Archie Moore, whose birth name was Archibald Wright (December 13, 1913 – December 9, 1998), was light heavyweight world boxing champion between 1952 and 1959 (and again in 1961) and had one of the longest professional careers in the history of his sport. A native of Benoit, Mississippi, raised in St. Louis, Mo., he died four days short of his 85th (or 82nd) birthday, in his adopted home of San Diego, California. He was also an important community figure, and became involved in African American causes once his days as a fighter were (finally) over. Nicknamed "The Old Mongoose", Moore still holds the record for the most career knockouts by any boxer, at 145. Image File history File links ArchieMoore1. ... is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... In boxing, the light heavyweight division is the weight division between cruiserweight over 175 pounds (79. ... For other senses of these words, see boxing (disambiguation) or boxer (disambiguation). ... Benoit is a town located in Bolivar County, Mississippi. ... Nickname: Gateway City, Gateway to the West, or Mound City Location in the state of Missouri Coordinates: Country United States State Missouri County Independent City Mayor Francis G. Slay (D) Area    - City 66. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ...

Before Boxing

Moore often found himself in trouble as a youngster, and was in a reformatory until 1934. In 1935, he began his boxing career with nine fights as a boxer, winning 5 and losing 4. (He also claimed to have boxed some under the name "Fourth of July Kid," so he may have had even more fights.)

Professional Boxing Career

He turned professional in 1938 and boxed all but one of his 12 bouts that year in San Diego. Moore had eight bouts in 1939, going 5-2 during that span, with one "no contest". He lost to fringe contender Teddy Yarosz during that time, and his no contest was against Jack Coggins, in eight rounds. In 1940, Moore a tour of Australia had him fighting in Melbourne, Tasmania, Adelaide and Sydney. He won all of his seven bouts there, including six by knockout. Upon returning to the United States, he defeated Pancho Ramirez by a knockout in five, but lost to Shorty Hogue on a six round decision. Teddy Yarosz (born June 24, 1910 in Pittsburgh, PA) – died March 29, 1974) was middleweight boxing champion of the world. ... Jack Banham Coggins (b. ... The City of Melbournes coat of arms The central business district of Melbourne, viewed from the north Alternate meanings: Melbourne (disambiguation) Melbourne is the capital and largest city of the state of Victoria, and the second largest city in Australia, with a population of 52,117 in the Central... Motto: Ubertas et Fidelitas (Fertility and Faithfulness) Other Australian states and territories Capital Hobart Governor William Cox Premier Paul Lennon (ALP) Area 90,758 km² (7th)  - Land 68,401 km²  - Water 22,357 km² (24. ... For other uses, see Adelaide (disambiguation). ... This is about the city of Sydney in Australia. ... Please wikify (format) this article as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ...

First Retirement and Comeback

Moore had four fights in 1941, during which he went 2-1-1, with the draw against Eddie Booker. By then, however, he had suffered through several stomach ulcers, with the resulting operations, and he announced his retirement from boxing. In anatomy, the stomach is a bean-shaped hollow muscular organ of the gastrointestinal tract involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication. ...

His retirement was brief, however, and by 1942 he was back in the ring. He won his first six bouts that year, including a second round knockout of Hogue in a rematch, and a ten round decision over Jack Chase. He met Booker in a rematch, and reached the same conclusion as their first meeting had: another 10 round draw.

In 1943, Moore fought seven bouts, winning five and losing two. He won and then lost the California State Middleweight title against Chase, both by 15 round decisions, and beat Chase again in his last bout of that year, in a ten round decision. He also lost a decision to Aaron Wade that year. Aaron Wade was an American Middleweight boxer who fought from 1935-1950. ...

The Atlantic Coast

In 1944, he had nine bouts, going 7-2. His last bout that year marked his debut on the Atlantic Coast, and the level of his opposition began to improve. He beat Jimmy Hayden by a knockout in five, lost to Charlie Burley by a decision, and to Booker by a knockout in eight. Charley Burley (b. ...

He won his first eight bouts of 1945, impressing Atlantic coast boxing experts, and earning a fight with fringe contender Jimmy Bivins, who defeated Moore by a knockout in six at Cleveland. He returned to the Eastern Seaboard to fight five more times before that year was over. He met, among others, Holman Williams during that span, losing a ten round decision, and knocking him out in eleven in the rematch. James Louis Bivins (born December 6, 1919 in Dry Branch, GA) was Heavyweight boxing champion of the world. ... Nickname: Motto: Progress & Prosperity Location in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA Coordinates: , Country State County Cuyahoga Founded 1796 Incorporated 1814 (village)   1836 (city) Government  - Mayor Frank G. Jackson (D) Area [1]  - City  82. ...

By 1946, Moore had moved to the light heavyweight division, and he went 5-2-1 that year, beating fringe contender Curtis Sheppard, but losing to future world heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles by a decision in ten, and drawing with old nemesis Chase. By then, Moore began complaining publicly that, according to him, none of boxing's world champions would risk their titles fighting him. Curtis Sheppard (born c. ... Ezzard Mack Charles (July 7, 1921 - May 27, 1975) was a professional boxer and former Heavyweight Champion of the world. ...

1947 was essentially a year of rematches for Moore. He went 7-1 that year, his one loss being to Charles. He beat Chase by a knockout in nine, Sheppard by a decision in ten and Bivins by a knockout in nine. He also defeated Bert Lydell, by a decision in ten.

He fought a solid 14 fights in 1948, losing again to Charles by a knockout in nine, losing to Leonard Morrow by a knockout in the first, to Henry Hall by a decision in ten and to Lloyd Gibson by a disqualification in four. But he also beat Ted Lowry, by a decision in ten, and Hall in a rematch, also by decision. Henry Hall was a boxer from Louisiana. ... Was the second man to manage not being knocked-out by Rocky Marciano. ...

1949 was also a good year for Moore: He had 13 bouts that year, going 12-1. He defeated the Alabama Kid twice; by knockout in four and by knockout in three, Bob Satterfeld by a knockout in three, Bivins by a knockout in eight, future world Light Heavyweight champion Harold Johnson by a decision, Bob Sikes by a knockout in three, and Phil Muscato by a decision. He lost to Clinton Bacon by a disqualification in six. Harold Johnson (born August 9, 1928, in Manayunk, Pennsylvania) was a professional boxer. ...

By Moore's standards, 1950 was a vacation year for him: he only had two fights, winning both, including a 10 round decision in a rematch with Lydell.

In 1951, Moore boxed 18 times, winning 16, losing one, and drawing one. He went on an Argentinian tour, fighting seven times there, winning six and drawing one. In between those seven fights, he found time for a trip to Montevideo, Uruguay, where he defeated Vicente Quiroz by a knockout in six. He knocked out Bivins in nine, and split two decisions with Johnson. Motto En unión y libertad(Spanish) In Union and Freedom Anthem Himno Nacional Argentino Capital (and largest city) Buenos Aires Official languages Spanish Demonym Argentinian, Argentine Government Federal republic  -  President Néstor Kirchner  -  Vice President Daniel Scioli  -  Chief of Cabinet Alberto Fernández Independence from Spain   -  May Revolution 25... Department Montevideo Department Altitude 43 m Coordinates 34º 53S 56º 10W Founded 1726 Founder Bruno Mauricio de Zabala Population 1,325,968 (2004) (1st) Demonym Montevideano Phone Code +02 Postal Code 10000 Montevideo (IPA: ) is the capital, largest city, and chief port of Uruguay. ...

World Light Heavyweight Champion

1952 was one of the most important years in Moore's life. After beating Johnson, Jimmy Slade and Clinton Bacon (knocked out in four in a rematch), the seemingly inevitable happened: Moore was given an opportunity for the world title by world light heavyweight champion Joey Maxim. (Maxim had just defeated Sugar Ray Robinson by a technical knockout in 14 rounds, after Robinson was forced to quit in his corner due to heat exhaustion.) Moore consistently landed powerful right hands on his opponent throughout the fight, hurting Maxim several times, and finally became world champion after beating Maxim with a decision in fifteen rounds. He had finally achieved his dream of becoming a world boxing champion, sixteen long years after beginning his professional boxing career and at the age of thirty-nine. Jimmy Slade is a fictional character from the TV series Baywatch. ... Giuseppe Antonio Berardinelli, (March 28, 1922 – June 2, 2001), was an American boxer. ... Sugar Ray Robinson, (born Walker Smith Jr. ...

However, he was far from done. The next year, he won all nine of his bouts, including a 10 round non title win against fringe heavyweight contender Nino Valdes of Cuba, and a 15 round decision over Maxim in a rematch to retain the belt. He made two more bouts in Argentina before the end of the year.

In 1954, he had only four fights, retaining the title in a third fight with Maxim, who once again went the 15 round distance, and versus Johnson, who he knocked out in 14. He also beat Bob Baker that year. In 1955, he beat Valdes again, and defended against Bobo Olson, the world middleweight champion, who was coming off a decision victory over Joey Maxim. Moore defeated Olson by a knockout in three to retain his title. This does not cite any references or sources. ... Carl Olson, (July 11, 1928-January 16, 2002), was an American boxer. ...

Rocky

Next, it was Moore's turn to go up in weight and challenge a bigger champion, when he stepped into the ring to face boxing legend Rocky Marciano, then-world heavyweight champion. Moore briefly dropped Marciano in the second round, but Marciano recovered and knocked Moore down 5 times, knocking him out in the ninth to retain the belt. Marciano would retire after this fight, his sixth title defense. Rocky Marciano (September 1, 1923 – August 31, 1969), born Rocco Francis Marchegiano, was the heavyweight champion of the world from 1952 to 1956. ...

In 1956, he went back to the light heavyweight division, and won 13 fights in a row, including a ten round knockout to retain the world's crown against Yolande Pompey in London, before going up in weight once again, and challenging again for the world heavyweight crown. The title was left vacant by Marciano, but Moore lost to Floyd Patterson by a knockout in five. (Patterson himself made history that night, becoming, at the age of 21, the youngest world heavyweight champion yet, a record he would hold until 1986.) This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Floyd Patterson (January 4, 1935 – May 11, 2006) was an American heavyweight boxing champion. ...

Going down to the light heavyweights once again, Moore won all six of his bouts during 1957. He retained the title against Tony Anthony by a knockout in seven, and had two fights in Germany and one in Canada. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

In 1958, Moore had 10 fights, going 9-0-1 during that span. His fight with Yvon Durelle in particular was of note: defending his world light heavyweight title in Montreal, he was felled three times in round one, and once again in round five, but then dropped Durelle in round 10 and won by a knockout in the 11th. Yvon Durelle, born October 14, 1929 in Baie-Ste-Anne, New Brunswick, Canada, was a British Empire champion boxer. ... This article needs cleanup. ...

1959, his last full year as uncontested champion, was another rare low-profile year; in his two fights, he beat Sterling Davis by a knockout in three, and then Durelle again, also by a knockout in three, to once again retain his world Light Heavyweight title. Sterling Davis (born October 27, 1977 in Duncanville, Texas, USA) is a professional basketball player, currently at British Basketball League club Scottish Rocks, where he is currently player/head coach. ...

During 1960, he was stripped of his world light heavyweight title by the National Boxing Association (NBA), but he won three of his four bouts that year, his lone loss coming in a ten-round decision versus Giulio Rinaldi in Rome. World Boxing Association (WBA) is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title, at the professional level. ... The Roman Colosseum Rome (Italian and Latin Roma) is the capital city of Italy, and of its Lazio region. ...

He was re-instated as world light heavyweight champion in 1961, and he won two fights before defending his crown for what would be the last time, beating Rinaldi by a 15 round decision to retain the belt. In his last fight that year, he once again ventured into the heavyweights, and met Pete Rademacher, a man who had made history earlier in his career by becoming the first man ever to challenge for a world title in his first professional bout (when he lost to Patterson by a knockout in six). Moore beat Rademacher by a knockout in nine. Pete Rademacher (born 1929) is a former boxer who made boxing history in an most unconventional way. ...

Muhammad Ali

In 1962, he was again stripped of his world light heavyweight title, this time for good. He decided to campaign exclusively as a heavyweight from then on, and beat Alejandro Lavorante by a knockout in 10 and Howard King by a knockout in one round in Tijuana. He then drew against former world Light Heavyweight champion Willie Pastrano in 10, Howard King was the PA announcer for the Michigan Wolverines football team for 34 years, from 1972 to 2005. ... Tijuana (Spanish [tixwana], English usually [ˌtiːəˈwɑnə]), is the largest city in the Mexican state of Baja California and the seat of the municipality of Tijuana. ... Willie Pastrano (b. ...

Then, in his last fight of note, he faced a young heavyweight out of Louisville named Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali). Moore had been Clay's trainer for a time, but Clay became dissatisfied and left Moore because of Moore's attempts to change his style, and his insistence that Clay do dishes and help clean gym floors. “Louisville” redirects here. ... For other persons named Muhammad Ali, see Muhammad Ali (disambiguation). ...

In the days before the fight, young Clay's increasingly notorious rhyming skills predicted that "Archie Moore / Must fall in four." Moore replied by saying that he had perfected a new punch for the match: The Lip-Buttoner.

However, just as Clay predicted, Moore was beaten by a knockout in four rounds. Still, Moore is the only man to have faced both Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali.

After one more fight in 1963, against Mike DiBiase in Phoenix (which he won by a knockout in the third round), Moore announced his retirement from boxing, for good. Michael DiBiase (born December 24, 1923 – July 2, 1969) was a professional wrestler and the stepfather to former professional wrestler “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase “Iron Mike” made his professional debut in 1956. ... Nickname: Location in Maricopa County and the state of Arizona Coordinates: , Country State Counties Maricopa Incorporated February 25, 1881 Government  - Type Council-Manager  - Mayor Phil Gordon (D) Area  - City  515. ...

Second Retirement

Despite retiring, Moore couldn't escape the limelight, and received numerous awards and dedications. In 1965, he was given the key to the city of San Diego, California.. In 1970, he was named "Man of The Year" by Listen Magazine, and received the key to the city of Sandpoint, Ohio. Freedom of the City is an award made by towns and cities, to esteemed members of its community; such people may then be termed Freemen or Freewomen of the City. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Americas Finest City Location Location of San Diego within San Diego County Coordinates , Government County San Diego Mayor City Attorney         City Council District One District Two District Three District Four District Five District Six District Seven District Eight Jerry Sanders (R) Michael Aguirre Scott Peters Kevin... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Largest metro area Greater Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ...

He was elected in 1985 to the St. Louis city Boxing Hall of Fame, and he received the Rocky Marciano Memorial Award in the city of New York in 1988. In 1990, he became a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in Canastota, being one of the original members of that institution. “NY” redirects here. ... The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta. ...

The oldest boxer to win the world's light heavyweight crown, he is believed to have been the only boxer who boxed professionally in the eras of Joe Louis, Marciano and Muhammad Ali. He is one of only a handful of boxers whose careers spanned four decades; his final record was an astonishing 199 wins, 24 losses, 9 draws and 1 no contest, with 145 official knockouts. Joseph Louis Barrow (May 13, 1914 – April 12, 1981), best known as Joe Louis and nicknamed The Brown Bomber, a native of Lexington, Alabama, is regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight boxing champions of all time. ...

Acting Career

In 1960, Moore was chosen to play the role of the runaway slave Jim in Michael Curtiz's film adaptation of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, opposite Eddie Hodges as Huck. Moore garnered positive reviews for his sympathetic portrayal of Jim, which some viewers still consider the best interpretation of this much-filmed role. Moore did not choose to pursue a full-time career as an actor, but he did appear in a number of small roles on television, including episodes of Family Affair, Perry Mason, Wagon Train, Batman and the soap opera One Life To Live and as a boxer in a TV skit with Red Skelton. He made a brief return to film in 1975, playing a chef in Breakheart Pass with Charles Bronson, and had a cameo role as himself in the 1982 Jamaa Fanaka film Penitentiary II, along with Leon Issac Kennedy and Mr. T. Michael Curtiz (December 24, 1886 - April 10, 1962) was a Hungarian-American film director, whose best known films include The Adventures of Robin Hood, Casablanca, and White Christmas. ... Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910),[1] better known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American humorist, satirist, lecturer and writer. ... Huckleberry Finn and Jim Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885) by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) is commonly accounted as the first Great American Novel. ... Eddie Hodges (born 5 March 1947) is a former child actor and recording artist who left show business as an adult. ... // Family Affair Family Affair was a situation comedy television series that aired on CBS from September 12, 1966 to September 9, 1971. ... Perry Mason is a fictional defense attorney who originally appeared in detective fiction by Erle Stanley Gardner. ... Wagon Train was a television series on NBC from 1957 to 1962 and on ABC from 1962 to 1965. ... Batman (originally referred to as the Bat-Man and still referred to at times as the Batman) is a DC Comics fictional superhero who first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939. ... One Life to Live (OLTL) is an American soap opera which has been broadcast on the ABC television network since July 15, 1968. ... Richard Bernard Red Skelton (July 18, 1913 – September 17, 1997) was an American comedian whose greatest impact — in a career which began as a teen circus clown and graduated to vaudeville, Broadway, MGM films, and radio — began when he reached television stardom with The Red Skelton Show (NBC, 1951–1952...

Personal life

In 1997, Moore's daughter, J'Marie, became the first daughter of a famous boxer to herself become a professional boxer [1]. For the band, see 1997 (band). ...

With his first wife Elizabeth A. Thorton, Moore had two children: Archie Moore Jr. and Elizabeth Moore of City Heights, California.

Moore and wife Joan had five children: Reena Marie, J'Marie, Hardy (deceased), D'Angelo, Anthony and Deacon Billy.

Death

Archie Moore died of heart failure in 1998 at age 84. He was cremated and is interred in a niche at Cypress View Mausoleum and Crematory, in San Diego.

Accolades

• In 2002, Archie Moore was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame.
• Has more known knockouts than any other boxer in history
• 2006 California Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee
• Ring Magazine named Moore boxing's fourth Ring Magazine Best Punchers of all time in 2003.