87 years ago
Henry Armstrong vs Petey Sarron
Date: 29th October 1937
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, USA
Title: World Featherweight Title
Promoter: Mike Jacobs
Henry Armstrong
(
72
-
11
-
7
)
Weight: 124 lbs
Petey Sarron
(
107
-
22
-
13
)
Weight: 126 lbs
On October 29, 1937, Henry Armstrong challenged Petey Sarron for the National Boxing Association (NBA), New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC), and World Featherweight Titles at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The bout, which unified the featherweight titles, was the first show promoted by Mike Jacobs as an independent operator for the Twentieth Century Sporting Club.
Armstrong, weighing in at 124 pounds, faced the 126-pound champion Sarron in front of a crowd of 11,847, who were on the edge of their seats in anticipation. The fight, scheduled for 15 rounds, with Arthur Donovan as the referee, was met with thunderous applause and cheers as the two fighters stepped into the ring.
The match was a display of sheer power and skill. Sarron initially seemed to have the upper hand in the first round, but Armstrong quickly turned the tables with his powerful blows in the second. Despite a low blow dealt to Sarron in the third, Armstrong's dominance was evident. The fourth round was a nail-biter, but Armstrong's staggering blows in the fifth left no doubt about his superiority.
The bout reached its climax in the sixth round. Armstrong, determined and relentless, delivered a left hook to Sarron's chin, despite the champion's desperate attempt to cover up with his gloves. The knockout, a testament to Armstrong's strength and precision, came at 2:36 of the round, marking Sarron's first knockout loss in his twelve-year career.
Armstrong's victory in the bout not only marked the end of Sarron's twelve-year career without a knockout loss but also solidified his position as the unified featherweight champion, holding the prestigious NBA, NYSAC, and World Featherweight Titles. However, Armstrong's ambitions led him to relinquish the NBA and New York versions of the title, redirecting his focus to the lightweight and welterweight divisions.