As there are currently a couple of threads mentioning Moorer around, I got thinking about the boxing hall of fame. Moorer was eligible to be inducted in the 2013 class, but he was not. Virgil Hill and Arturo Gatti were inducted, but not Moorer. This doesn't sit quite right for me. In my opinion, Moorer was more accomplished than Gatti and a better fighter, yet it is Gatti being inducted. I like to watch Gatti as much as the next guy, but I'm not convinced it was the right move to put him in and not Moorer. Boxing has a long history of blood and guts warriors and Gatti was far from the first or last that we'll ever see. I get the feeling he was put in because he tragically died young and was such a popular fighter to watch. Moorer, in my opinion, was a more accomplished and more complete fighter than Gatti. He was undefeated with all knockout wins at lightheavy and was the lightheavy champ, beat Holyfield for the heavyweight title and has wins over Stewart, Botha, Cooper, Smith, Schulz, Jirov, and Bean. Do you agree that Moorer should have been included in the class of 2013 along with Gatti and Hill?
I guess it is a hall of "fame" and fame does need to be taken into account? i dont know..what is their official criteria for induction?
The HOF is BS anyway, and it's hall of fame not hall of excellence. Just don't take it as an authority and you're fine. Also it's about selling tickets, Gatti is a ticket seller.
First ever southpaw HW champion, one of an elite group of guys who won titles at light-heavy & heavy & one of an elite group to have over 20 consecutive KO's MM deserves a place in the Hall.
it was you, the poster I debated MM with who made me go away and watch his best fights and revaluate him. I was too harsh a critic on him. Thanks for opening my eyes :good
Arturo Gatti did far more for the sport of boxing than Moorer. There was a point after the Ward trilogy when Gatti was considered the 2nd best JWW in the world behind Tszyu. You would of struggled to place him in the top ten fighters in the world at that time...i think it was 2003-2004. However, everyone knew who he was...my friends who didnt even like boxing went crazy for Gatti after the Ward fights. He generated such interest in boxing around that time it was unreal. On a personnel level Gattis heart, determination, tenacity, and courage far outweigh the skill deficit for me, and put Gatti way ahead of Moorer in such unconstrained rankings.
What? I didnt say Ward was the 2nd best JWW! Sorry to burst you bubble,but there was certainly a period whenGatti was considered number 2 at JWW. Just because in hindsight it doesnt seem correct to you, doesnt mean it wasnt the consensus at the time. I am not saying it was correct, and it was almost certainly based on over hype from ward fight, but that is what happened. The main point i was trying to get across...is Gatti was not a top 10hter...ableit in the JWW division for a short period, but he wa s betgter known than all top ten fighters...or at least the majority of them .
Oxymorons have plagued boxing since day one. WBO is as legitimate as anything... Wait WBO... Legitimate in the same sentence... The oxymoron has struck again!
the IBHOF is a business, it needs stars to sell packages each year. Gatti was the 'star' this year, that meant the hardcore fans could debate and appreciate the likes of Hill, Moorer et al going into the Hall of Fame or not. Personally I think Moorer edges Hill, and should of gone in first, but in due course Hill would of gone in too.
honestly, I like Arturo Gatti, but he should not have been inducted and neither should Moorer. Hamed is the one who should have been inducted with Virgil Hill, who does deserve it. Hamed and Hill would have been good.