Bob Armstrong (boxer)

Bob Armstrong (September 4, 1873 – January 5, 1933), was a heavyweight boxer known as the "King of the Battle Royal". He was born in Rogersville, Tennessee, but he moved with his family to Washington, Ohio when he was three years old.

Bob Armstrong
Armstrong, Eddie McGoorty, and Ed McMahon in 1914
Statistics
Nickname(s)The King of the Battle Royal
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
NationalityAmerican
Born(1873-09-04)September 4, 1873
Rogersville, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedJanuary 5, 1933(1933-01-05) (aged 59)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights37
Wins18
Wins by KO15
Losses11
Draws7
No contests1

Before he got into boxing, Armstrong worked with racing horses in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He made his debut on September 19 in a six-rounder against Joe Choynski in Chicago, Illinois. He lost the decision on points.

Choynski used him as a sparring partner, as did world heavyweight champion pretender Tom Sharkey and the true heavyweight champs Bob Fitzsimmons and Jim Jeffries.[1]

World Colored Heavyweight Champ

On December 21, 1896, he won the World Colored Heavyweight Championship vacated by long-time colored champ Peter Jackson by knocking out Charley Strong in the 19th round in a fight held in New York City (although some sources claim the bout took place in Philadelphia on March 25, 1897). On New Year's Day 1897 he fought Joe Butler in Philadelphia and was knocked out in the second round. They met again on the sixth of March in a title bout, and Armstrong prevailed, winning by a technical knock-out in the 6th round. The following day, he fought Frank Childs and lost to him on points in a non-title bout.

His next fight was a title bout with Sam Pruitt in San Francisco on April 23, 1897, which he won via a 1st round knock-out. His next official fights resulted in a loss on points to Joe Sheehy in a four-rounder in June and a win against Jack Douglass via a TKO in the 2nd round on September 13. Some sources also report that he beat Jack McCormick on September 25. In 1897, he also fought two exhibitions against Tom Sharkey in May and fought two exhibitions against two different opponents, Jimmy Barry and Childs, on May 29. He fought an exhibition against Joe Choynski in August and finished out the year with an exhibition against John Holtman in November.

In the new year of 1898, Armstrong put his championship on the line in a rematch with Childs. On January 29, 1898, and Childs took the title by knocking Armstrong out in the second round.

Post-Championship

On August 5, 1898, Armstrong fought top white heavyweight contender James J. Jeffries, who was less than a year away from winning the world's heavyweight championship, in a 10-round bout at the Lenox Athletic Club in New York City. Armstrong lost on points.

He fought colored heavyweight champ Denver Ed Martin for the colored heavyweight title in the Crystal Palace in London on July 25, 1902. According to the Associated Press coverage of the fight:

"Martin proved the cleverer and never gave his opponent a chance, being declared an easy winner on points at the close of the fifteenth round; Martin, it is announced, will challenge the winner of the Jeffries-Fitzsimmons fight in San Francsico."

Martin was not given a title shot and met Armstrong for a rematch in Philadelphia on December 10 According to the Daily Gazette and Bulletin:

"The bout was fast from the start and both men narrowly escaped a knockout. The bell saved Armstrong in the third and fifth and Martin was floored six times in the fourth round."

The six-round bout ended in a no decision. In his next fight, Martin lost his title to Jack Johnson, who would one day break the color bar and become the first African American heavyweight champion of the world.

Armstrong retired after being KO-ed by Walter Johnson in Haverhill, Massachusetts on December 26, 1904. He ended his career with an official record of 17 wins (with 15 KOs) against 11 losses (in which he was KO-ed six times) and five draws. He also had a newspaper decision record of one win and one draw.[2]

On January 29, 1932, he worked the corner for King Levinsky in his fight against Max Baer.

He died on January 5, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois.

Legacy & Honors

In 2020 award-winning author Mark Allen Baker published the first comprehensive account of The World Colored Heavyweight Championship, 1876-1937, with McFarland & Company, a leading independent publisher of academic & nonfiction books. This history traces the advent and demise of the Championship, the stories of the talented professional athletes who won it, and the demarcation of the color line both in and out of the ring.

For decades the World Colored Heavyweight Championship was a useful tool to combat racial oppression-the existence of the title a leverage mechanism, or tool, used as a technique to counter a social element, “drawing the color line.”

Professional boxing record

All information in this section is derived from BoxRec,[3] unless otherwise stated.

Official record
37 fights 17 wins 10 losses
By knockout 15 5
By decision 2 5
Draws 5
No contests 1
Newspaper decisions/draws 4

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.

No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
37 Loss 17–10–5 (5) Walter Johnson KO 4 (12) Dec 26, 1904 Haverhill A.C., Haverhill, Massachusetts, U.S.
36 Win 17–9–5 (5) Walter Johnson KO 2 (12) Apr 18, 1904 Haverhill A.C., Haverhill, Massachusetts, U.S.
35 Win 16–9–5 (5) Black Fitzsimmons KO 1 (25) Sep 23, 1903 Saunderstown, Rhode Island, U.S.
34 Loss 15–9–5 (5) Sandy Ferguson KO 1 (10) Aug 20, 1903 Tammany A.C., Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
33 Win 15–8–5 (5) Denver Ed Martin KO 3 (12) Jun 10, 1903 Tammany A.C., Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
32 NC 14–8–5 (5) George Gardner NC 4 (6) Feb 9, 1903 Washington S.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. After the fighters had been "fiddling around for four rounds",
the referee stopped the fight
31 Loss 14–8–5 (4) Denver Ed Martin NWS 6 Dec 10, 1902 Penn Art Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. World colored heavyweight title at stake;
(via KO only)
30 Loss 14–8–5 (3) Denver Ed Martin PTS 15 Jul 25, 1902 Crystal Palace, Sydenham, London, England, U.K. For world colored heavyweight title
29 Draw 14–7–5 (3) Denver Ed Martin NWS 6 Mar 23, 1900 Industrial Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
28 Win 14–7–5 (2) Jim Jeffords KO 3 (25) Nov 27, 1899 Hercules A.C., Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
27 Loss 13–7–5 (2) Ed Dunkhorst PTS 10 Nov 14, 1899 Syracuse, New York, U.S.
26 Win 13–6–5 (2) Tom 'Stockings' Conroy PTS 20 Jul 21, 1899 Broadway A.C., Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
25 Win 12–6–5 (2) Denver Ed Martin KO 2 (20) Jun 6, 1899 Lenox A.C., Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
24 Loss 11–6–5 (2) Frank Childs TKO 6 (10) Mar 4, 1899 Stag A.C., Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. For vacant world colored heavyweight title claim
23 Win 11–5–5 (2) Mexican Pete Everett TKO 14 (15) Dec 9, 1898 Wheel Club, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
22 Draw 10–5–5 (2) Ed Dunkhorst PTS 10 Dec 4, 1898 Syracuse, New York, U.S.
21 Draw 10–5–4 (2) Joe Goddard NWS 6 Aug 29, 1898 Arena A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
20 Loss 10–5–4 (1) James J. Jeffries PTS 10 Aug 5, 1898 Lenox A.C., Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
19 Loss 10–4–4 (1) Mexican Pete Everett KO 5 (20) Jul 4, 1898 Cripple Creek, Colorado, U.S.
18 Win 10–3–4 (1) Tom 'Stockings' Conroy PTS 6 Jun 10, 1898 Arena A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
17 Win 9–3–4 (1) Joe Butler KO 2 (6) May 27, 1898 Winter Circus, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
16 Draw 8–3–4 (1) Ed Dunkhorst PTS 10 Apr 25, 1898 Central City A.C., Syracuse, New York, U.S.
15 Win 8–3–3 (1) Charley Strong NWS 6 Mar 25, 1898 Arena A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
14 Win 8–3–3 Yank Kenny KO 5 (6) Feb 21, 1898 American A.C., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
13 Loss 7–3–3 Frank Childs KO 2 (6) Jan 29, 1898 Chicago A.A., Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Lost world colored heavyweight title
12 Win 7–2–3 Jack Douglass RTD 2 (8) Sep 13, 1897 Second Regiment Armory, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
11 Loss 6–2–3 Joe Sheehy PTS 4 Jun 1, 1897 Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.
10 Win 6–1–3 Sam Pruitt RTD 1 (10) Apr 23, 1897 Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, U.S. Retained world colored heavyweight title
9 Loss 5–1–3 Frank Childs PTS 6 Mar 7, 1897 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
8 Win 5–0–3 Joe Butler TKO 6 (15) Mar 6, 1897 Broadway A.C., Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. Retained world colored heavyweight title
7 Win 4–0–3 Charley Strong KO 19 (20) Dec 21, 1896 Broadway A.C., Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. Won vacant world colored heavyweight title
6 Win 3–0–3 Frank 'Paddy' Slavin TKO 4 (20) Nov 23, 1896 Union Park A.C., Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
5 Win 2–0–3 Tommy Forrest TKO 2 (?) Aug 31, 1896 Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
4 Draw 1–0–3 Fred Morris PTS 4 Aug 31, 1896 Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
3 Win 1–0–2 Frank 'Paddy' Slavin KO 10 (?) Nov 5, 1895 Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.
2 Draw 0–0–2 Walter Johnson PTS 10 Jul 15, 1895 Union Park Hall, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
1 Draw 0–0–1 Joe Choynski PTS 6 Sep 19, 1894 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Unofficial record
37 fights 18 wins 11 losses
By knockout 15 5
By decision 3 6
Draws 7
No contests 1

Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.

No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
37 Loss 18–11–7 (1) Walter Johnson KO 4 (12) Dec 26, 1904 Haverhill A.C., Haverhill, Massachusetts, U.S.
36 Win 18–10–7 (1) Walter Johnson KO 2 (12) Apr 18, 1904 Haverhill A.C., Haverhill, Massachusetts, U.S.
35 Win 17–10–7 (1) Black Fitzsimmons KO 1 (25) Sep 23, 1903 Saunderstown, Rhode Island, U.S.
34 Loss 16–10–7 (1) Sandy Ferguson KO 1 (10) Aug 20, 1903 Tammany A.C., Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
33 Win 16–9–7 (1) Denver Ed Martin KO 3 (12) Jun 10, 1903 Tammany A.C., Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
32 NC 15–9–7 (1) George Gardner NC 4 (6) Feb 9, 1903 Washington S.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. After the fighters had been "fiddling around for four rounds",
the referee stopped the fight
31 Loss 15–9–7 Denver Ed Martin NWS 6 Dec 10, 1902 Penn Art Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. World colored heavyweight title at stake;
(via KO only)
30 Loss 15–8–7 Denver Ed Martin PTS 15 Jul 25, 1902 Crystal Palace, Sydenham, London, England, U.K. For world colored heavyweight title
29 Draw 15–7–7 Denver Ed Martin NWS 6 Mar 23, 1900 Industrial Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
28 Win 15–7–6 Jim Jeffords KO 3 (25) Nov 27, 1899 Hercules A.C., Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
27 Loss 14–7–6 Ed Dunkhorst PTS 10 Nov 14, 1899 Syracuse, New York, U.S.
26 Win 14–6–6 Tom 'Stockings' Conroy PTS 20 Jul 21, 1899 Broadway A.C., Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
25 Win 13–6–6 Denver Ed Martin KO 2 (20) Jun 6, 1899 Lenox A.C., Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
24 Loss 12–6–6 Frank Childs TKO 6 (10) Mar 4, 1899 Stag A.C., Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. For vacant world colored heavyweight title claim
23 Win 12–5–6 Mexican Pete Everett TKO 14 (15) Dec 9, 1898 Wheel Club, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
22 Draw 11–5–6 Ed Dunkhorst PTS 10 Dec 4, 1898 Syracuse, New York, U.S.
21 Draw 11–5–5 Joe Goddard NWS 6 Aug 29, 1898 Arena A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
20 Loss 11–5–4 James J. Jeffries PTS 10 Aug 5, 1898 Lenox A.C., Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
19 Loss 11–4–4 Mexican Pete Everett KO 5 (20) Jul 4, 1898 Cripple Creek, Colorado, U.S.
18 Win 11–3–4 Tom 'Stockings' Conroy PTS 6 Jun 10, 1898 Arena A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
17 Win 10–3–4 Joe Butler KO 2 (6) May 27, 1898 Winter Circus, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
16 Draw 9–3–4 Ed Dunkhorst PTS 10 Apr 25, 1898 Central City A.C., Syracuse, New York, U.S.
15 Win 9–3–3 Charley Strong NWS 6 Mar 25, 1898 Arena A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
14 Win 8–3–3 Yank Kenny KO 5 (6) Feb 21, 1898 American A.C., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
13 Loss 7–3–3 Frank Childs KO 2 (6) Jan 29, 1898 Chicago A.A., Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Lost world colored heavyweight title
12 Win 7–2–3 Jack Douglass RTD 2 (8) Sep 13, 1897 Second Regiment Armory, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
11 Loss 6–2–3 Joe Sheehy PTS 4 Jun 1, 1897 Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.
10 Win 6–1–3 Sam Pruitt RTD 1 (10) Apr 23, 1897 Woodward's Pavilion, San Francisco, California, U.S. Retained world colored heavyweight title
9 Loss 5–1–3 Frank Childs PTS 6 Mar 7, 1897 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
8 Win 5–0–3 Joe Butler TKO 6 (15) Mar 6, 1897 Broadway A.C., Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. Retained world colored heavyweight title
7 Win 4–0–3 Charley Strong KO 19 (20) Dec 21, 1896 Broadway A.C., Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. Won vacant world colored heavyweight title
6 Win 3–0–3 Frank 'Paddy' Slavin TKO 4 (20) Nov 23, 1896 Union Park A.C., Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
5 Win 2–0–3 Tommy Forrest TKO 2 (?) Aug 31, 1896 Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
4 Draw 1–0–3 Fred Morris PTS 4 Aug 31, 1896 Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
3 Win 1–0–2 Frank 'Paddy' Slavin KO 10 (?) Nov 5, 1895 Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.
2 Draw 0–0–2 Walter Johnson PTS 10 Jul 15, 1895 Union Park Hall, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
1 Draw 0–0–1 Joe Choynski PTS 6 Sep 19, 1894 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

References
  1. "Bob Armstrong ("King of the Battle Royal")". Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  2. "Bob Armstrong (Record)". BoxRec. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
  3. "Bob Armstrong".
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