Please, rave about Archie Moore for me.

So much stands out but at the forefront for me is just how damn relaxed he is. Everything is at his pace and he always looks like he could go 20 rounds or more. Such an economical yet incredibly skilled boxer. A genuine boxing encyclopedia. I know you're after something more expansive but I've kicked it off.

 

Archie Moore was a Chinese finger trap that could punch you in the face.

 

Read A.J. Liebling's chapter on Moore vs Marciano in "The Sweet Science".

 

I thought he was believable in the starring role of Jim the runaway slave in the 1960 MGM film "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". I was only 12 when I saw it but being a fight fan I thought he was the best thing in the movie. It was directed by Michael Curtiz whose directorial credits include many classic pictures most notably "Casablanca".

 

Top 3 Lt.heavy in the history of the sport.
A proven warrior who fought everyone
available , and everywhere.
A skill set that will not be seen again.
Outside of the ring, he seemed to be
a genuinely good humble man.
Later after his boxing career was finished
one of the better boxer turned trainers
in history.

 

As previously posted, I met Archie Moore in Dec 1969 in my hometown at the local Junior High. He had built a Boys Club in our neighborhood, it had a color Television, a boxing ring with equipment, it had a stereo console to listen to records and a soda pop machine, plus a telephone to use. While at the junior high, Archie brought in a truck full of Carnation Ice Cream, bottles of Soda pop and his fights on film, Marciano vs Moore from Sept 21 1955, also Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) vs Moore from Nov 15 1962. Moore shook hands with all of us students, he told us the importance of helping out our community, our educational plans, obeying our local laws, basically being good citizens. Archie was a good sized man, and could captivate our attention. In building our Boys Club, it was part of the Any Boys Can project, it was a good place to hang out. Before I forget, it had a movie projector and may reels of various fights. I will never forget his visit with us, it was the last day of school prior to Christmas Vacation, Archie Moore was a great man.

 

I love this. Another aspect of the man's personality was his doggedness. As noted by Liebling, as I recall, he traveled with a typewriter and wrote letters to editors and sportswriters promoting himself as the world's most under-appreciated prizefighter. He was a unique character with tremendous humanity and depth.

 

Thanks buddy, it is a day that I will never forget as long as I live, it seems like yesterday.

 

I remember during the buildup to his 1962 fight with Clay, Archie announced he'd invented a new punch called the "lip buttoner". He may have been the only fighter to match Gaseous Cassius' wit.

 

Also Archie used psychological warfare as well. When he tried to goad Rocky Marciano into their Sept 1955 encounter, Moore put out a Wanted Poster much like the times of the Wild West.

 

as mentioned, his Ring Generalship, he was always in command and controlled, he never seemed to panic or get overwhelmed... Truly a MASTER of his Craft - the Pugilist!

 

If Moore was around in the time of Cruiserweight Holyfield, I could see him putting out wanted posters for Commander Evander.

 

I’m not sure there’s a boxer I have been or still am more enthralled by than Archie Moore.

He was as great as a fighter can be for as long as one can be great. He could have been embittered by how long it took him to get his well-deserved shot at a world championship, but instead he was motivated and kept plugging away and getting better.

Once he got it, he cherished it and held onto it through whatever came (including going through hell with Durelle) … all the while making successful forays into the heavyweight ranks (his record at that weight is most remarkable, and arguably as good as anyone who never won a title in that division).

But beyond that, as our @Richard M Murrieta accounted, he was not just a decent but a great man. He gave to his community and not just showing up for a charity event but actually building boys clubs and raising the money for them himself, and being active in them in the San Diego area. No doubt he saved lives from being wasted by his active influence — a true role model.

On top of that, watching him in the ring is pure poetry. I’m not sure any man has ever had a higher boxing IQ.

 

I see it too. Ha Ha.