By Peter Marinelo: Without question, Armstrong’s best year came in 1937. Armstrong would fight and win 27 times with only one opponent seeing the final bell. Unfortunately for Hurricane Henry that was also the year that Joe Louis became heavyweight champion of the world.

Armstrong and his team recognized that they would never make any money fighting out of the shadow of Joe Louis. People would save their money and pay to see the Bronx Bomber instead of Armstrong. That’s when it happened. In an unprecedented move, Armstrong and his team decided that they would go after three world title belts. The rest is history.

Armstrong who was already the featherweight champion at the time, would go up to take the welterweight strap from Barney Ross on May 31st, 1938. Then on August 17th of the same year, he would beat Lou Ambers for his lightweight belt via 15-round decision. Now Armstrong was a three weight champion and he would go on to defend his welterweight strap more times than any man in boxing history. Armstrong would also challenge for the middleweight strap against Filipino fighter Ceferino Garcia. Armstrong had previously beaten Garcia in a welterweight fight but would lose a decision to Garcia at middleweight in a fight that most observers felt he won.

Like Henry Armstrong, Manny Pacquiao’s recent claim to fame has been in his ability to challenge for belts against fighters much bigger than himself. Also like Armstrong, Manny’s decision to move up in weight was purely financial. Although Manny has not defended any single belt as many times as Armstrong had defended his welterweight belt, it would be hard to say that Manny would be as popular as he is now if he stayed at the lower weights and cleaned them out. Both men used their ability to fight and beat bigger men to achieve boxing immortality.

This isn’t to say that Manny Pacquiao’s accomplishments are the same as Armstrong’s. Armstrong fought in an era with definitive champions and fewer weight classes. In this light, no one can say that Manny is or has done the same thing Armstrong has. It is to say, however, that had Armstrong stayed at featherweight he may not have reached the same level of boxing immortality that he has today.

Pancho Villa became one of the greatest fighters ever by virtue of his style and charisma. He reached a level of fame enjoyed by few even though his biggest win came against a fighter well past his prime in Jimmy Wilde. Henry Armstrong reached boxing’s Olympus based on brilliant moves by his management. If not for this, the great Armstrong would have just been another fighter in the shadow of Joe Louis. Like both of these men, Manny’s accomplishments stand him out from the pack, and his never-tiring style and charisma hold the attention of the fans. If not for these qualities, Manny Pacquiao would not be where he is today. Resting atop the summit of the boxing world.