He did not have any big ones at all size issues at HW of course but at LHW no, very few could beat Archie with anything but unconventional thought. A many who fought every style for countless rounds only needs to fear a unique mind.
AJ Liebling in his wonderful essay “Ahab and Nemesis” on Archie’s challenge of Rocky Marciano opined that Archie was just a tiny bit too cerebral. To paraphrase, that he studied for the best solution when he needed only to find one that worked. He likened it to a person betting horses trying to pick which will finish first, second, third AND fourth in a race.
He didn't have elite speed and occasionally admired his work. His size was kind of awkward early on, he grew into (then out of) the LHW division over the course of his career, he needed an in-between for a spell, cost him. Once he worked the angles like he did, he kind of matured into this truth machine, but before he learned all that he must have been a bit "deploy and see."
His loss to Ali makes me think he must've always been overrated. I mean, Ali was nearly decrapitated by Henry Cooper, who no one ever heard of in my high school gym class.
Moore definitely didn't have any shortage of power. Even at heavyweight he had an excellent punch and at 175 he was quite a banger.
His nickname. Old Mongoose. It doesn’t add up. At best a mongoose lives for a mere 20 years tops in captivity. Archie boxed for 28 years. It is a totally inadequate nomenclature in my view.
There are many critics of his cross-armed defense too. Not sure I completely agree with that. Every defense misses one protective aspect, and he made it work pretty well for his needs.
Yeah a nearly 46 year old Moore in his penultimate pro fight losing to the decades younger, taller, heavier, longer reached rising star who became the greatest, dam that sure means Moore was over rated. Clay as he was in the Cooper fight, got chinned because he was over confident against a wise old pro with a more than decent left hook, mandible meeting 'enrys ammer' would mess up his opponents day for sure, but Mr Clay won, next facing and beating a feather fisted, genteel pacifist of a World Heavyweight Champion called Mr Liston.
Fighting during the same era when Charles dominated. Seriously, without Charles he'd be likely a lock top 10 P4P ever. Even now he arguably is within top 10.