By Peter Silkov
By his own admission, Ambers was a ‘bad boy’ as a youngster, frequently
in trouble, usually for fighting, but when he discovered boxing his
energies became focused for the first time. In his mid-teens Ambers
began spending a number of years fighting ‘bootleg fights.’ These were
‘unofficial’ boxing matches, which took place weekly at little clubs all
over the country. Many boxers would start off their fighting careers
fighting in these matches. Ambers changed his name from D’Amrosio to
prevent his mother from finding out about his choice to box.
From 1929 Ambers fought in these ’bootleg’ bouts every two to three
weeks, earning 10 to 15 dollars per fight. It was a rough introduction
to fighting for Ambers, but the money was a small fortune at that time
and the fights themselves would prove to be priceless experience for
when Ambers began his full fledged official boxing career.
During this time, when he was traveling around America fighting bootleg bouts, Ambers would live like a hobo, riding the trains and living as cheaply as he could between fights, all the while to help support his widowed Mother, and siblings during the Great Depression.
Once he
had began his official boxing career in 1932, at the age of18, Ambers
soon showed himself to be a tremendous force in the ring, and managed by
Al Weill (who would later manage Rocky Marciano) and quickly rose up
the lightweight rankings. Ambers was a busy fighter and by the beginning
of 1935 Ambers already had a record of 42-1-5.
On May 10, 1935, he fought the great Tony Canzoneri for the World Lightweight championship, but was beaten on points. Canzoneri was Ambers idol, and Ambers was nervous. Sixteen months later however, on September 3, 1936, Ambers gained a second shot at Canzoneri. This time, a more experienced and confident Ambers came out the winner on points, after a terrific fight, and the new Lightweight Champion of the World.
Over the
next two years Ambers fought a number of non-title bouts and defended
his world title successfully twice (including a 3rd fight against
Canzoneri, which he won again on points.) On August 17, 1938, Ambers
defended his title against the great Henry Armstrong. This proved to be a
truly savage contest, despite all his toughness and Armstrong, who at
this time was one of the greatest and fiercest fighters ever seen in a
ring, out-gunned the brave Herkimer Hurricane. Ambers was out-pointed,
losing his World Lightweight championship to Armstrong, who already held
the Featherweight and Welterweight world titles. Armstrong became the
first and only man to hold three world titles simultaneously in
three-weight division.
Despite losing, Ambers had given Armstrong one of his toughest fights, cutting his mouth so bad that Armstrong needed nine stitches after the fight, and had almost collapsed in the later rounds from sickness, due to the blood that he had been swallowing.
One year later, on August 22, 1939, Ambers and Armstrong fought again, and once more, it was a savage affair, but this time Lou won a controversial point’s decision and regained the World Lightweight championship. Although Ambers regained the title on points, he was helped greatly by the referee Arthur Donovon who took five rounds away from Armstrong for perceived fouling.
After
controversially regaining the world title, the wars with Armstrong left
their mark on Ambers and after a few non-title fights, he lost his world
title on his first defence when he was knocked out by Lew Jenkins in 3
rounds on May 10, 1940. Ambers gained a rematch with Jenkins nine
months later, and this time was stopped in the seventh round, of what
proved to be his final fight.
After he retired from fighting Ambers joined the Coast Guard during the war, then following the end of WW2 he took a job at Reynolds Metal in Phoenix, Arizona.
Lou Amber's final record official was 88(29koes)-8-6. Although he said himself that, including his bootleg fights, he had 238 fights in all.
Watch Henry Armstrong Vs. Lou Ambers. August 22, 1939, at Yankee Stadium:
During this time, when he was traveling around America fighting bootleg bouts, Ambers would live like a hobo, riding the trains and living as cheaply as he could between fights, all the while to help support his widowed Mother, and siblings during the Great Depression.
On May 10, 1935, he fought the great Tony Canzoneri for the World Lightweight championship, but was beaten on points. Canzoneri was Ambers idol, and Ambers was nervous. Sixteen months later however, on September 3, 1936, Ambers gained a second shot at Canzoneri. This time, a more experienced and confident Ambers came out the winner on points, after a terrific fight, and the new Lightweight Champion of the World.
Despite losing, Ambers had given Armstrong one of his toughest fights, cutting his mouth so bad that Armstrong needed nine stitches after the fight, and had almost collapsed in the later rounds from sickness, due to the blood that he had been swallowing.
One year later, on August 22, 1939, Ambers and Armstrong fought again, and once more, it was a savage affair, but this time Lou won a controversial point’s decision and regained the World Lightweight championship. Although Ambers regained the title on points, he was helped greatly by the referee Arthur Donovon who took five rounds away from Armstrong for perceived fouling.
After he retired from fighting Ambers joined the Coast Guard during the war, then following the end of WW2 he took a job at Reynolds Metal in Phoenix, Arizona.
Lou Amber's final record official was 88(29koes)-8-6. Although he said himself that, including his bootleg fights, he had 238 fights in all.
Watch Henry Armstrong Vs. Lou Ambers. August 22, 1939, at Yankee Stadium:
Copyright © 2016 The Boxing Glove, Inc. Peter Silkov Art. All Rights Reserved. Peter Silkov contributes to
www.theboxingglove.com
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