84 years ago

Date: 24th January 1940

Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, USA

Title: World Welterweight Title

Promoter: Mike Jacobs

Referee: Billy Cavanaugh

Henry Armstrong
( 103 - 12 - 7 )
Weight: 139¾ lbs

Pedro Montanez
( 90 - 7 - 4 )
Weight: 144½ lbs

On January 24, 1940, Madison Square Garden in New York was the stage for a fierce clash between Henry Armstrong and Pedro Montanez. The atmosphere was electric, with 19,157 fans in attendance, generating a gate of $59,575. Armstrong, weighing 140 lbs, defended his World Welterweight Title against Montanez, who weighed 144 lbs. The fight was officiated by referee Billy Cavanaugh, with judges Marty Monroe and Joe Lynch at ringside.

Armstrong entered the ring with a reputation for relentless aggression and an insatiable work rate. Montanez, a hard-hitting Puerto Rican legend and future Hall of Famer, was the fourteenth man to challenge Armstrong for the welterweight championship and the second in January alone. Many in the crowd believed Montanez had the power to dethrone the champion.

From the opening bell, Armstrong's ferocity was evident. In the third round, Montanez was cut over the right eye, and by the seventh round, he was also cut under the left eye. Armstrong's continuous pressure and blistering firepower were unmatched. In the fourth round, Montanez was down for the first time in his career, a significant moment that underscored Armstrong's dominance.

Montanez showed immense courage, but the bout was increasingly one-sided. At the end of the eighth round, Armstrong's relentless assault put Montanez down again, and he had to be carried to his corner. The Madison Square Garden crowd witnessed a display of savagery and bruising fighting rarely seen, with virtually all the punishment coming from Armstrong.

The ninth round was the final act of this intense encounter. Armstrong continued his unyielding attack, and at 0:47 of the round, Montanez went down for the third time. Referee Billy Cavanaugh stopped the fight, declaring Armstrong the winner by TKO. The New York Times described the fight as a contest of unprecedented ferocity, highlighting Armstrong's irrepressible nature and extraordinary stamina. 

Armstrong had expressed his desire to face Pedro Montanez, Al "Bummy" Davis, and middleweight champ Ceferino Garcia in 1940. Following this victory, he met Garcia in his next bout, while the anticipated match with Davis took place in 1944.