1939: Armstrongs Oct Run

[Bill Paxtom]

After losing the Lightweight Title to Lou Ambers on August 22, 1939

Manager - Ed Meade wanted to take Henry Armstrong on a 'barn-storming'
Tour of the Mid-and-North West.

The bouts would be set with local promoters, and with selected opponents.

Some were 'decent, and some were 'bad'.

The word was, that Henry didn't want a 'rematch' with Lou Ambers in New York
for the Lightweight Championship.

Instead, Manager - Ed Meade focused on the Welterweight Division. Now the
smallish Mr. Armstrong {Height > 5' 5 1/2"} best weight was really at 140 lbs.
as he approached 27 years of age.

The standard agreement in these {off-site} bouts was that Henry would come in
around 141 lbs. and the opponent would get to come in close to the high end
of the Welterweight Division {147 lbs.}

While Henry was on the move, the National Boxing Association was reluctant to
sanction several of these bouts as 15-Round Welterweight Championship Bouts.

Instead, Secretary - Colonel Harvey Miller stated that he would 'sanction'
the 10-Round Bouts as 'Championship Exhibitions'.

While this was going on, in October, Philadelphia Fight Promoter - Phil Glassman
wired Manager - Ed Meade, and offered Henry $20,000 to come to Philadelphia
and fight the winner of the Al Nettlow vs. Leonard Del Genio {October 18th} bout.