1939: Armstrongs Oct Run

[powerpuncher]

its amazing how many times they fought. i know that sometimes they were fights against nobodies but sometimes they fought solid competition in a short span.

Greb fought 49 times in one year. Young Stribling 55 I think. Joe Gans took a train the night after a fight to go meet Langford the next day and crossed the US to do it.

These nobodies were actually doing the same thing as the atg's. That is a fundamental difference between today's fighters and yesterdays. Does anyone believe that Floyd could fight 50 times in one year and remain undefeated? That is 4 fights a month?

The biggest question is if these fighters bodies could hold up. For example, could Floyd's hands handle that many fights even against weak competition? I know his hands get a lot of special treatment. Then it is worth asking how many old fighters weren't able to make it just because of their inability to stay healthy?

[Beanflicker]

The biggest question is if these fighters bodies could hold up. For example, could Floyd's hands handle that many fights even against weak competition? I know his hands get a lot of special treatment. Then it is worth asking how many old fighters weren't able to make it just because of their inability to stay healthy?

Floyd, Manny, ect would have eaten those same opponents alive, too. They were experienced, but they really were weak competition for a guy of Armstrong's caliber, and with the quick KO's I doubt he broke a sweat in most of those fights. Guys like Floyd and Manny have tougher sparring sessions I would imagine. In Floyd's heyday, he sparred 9-12 minute rounds for stamina, against better fighters than that. I never did understand the fascination with quantity over quality and I guess I never will, but I don't believe that those guys who fought more often against shitty opposition did anything that modern greats like Floyd, Manny, ect wouldn't have been able to do.

I'm more interested in knowing how they scheduled the fights. Did Armstrong have all those fights booked in advance with dates etched in stone? Or did he dispatch of an opponent quickly and tell his promoter "I feel good, I can fight again on Friday."

[powerpuncher]

The biggest question is if these fighters bodies could hold up. For example, could Floyd's hands handle that many fights even against weak competition? I know his hands get a lot of special treatment. Then it is worth asking how many old fighters weren't able to make it just because of their inability to stay healthy?

Floyd, Manny, ect would have eaten those same opponents alive, too. They were experienced, but they really were weak competition for a guy of Armstrong's caliber, and with the quick KO's I doubt he broke a sweat in most of those fights. Guys like Floyd and Manny have tougher sparring sessions I would imagine. In Floyd's heyday, he sparred 9-12 minute rounds for stamina, against better fighters than that. I never did understand the fascination with quantity over quality and I guess I never will, but I don't believe that those guys who fought more often against shitty opposition did anything that modern greats like Floyd, Manny, ect wouldn't have been able to do.

I'm more interested in knowing how they scheduled the fights. Did Armstrong have all those fights booked in advance with dates etched in stone? Or did he dispatch of an opponent quickly and tell his promoter "I feel good, I can fight again on Friday."

true but many of them weren't bums. And they didn't get the time to really nurse injuries. Most fighters couldn't get a personal assistant to give them manicures like Floyd does.

I understand that sparring is kind of a secret thing many times but you do hear every once in a while how the sparring partner gets the better of the main fighter. I'm not sure how frequent that happens. I'm mentioning this because I'm wondering if it's equivalent. How many times do fighters have bad days in training? Then could you pretty easily have a bad fight if you are fighting so many times? It's a lot easier to lose to a lesser fighter because of that. Obviously it's all speculation.

[Bill Paxtom]

Beanflicker

Ed Meade, the Manager for Henry Armstrong had these October 1939
bouts pretty much booked in advance.

They were 'safe bouts', and bouts that 'No Way in Hell' Henry could lose.

The bout with Richie Fontaine set for October 20th in Seattle, Washington
was signed on September 29th.

The Fight Promoter - Nate Druxman promised to get a worthy Challenger
for Henry.

Richie Fontaine 'was available', and was the best he could get.

Richie looked good in Training Camp, but the 'experts' said that the fight
would go no longer than a few Rounds.

There was little wagering on this bout, as Henry was a Heavy-Favorite to win
easily,

[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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

[Bill Paxtom]

Manager - Ed Meade

Basically took Henry Armstrong on a 'barn-storming tour' in late-1939.

His opponents were 'not' Top 10 ranked, or even Top 20 ranked for that matter.

The plan was to stage several 'billed' Welterweight Championship bouts thru
October 1939.

Then Henry was to take some off and rest in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Then get ready
to take on Lightweight Champion - Lou Ambers in New York.

[Bill Paxtom]

1939 Barnstorming Tour

Manager - Ed Meade was 'keen' to this, as he was able to get his fighter
Henry Armstrong a 'pretty penny' out in the in Country and away from
New York.

The 'plan', was to have Henry take on '5-Bouts' in October, then head
to Hot Springs, Arkansas for 2-Weeks in early November to rest.

Then to head back to New York, to take on Lou Ambers 'again' for the
Lightweight Championship on December 1, 1939.

Ed Meade >
"I would rather have Henry get paid for 'modified bouts' instead of just
going to Training Camp, and not getting paid. We're in the business of
making money."

"Henry can fight 'twice-a-week', and not get tired or worn down. He's an
amazing athlete. He's not human, he's a 'machine'. There will never be
another like him."