How Good A Middleweight Was Archie Moore?

Archie was at his best from late 40s to early 50s and I still believe that he peaked in 1953-54 period. That said, he was always great fighter though he wasn't as refined early on. There are boxers who peaked very late, it's rare and it happens. Fitzsimmons is another one.

 

I could be wrong but I thought I remembered reading an article in either SI or Archie's bio that he had to move up to 175 because his career stalled. He couldnt get fights.
That being said I think he would have been a great MW had he stayed.

 

Nice thread. I don't actually know the answer but interested to hear more from people who do.

 

Holy **** - was that footage from 1940? That is superb quality!

 

I think with FItz a lot of it was the really low purses in Aus.

It's a pretty questionable source since it's just one man's memory from many years later, but in a later paper Starlight said that when Fitzsimmons lost to Jim Hall, that Fitz had spent the day of the fight working in a blacksmith. He also commented on some fixes, which is seems were pretty rampant (which you'd expect with low purses. Fitz's loss to Hall may well have been a fix, there was certainly suspicion in the post fight reports.

 

Hi all, my grandfather was at the Archie Moore vs Ron Richards fight and he always stated that the middleweight version of Moore was the best fighter he ever saw live and along with Jack Johnson the greatest fighter to box in Australia. Not a bad wrap.

Cheers All.

 

Teddy Yarosz's trainer on middleweight Archie Moore:

"He'll be a great fighter in a year from now. All he needs is experience"

Moore was a bit lacking in his defense and ring IQ at that weight but I'm sure he must've been athletic due to the youth and lighter weight. Just look at the video linked above, Moore was faster on his feet at MW

 

Moore looks strong as an ox at middle here.

 

I miss times when fighters who started at MW can be top contenders (or HW champions like Fitz) in HW division...

 

Roy Jones did ok in an oh so short stint as did Toney i guess. Ruiz was a top 6 heavyweight when Jones beat him.

 

Yeah, but that was about 20 years ago. It's not recent era.

 

It's a fair ways forward of Fitz tho! lol

 

Strange to see Archie as a middleweight, he's very quick and cut! From what I see he'd have been a handful for anybody at 160

 

Archie Moore was a terrific fighter as a middleweight, but really didn't do enough to separate himself from the pack at the time.

- Chuck Johnston