Which light-heavyweight CHAMPIONS do you pick to beat a peaking Archie Moore?

Some of the best light heavyweights were never champions at the weight. I struggle to come up with any that I'd make a definite favorite over Moore.

The best candidate is probably Michael Spinks and I'm not so confident about it. Roy Jones I'm sure will be mentioned. However keep in mind that Jones in his first defense lost the title to Montell Griffin, if I remember correctly.

 

When did Archie peak? The rematch with Yvon Durelle has been cited by many as the match where he was at his fastest and sharpest, at least among the bouts of which there is footage.

As Charles was never a CHAMPION in the division, he cannot be considered.

Now, aside from Moore himself (who re-matched Maxim 2X), which LHW Champion beat the best challenger in his inaugural defense? Loughran opened his reign by unifying his NYSAC LHW Title against his 88-5-0 NBA counterpart, the 23 year old Jimmy Slattery. When Tommy was faced with a noted puncher like Max Baer, he kept himself on highest alert. He showed with Lomski that he could survive when in trouble. His experience upon first attaining the title was impeccable. He had just turned 25, and was a veteran of over 100 fights. He already held official wins over Greb, Johnny Wilson, Carpentier, Martin Burke 2X, Risko 2X, Stribling and McTigue. He had a draw with Jack Delaney, and had held his own with Tunney. He had tangled with Greb no less than half a dozen times, extending his stamina (to say nothing of his ring knowledge) in the process. He had tangled with veteran Jeff Smith twice, and McTigue a total of four times.

For a successful first title defense against a peak Moore, I think Tommy's as good a candidate as any to pull it off.

 

Tommy Loughran
Billy Conn

 

Tommy Loughran is up there among the champions, but I think Moore's style would be very difficult for him to deal with. He doesn't have the power to KO Moore, and Archie was very adept at spoiling the night of the most capable boxers. Amazingly at 46 or older, he took the fight to the fleet-footed Willie Pastrano which most thought Moore deserved to win. Even the vaunted left hands of Joey Maxim and Harold Johnson failed to keep Moore off of them.

 

Yeah, Loughran and Conn are very good picks. Another one who I think has a good chance would be John Henry Lewis.

My wildcard pick is Berlenbach to KO Moore.

 

Was away to type this myself. Excellent post. That swarming, almost counter-punching style of Moore gives Loughran fits IMO.

I'm trying to rack my brains and the best I can come up with is Spinks, with Foster a distant second.

Its harder to name the great champions at LHW than the great non-Champions.

 

Not seen enough of Conn, but what I have seen his quick two fisted combo's and movement/angles could keep Moore off balance. But Moore to me seems the stronger of the two and can get inside, especially with his style.

 

Billy Conn was simply one of the best light-heavies ever in my opinion, he'd have a good chance. Loughran on a styles basis would be hard, but Moore with his creativity as a boxer, could possibly emerge the victor, these are the best to ever hold the belt though, so it's all close.

 

Ezzard Charles. I would give Conn and Tunney a 50/50 chance, but the only light-heavyweight in history I would favor over Moore is Ezzard Charles.

 

Can't really comment then. Really aint seen enough. Your opinion is worth more on the matter IMO, what you thinking?

 

Loughran and Conn are the two who immediately spring to mind largely because of their experience and mastery of craft against a range of styles. That said, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if Archie was able to pull something from his bag of tricks in the way of either tracking them or enticing them in (or both). He might have more joy with Conn than would Loughran in that regard.

Great as Spinks was, I might back Moore to suss him out him out in the end in what might have been an interesting clash of styles, Moore being as he was more complete than Qawi and not nearly as passive as Mustafa Muhammad.