Personally I think Moorer is one of the most underated HW's of the 90's. The man was an ATG LHW who won all fights by KO/TKO and did more than enough to compete with the HW's of the 1990's. How do you view his career as a HW?
At Light Heavyweight he didn't really beat the type of competition to be throwing the all-time great tag around. He did show a level of dominance over good competition that would suggest he could have been if it wasn't for his frame. He just couldn't keep making weight, he was dying. As a Heavyweight, he went about as far as he could have gone. He had good skills, unreal power even as a Heavyweight, and I've always been impressed with his ability to shorten his shots. However, I don't think he could really take a full blown shot from the big men all to often, and this is where he came up short on occasion. David Tua would knock his block off ten times out of ten. He had a good career as a Heavyweight, though.
Yea definately. His chin might not have been A+ but I think its underated as well. No shame in being KO'd by Tua nor Foreman.
High Marks for being a beast at light heavyweight and being the first southpaw as heavyweight champion. To no fault of his own I think his lightweight resume was a little weak, but he did exactly what he had to do against that type of competition, which was KO them in short order. He had one great win against a prime Evander Holyfield, but he also had a handful of so-so performances including, split decision victory over Axel Schultz, and a MD over Vaughn Bean, but Bean was a pretty tricky fighter, to be fair. Moorer obviously had mental issues, stopping him from being at the top of his game everytime out, and had some weight issues in there as well. His best win during his "second career" at heavyweight was over Vassily Jirov, which was actually one of the better come from behind victories I've ever seen. All time great? No, very good fighter, yes.
I think that summed him up pretty well and is the reason he could never seriously be considered an ATG. He was fired by Roach last month. What shouldn't be forgotten though is that he is one of only 5 or 6 fighters to have won at least 20 fights (consequetive) by KO. Thats quite a feat.
Moorer was a very powerful LH and a good solid championship caliber boxer, who was technically sound, worked off a good right jab and hook off the jab, and had an excellent array of punches, uppercut etc. His one fault in my opinion was, because he didnt have the greatest chin, he shouldnt have fought so flat footed. He wasnt the most elusive fighter, was right there to be hit, so his chin was exposed more as a heavyweight.
Consequetive KO Records Wilfredo Gomez - 32 Michael Moorer - 26 John Mugabi - 26 Aaron Pryor - 26 George Foreman - 24 Carlos Zarate - 23
Not really for me to say I guess, but the camp would say a conflict of personalites. Others might tell you that Amir Khan asked for him to be relieved of his duties and Roach did as Kahn asked. Roach thinks incredibly highly of Kahn, as if you needed proof....
If youve ever met Moorer hes a very strange dude. Very calm well spoken dude, but easily sets off. Dont ever call him Mike, he will freak on you, its Michael. Apparently he was having a lot of problems with people in the gym.
I forgot Clark. You're right, he would be at the top at 44 I think. Sorry, it was from recollection. However, I'm sure there was a reason his 44 wasn't counted - but I can't think why.