Imperial Valley press., 1938-12-12
McLARN!N NAMES
Henry Armstrong
GREATEST BOXER
Bv HENRY McLEMORE

HOLLYWOOD, Dec. L. w
You've heard Tom, you've heard
Dick. and you've heard Harry say
that Henry Armstrong, ounce Tor
ounce. pound for pound, Is the
greatest fighter with his fists in the
world.
That's a very nice tribute, indeed
but il doesn't carry too much
veieht because il is pretty general
" known that the average fight
fan-vOur Toms. Dicks and HarryS
Wouldn't know a feint from
rioht cross. But when fellow like
Jimmy McLarnin, who has fought
thirteen world champions, tells you
that Henry Armstrong is the finest
FIGHTER he ever laid eyes on-Weu,
Won write a story about 1t, which
is lust what 1 am doing.
Hes a lotta something, McLaf-
min said as he walked down inc
first fairWay of the Lakeside coun-
try club. "Henry's once e-m-a-
generation fighter. You won't see
another one like him, and neither
Will I. I've been fighting twenty
years. and he's the best l ever saw.
He can stay. me can take 1t, ne
can box. and he can knock your
head off. That's all you can ever
ask of a fighter
Knowing McLamm 10 be Only
thirty or thcreaboutS, | questioned
his statement that he had been
riobtino twenty wears.
yes. I've been fighting twenty
wears" he said. started when l
was ten. And I'm telling you the
truth when I tell you that of all
the 125 fights l had, the toughest
was the first one. That one was
long time ago, but I still remem-
Der it
As he walked along, Jimmy told
me about that fight. 1t was IN
Vancouver. at Rough House Char-
lev's second division athletic club.
Ten wears old, and weighing but
ixty-five pounds. he walked two
miles to the club and fought
fo,r-roundcr with Clarence Robin
son
clarence liked to have killed
me-" Jimmy said. Il was up ana
down. up and down. I remember
when il was all over I was afraid
10 walk home. because l had to ross
a dark bridge So | asked Rough
House Charles for carfare-SiX
cents. He gave me a dollar, and all
the thousands of dollars l made in
later years never did seem as big
as that bill Charley handed me-
1t was hard to believe looking
at the McLarnin of today, that he
Went through 125 fights against the
boys in several classes.
Net a mark on him of any sort. A
smooth baby face, untouched ears.
a clear. normal voice. and a mind
lInclouded by punches. Now, COM
fortably retired. and with golf as
bis only sport, he doesn't regret his
fighting days. but he is glad they
are finished.
ITS a tough business, even when
you are good enough to be d
champion. Jimmy said. Tough
people. tough work, and lawdy
knows what would have happened
to me if l hadn't Pop Foster to
run things for me. A great man,
Pop Almost The greatest, l reckon.
They always thought he was a little
New York, I mean-but
he never did get right mixed with
wrong. and he never was afraid OF
I mentioned Armstrong again.
He has two things" Jimmy said.
"A great left. and all the stamina
in the world Sam Langford used
to say that if you keep EN- on their
heels THEY'LL never hurt YOU. That's
what Henry does He keeps NOV
ing forward. He has the strength
to do that. No man ever hurt you
going backwards. 1t isn't natural
for a man to move backwards. He
is awkward when he is doing it.
Armstrong keeps all his opponents
moving that ay. He can box, too.
Mixes up his punches. Rolls. And
he can fight ali night. You know
what would have made a terrific
fight? Armstrong as he is today
against Tony Canzonerio when he
was at his best. Two bullers. Two
sharp hitters. Two game guys.
Two cocky guys. I would have liked
to