1939: Armstrongs Oct Run

[Bill Paxtom]

Friday ~ October 20, 1939

Bout #3 'On the Tour'

Civic Auditorium ~ Seattle, Washington

Promoter > Nate Druxman

Attendance..... 5000 {Capacity; 9000}

15-Round Welterweight Championship Bout

Henry Armstrong
Age.......... 26 years, 10 months
Height...... 5' 5 1/2"
Reach....... 67"
Weight..... 139 3/4 lbs.
Record..... 99-12-7 {67 KO's}
Rank........ Welterweight Champion

Richie Fontaine
Age......... 23 years, 7 months
Height..... 5' 6"
Reach...... 66"
Record..... 36-20-10 {11 KO's}
Weight..... 141 lbs.
Rank........ N/R

"The Fight"

Richie came out fast at the Opening Bell, and attacked with his 'flashy style'.
Richie scored with a variety of left-hands on Henry. Richie even scored with a
wild overhand-right 'Sucker Punch' to Henry's head.

Richie was 'flying fast' and out-sped Henry, who was content to patiently
wait for an opening. But Richie was flying so fast, that he nearly exhausted
himself.

Round 1 was for Richie.
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In Round 2, the success that Richie Fontaine had in Round 1 ended.

Henry came out pressing, and during the 1st good exchange, Henry dropped
Richie with a short left-hook to the jaw at the {0:30 Mark}. Richie went down
to one-knee, but bounced right back up without a Count.

Instead of moving, Richie tried to attack Henry. Moments later, Richie was
'floored' again by a short left-hook to the jaw. Again, Richie bounced right back
up without a Count.

This time, Richie moved away from Henry. But Henry was quick to charge in,
and slammed Richie with a barrage of lefts-and-rights. Richie went down
a 3rd-Time. This time he took a '2-Count' before rising.

Richie was back on the move, and circled both to his left and right as Henry
moved in and closed the gap. Richie attempted to fight back, but was shaken
by a left-hook at the {2:08 Mark}. Richie then moved in close and tied up
Henry, as the fight moved out to Center-Ring.

Both fighters were 'milling about' at Center-Ring, when suddenly Henry fired
a chopping right-hand just below Richie's left ear at the {2:28 Mark}.

Richie dropped to his knee's like a 'sack-of-cement'. Richie struggled up at
the '4-Count'.

The Referee - Tommy Clark asked Richie if he wanted continue, and he nodded
and said 'Yes'.

As Henry moved in, Richie back-pedaled around the Ring looking to hide. Henry
continued to pursue and finally trapped Richie in a Corner. There, Henry unloaded
with a 'heavy' 3-Punch combination at the {2:56 Mark}, and dropped Richie a
5th-time.

Richie again struggled up at the '4-Count' on rubbery-legs, and was luckily saved
by the 'gong of the bell'.
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In Round 3, Richie came out on rubbery-legs, but he was able to 'move-and-dance'
just enough to avoid Henry's punches over the first-half of the session.

But Henry came on just past the mid-way point, and landed a 'cluster-of-blows' on
Richie sending him down to his knee's at the {1:47 Mark}. Richie struggled up at
the '6-Count', and looked dazed.

Seconds later, Henry charged in and landed a right-hand to the head, and a solid
left-jab to the face.

Richie then fell 'face first' into the canvas. Before Referee - Tommy Clark could start the
count, a 'towel' was thrown into the Ring by Richie Fontaine's corner at the 2:03 Mark.

Henry Armstrong was the winner.
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Note >
Richie Fontaine continued with his career and fought '8' more times. He did not win
a 'single-bout', and went 0-7-1 in those bouts.