The Gaudy Touch

Everybody loves a comeback. Last week flat-faced, chocolate-colored little Henry Armstrong, who once held the feather, light-and welterweight championships of the world simultaneously, endeared him self to the ring fans with one of the fightingest comebacks that ever lost the judges' decision. His defeat was a great success.

Two years ago Armstrong staggered nearly blind out of the ring. Tough little Fritzie Zivic had given him a cruel beating, cut him to pieces around the eyes.

Unusually intelligent for a fighter, Arm strong quit the ring and put his brain to work. He managed a couple of fighters, M.C.'d a band, wrote stories, verse, a song (My Moment Supreme), started a book (My Struggle for Three Crowns).

Up from Letters. Fortunately for fight fans (and readers) Henry has not yet found a publisher for his book. One night a year ago, while Henry watched a fight in California, a friend suggested that he try fighting again. Armstrong, then a roly-poly 165 lb., scoffed: "A fat man! Who would pay to see me fight again?" But by last week he had staged an amazing upward climb: his eyes were healed, he had slimmed to fighting weight (138), won 16 of 18 comeback fights, defeated backsliding Fritzie Zivic and gained a crack at the big money -- a fight with Lightweight Champion Beau Jack.

The Beau looked too young (22) and strong for elderly Henry (30). But fight fans are notoriously gullible, and with the help of sentimental sportswriters shrewd Henry and the fight promoters put on a magnificently corny advance show.

Onward with the Arts. Basis of its gaudy plot was that as a beginner in the ring Beau Jack, the illiterate former Augusta Golf Club bootblack, had once sparred with Armstrong. Master Armstrong proposed to give Pupil Jack another boxing lesson. Purred Armstrong: "I can't forget the look of ... adoration in his eyes when he [first] saw me. . . . Just like my little daughter. . . ."

When the two fighters climbed into the Garden ring last week, Armstrong's comeback was already a success. Madison Square Garden was jammed and the gate was nearly $105,000, more than Armstrong ever drew there when he was a triple champion. Dusky Jack, obviously no calf-eyed pupil, pounced upon him with trip-hammer lefts and jolting right uppercuts. Armstrong just put his head down and bored in, soon made Jack back away, in the ninth and tenth rounds kept him well backed against the ropes.

Summer Again. It was a good enough show to assure old Henry a 15-round title fight with the champ this summer. But it was not good enough for the judges. When they pronounced Jack the winner, the crowd booed enthusiastically, less from conviction than as a tribute to game Henry Armstrong and his publicity staff.

Henry won $25,000. The Beau, who fights for fun and a fee from a syndicate of Stork Club sportsmen who handle his winnings, got two flashy new suits, a hat and a new pair of shoes.

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