Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, Dexter Park Arena, Woodhaven, New York City, New York, Municipal Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, Retained world featherweight title (CaliforniaMexico), Won world featherweight title (California-Mexico), Retained USA California State featherweight title, Civic Auditorium, Watsonville, California, Bakersfield Arena, Bakersfield, California, Pismo Beach Arena, Pismo Beach, California, Main Street Athletic Club, Los Angeles, California, Culver City Stadium, Culver City, California, Meyers Bowl, North Braddock, Pennsylvania, "BoxRec ratings: world, pound-for-pound, active and inactive", "Boxing Hall of Fame names first inductees", "IBRO All-Time Ratings - Pound For Pound Results", "IBRO All-Time Ratings - Featherweight Ratings", "IBRO All-Time Ratings - Welterweight Ratings", "IBRO All-Time Ratings - Lightweight Ratings", "Henry Armstrong: Goes for Four Divisions", "Ceferino Garcia vs. Henry Armstrong (2nd meeting) BoxRec", Armstrong, seated, posing with a title belt, National Boxing Association's Quarterly Ratings: 1938 BoxRec, National Boxing Association's Quarterly Ratings: 1939 BoxRec, National Boxing Association's Quarterly Ratings: 1940 BoxRec, The Ring Magazine's Annual Ratings: Lightweight--1930s BoxRec, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Henry_Armstrong&oldid=1135310555, World colored welterweight boxing champions, International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees, 20th-century African-American sportspeople, 20th-century Baptist ministers from the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2016, Pages with login required references or sources, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, In 1987, he was among those inductees from, In 1995, Armstrong was posthumously honored for his boxing career by being inducted into the, The story of his life is retold in the radio drama ", This page was last edited on 23 January 2023, at 22:13. After losing at the trials, he returned to the professional ranks. There he became involved in boxing. Vashon High School (St. Louis, MO) . Henry R Armstrong in 1940 United States Federal Census Henry R Armstrong was born circa 1887, at birth place, Connecticut, to John Birracase. Armstrong had a 151-21-9 record in his 15-year professional career. But the tides turned later in the year when he won against former flyweight champion Midget Wolgast. been; During 1937, he was 27-0 with 26 knockouts; In 1938, he was 14-0 We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Guinness World Records Kids (opens in a new window), GWR Merchandise Store (opens in a new window), Corporate Social Responsibility activities & fundraising ideas, Community engagement & tourism marketing activities. When the promoters postponed the bout for 10 days, Armstrong accepted Joe Louis's invitation to train at Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, with Louis paying for all expenses. Ill prepared and undernourished, Armstrong lost his first professional fight by a knockout. Henry Armstrong (1912-1988) became the first boxer in history to hold world titles in three separate weight classes at the same time. In 1938 with 14 consecutive wins, 10 by knockout, Armstrong achieved his goal, becoming the first boxer to Featherweight, Lightweight, and Welterweight Champion of the World. PEARL, Miss. He suffered his first loss in his professional debut against Al Lovino via 3rd round KO. Henry held three world titles - Welterweight, Unknown +6.3 lbs He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in 1990. By the time Armstrong graduated from high school at the age of 17, the Great Depression had arrived. a bowling alley. . Henry Armstrong - Part One - Top Rank Boxing Henry Jackson Jr. (December 12, 1912 - October 24, 1988) was an American professional boxer and a world boxing champion who fought under the name Henry Armstrong.Armstrong was one of the few fighters to win in three or more different divisions: featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight. William Henry Armstrong 1847-1909 - Ancestry October 30, 1939: Armstrong successfully defends the NBA and The Ring welterweight titles against Bobby Pacho, winning the fight via 4th round TKO. His professio, Hopkins, Bernard 1965 Later a fellow member of the three division champions' club, Ross was then World Welterweight Champion. Armstrong, however, displayed no interest in fulfilling these wishes. There are 1 person related to this person in our records. Ambers had Armstrong spitting blood from a torn bottom lip, and he cut the challenger's eyes as well. Switch to interactive mode Birth Abt 1861 - null. Sims is 9-1 in his professional boxing career, with five knockouts in his nine wins. Armstrong's purses had totaled between $500,000 and $1 million, but most of the money was gone when the Hall of Famer retired at age 32. Upon meeting fight manager Tom Cox at a local gym, Armstrong introduced himself as Harry Armstrong's brother, after which he became known by the name Henry Armstrong. He was the first boxer to hold three different titles simultaneously. To this day, he is the only boxer to simultaneously hold three world titles in different weight divisions. He defended it in eight fights in a row, the last of which was a nine-round knockout win over Puerto Rico's Pedro Montaez. He first set his sights on the lightweight division, but his challenge to a title fight was declined by lightweight titleholder Lou Ambers. Fleischer ranked him as the #8 All-Time Welterweight; Small in stature, he was often the target for teasing. Its a possibility that the heavyweight champion of the world will be from Mississippi one day, he said. After that marriage ended in divorce, Armstrong married a second time in 1960. After retiring from boxing, Armstrong became an ordained Baptist minister, working with disadvantaged youth.