Archie Moore

Archibald Lee Wright was born 12/13/13 in Benoit, Mississippi. (His birth year is debateable, as he claimed he was born in 1916 while his mother said 1913) He would change his name to Archie Moore before beginning on one of the longest careers in boxing history. Despite great ability, Moore was denied a title shot for many years, fighting on what was called the "Chitlin' Circuit", the backroads of boxing which many black fighters were forced to endure.
It wasn't until 12/17/52 that "The Old Mongoose" got a title shot, against light heavyweight champ Joey Maxim. Archie won the 15 round decision and the championship. He was 39 years old.
He would be knocked out by Marciano 9/21/55 in a bid for the heavyweight title, then lost to Floyd Patterson in a battle over Rocky's vacated title. In 1962, he would be stopped by a young Cassius Clay.
Moore has more knockouts to his credit than anyone in the history of boxing. Record: 194-26-8, 1 NC (141)

1936 31 Jan Poco Kid Hot Springs, AR KO2 7 Feb Dale Richards Poplar Bluffs, MO KO1 18 Feb Ray Halford St. Louis, MO KO3 20 Feb Willie Harper St. Louis, MO KO3 21 Feb Courtland Sheppard St. Louis, MO L6 1 Mar Kneibert Davidson ? KO2 2 Mar Ray Brewster ? KO3 3 Mar Billy Simms ? KO2 4 Mar Johnny Leggs ? KO1 15 Apr Peter Urban Cleveland, OH KO6 16 Apr Frankie Nelson Cleveland, OH L6 4 May Tiger Brown St. Louis, MO L6 18 May Thurmond Martin St. Louis, MO W5 14 Jul Murray Allen Quincy, IL KO6 1 Aug Julius Kemp ? KO3 2 Aug Four Posey ? KO6 9 Oct Sammy Jackson St. Louis, MO W6 1 Nov Dick Putnam ? KO8 8 Dec Sammy Jackson St. Louis, MO D6 30 Dec Sammy Christian St. Louis, MO KO6 1937 5 Jan Dynamite Payne St. Louis, MO KO1 18 Jan Johnny Davis Quincy, IL KO3 2 Feb Joe Huff St. Louis, MO KO2 1 Mar Murray Allen Keokuk, IA KO2 9 Apr Charlie Dawson Indianapolis, IN KO5 23 Apr Karl Martin Indianapolis, IN KO1 1 May Frank Hatfield ? KO1 1 Jun Al Dublinsky ? KO3 19 Aug Deacon Logan St. Louis, MO KO3 9 Sep Sammy Slaughter Indianapolis, IN W10 16 Nov Sammy Christian St. Louis, MO W8 1 Dec Sammy Jackson Jackson, MO KO8 1938 7 Jan Carl Lautenschlger St. Louis, MO KO2 22 Feb Frank Rowsey San Diego, CA KO2 20 May Jimmy Brent San Diego, CA KO1 27 May Ray Vargas San Diego, CA KO3 24 Jun Johnny Romero San Diego, CA L10 22 Jul Johnny Sikes San Diego, CA KO4 5 Aug Lorenzo Pedro San Diego, CA W10 2 Sep Johnny Romero San Diego, CA KO8 27 Sep Tom Henry ?, CA KO4 22 Nov Ray Lyle St. Louis, MO KO2 7 Dec Irish Bob Turner St. Louis, MO KO2 1 Oct Bobby Laanes ?, MO KO2 1939 20 Jan Jack Moran St. Louis, MO KO1 2 Mar Domenic Ceccarelli St. Louis, MO KO1 1 Apr Marty Simmons Minneapolis, MN W10 20 Apr Teddy Yarosz St. Louis, MO L10 21 Jul Jack Coggins San Diego, CA NC8 22 Sep Bobby Seaman San Diego, CA KO7 7 Dec Honeyboy Jones St. Louis, MO W10 29 Dec Shorty Hogue San Diego, CA L6 1940 30 Mar Jack McNamee Melbourne, Australia KO4 18 Apr Ron Richards Sydney KO10 9 May Atilio Sabatino Sydney KO5 12 May Joe Delaney Adelaide, Australia KO7 2 Jun Frank Lindsay Tasmania, Australia KO4 27 Jun Fred Henneberry Sydney KO7 11 Jul Ron Richards Sydney W12 18 Oct Pancho Ramirez San Diego, CA KO5 5 Dec Shorty Hogue San Diego, CA L6 1941 17 Jan Clay Rowan San Francisco, CA KO1 31 Jan Shorty Hogue San Diego, CA L10 1 Feb Clay Rowan San Diego, CA KO1 26 Feb Eddie Booker San Diego, CA D10 ? Announced Retirement 1942 28 Jan Bobby Britt Phoenix, AZ KO3 27 Feb Guero Martinez San Diego, CA KO2 17 Mar Jimmy Casino San Francisco, CA KO5 30 Oct Shorty Hogue San Diego, CA KO2 6 Nov Tabby Romero San Diego, CA KO2 27 Nov Jack Chase San Diego, CA W10 11 Dec Eddie Booker San Diego, CA D10 1943 8 May Jack Chase San Diego, CA W15 1 Jul Big Boy Hogue San Diego, CA KO5 28 Jul Eddie Cerda San Diego, CA KO3 2 Aug Jack Chase San Francisco, CA L15 16 Aug Aaron Wade San Francisco, CA L10 5 Nov Kid Hermosillo San Diego, CA KO5 26 Nov Jack Chase San Diego, CA W10 1944 7 Jan Amado Rodriguez San Diego, CA KO1 21 Jan Eddie Booker Hollywood, CA KOby8 24 Mar Roman Starr Hollywood, CA KO2 21 Apr Charley Burley Hollywood, CA L10 19 May Kenny LaSalle San Diego, CA W10 11 Aug Louis Mays ?, CA KO3 18 Aug Jimmy Hayden ?, CA KO5 1 Sep Battling Monroe San Diego, CA KO6 18 Dec Nate Bolden New York, NY W10 1945 11 Jan Joey Jones Boston, MA KO1 29 Jan Bob Jacobs New York, NY KO9 12 Feb Nap Mitchell Boston, MA KO6 2 Apr Nate Bolden Baltimore, MD W10 23 Apr Teddy Randolph Baltimore, MD KO9 21 May Lloyd Marshall Cleveland, OH W10 18 Jun George Kochan Baltimore, MD KO6 26 Jun Lloyd Marshall ?, OH KO10 22 Aug Jimmy Bivins Cleveland, OH KOby6 17 Sep Cocoa Kid Baltimore, MD KO8 22 Oct Holman Williams Baltimore, MD L10 12 Nov Odell Riley Detroit, MI KO6 26 Nov Holman Williams Baltimore, MD KO11 13 Dec Colion Chaney St. Louis, MO KO5 1946 28 Jan Curtis Sheppard Baltimore, MD W12 5 Feb Georgie Parks Washington, DC KO1 2 May Verne Escoe Orange, NJ KO7 20 May Ezzard Charles Pittsburgh, PA L10 19 Aug Buddy Walker Baltimore, MD KO4 9 Sep Shamus O'Brien Baltimore, MD KO2 23 Oct Billy Smith Oakland, CA D12 6 Nov Jack Chase Oakland, CA D10 1947 18 Mar Jack Chase Los Angeles, CA KO9 11 Apr Rusty Payne San Diego, CA W10 5 May Ezzard Charles Cincinnati, OH L10 16 Jun Curtis Sheppard Washington, DC W10 14 Jul Bert Lytell Baltimore, MD W10 30 Jul Bobby Zander Oakland, CA W12 8 Sep Jimmy Bivins Baltimore, MD KO9 10 Nov George Fitch Baltimore, MD KO6 1948 13 Jan Ezzard Charles Cleveland, OH KOby8 12 Apr Dusty Wilkerson Baltimore, MD KO7 19 Apr Doc Williams Newark, NJ KO7 5 May Billy Smith Cincinnati, OH W10 2 Jun Leonard Morrow Oakland, CA KOby1 28 Jun Jimmy Bivins Baltimore, MD W10 2 Aug Ted Lowry Baltimore, MD W10 20 Sep Billy Smith Baltimore, MD KO4 15 Oct Henry Hall New Orleans, LA L10 1 Nov Lloyd Gibson Washington, DC LDQ4 15 Nov Henry Hall Baltimore, MD W10 6 Dec Bob Amos Washington, DC W10 27 Dec Charley Williams Baltimore, MD KO7 1949 10 Jan Alabama Kid Toledo, OH KO4 31 Jan Bob Satterfield Toledo, OH KO3 4 Mar Alabama Kid Columbus, OH KO3 23 Mar Dusty Wilkerson Philadelphia, PA KO6 11 Apr Jimmy Bivins Toledo, OH KO8 26 Apr Harold Johnson Philadelphia, PA W10 13 Jun Clinton Bacon Indianapolis, IN LDQ6 27 Jun Bob Sikes Indianapolis, IN KO3 29 Jul Esco Greenwood North Adams, MA KO2 4 Oct Bob Amos Toledo, OH W10 2 Oct Phil Muscato Toledo, OH W10 6 Dec Doc Williams Hartford, CT KO8 13 Dec Leonard Morrow Toledo, OH KO10 1950 31 Jan Bert Lytell Toledo, OH W10 31 Jul Vernon Williams Chicago, IL KO2 1951 2 Jan Billy Smith Portland, OR KO8 28 Jan John Thomas Panama City KO1 21 Feb Jimmy Bivins New York, NY KO9 13 Mar Abel Cestac Toledo, OH W10 26 Apr Herman Harris Flint, MI KO4 14 May Art Henri Baltimore, MD KO4 9 Jun Abel Cestac Buenos Aires KO10 23 Jun Karel Sys Buenos Aires D10 8 Jul Alberto Lovell Buenos Aires KO1 15 Jul Vincente Quiroz Montevideo KO6 26 Jul Victor Carabajal Cordoba, Argentina KO3 28 Jul Americo Capitanelli Tucuman, Argentina KO3 5 Aug Rafael Miranda Argentine, Argentina KO4 17 Aug Alfredo Lagay Bahia Blanca, Argentina KO3 5 Sep Embrell Davison Detroit, MI KO1 24 Sep Harold Johnson Philadelphia, PA W10 29 Oct Chubby Wright St. Louis, MO KO7 10 Dec Harold Johnson Milwaukee, WI L10 1952 29 Jan Harold Johnson Toledo, OH W10 27 Feb Jimmy Slade St. Louis, MO W10 19 May Bob Dunlap San Francisco, CA KO6 26 Jun Clarence Henry Baltimore, MD W10 25 Jul Clint Bacon Denver, CO KO4 17 Dec Joey Maxim St. Louis, MO W15 (Won World Light Heavyweight Title) 1953 27 Jan Toxie Hall Toledo, OH KO4 16 Feb Leonard Dugan San Francisco, CA KO8 3 Mar Sonny Andrews Sacramento, CA KO5 11 Mar Nino Valdes St. Louis, MO W10 17 Mar Al Spaulding Spokane, WA KO3 30 Mar Frank Buford San Diego, CA KO9 24 Jun Joey Maxim Ogden, UT W15 (Retained World Light Heavyweight Title) 22 Aug Reinaldo Ansaloni Buenos Aires KO4 12 Sep Dogomar Martinez Buenos Aires W10 1954 27 Jan Joey Maxim Miami, FL W15 (Retained World Light Heavyweight Title) 9 Mar Bob Baker Miami Beach, FL KO9 7 Jun Bert Whitehurst New York, NY KO6 11 Aug Harold Johnson New York, NY KO14 (Retained World Light Heavyweight Title) 1955 2 May Nino Valdes Las Vegas, NV W15 22 Jun Carl "Bobo" Olson New York, NY KO3 (Retained World Light Heavyweight Title) 21 Sep Rocky Marciano New York, NY KOby9 (For World Heavyweight Title) 22 Oct Dale Hall Philadelphia, PA Exh. 4 1956 2 Feb Dale Hall Fresno, CA Exh. 4 20 Feb Howard King San Francisco, CA W10 27 Feb Bob Dunlap San Diego, CA KO1 17 Mar Frankie Daniels Hollywood, CA W10 27 Mar Howard King Sacramento, CA W10 10 Apr Willie Bean Richmond, VA KO5 16 Apr George Parmentier Seattle, WA KO3 26 Apr Sonny Andrews Edmonton, Canada KO4 30 Apr Gene Thompson Tucson, AZ KO3 5 Jun Yolande Pompey London KO10 (Retained World Light Heavyweight Title) 25 Jul James Parker Toronto KO9 8 Sep Roy Shire Ogden, UT KO3 30 Nov Floyd Patterson Chicago, IL KOby5 (For World Heavyweight Title) 1957 1 May Hans Kalbfell Essen, Germany W10 2 Jun Alain Cherville Stuttgart, Germany KO6 20 Sep Tony Anthony Los Angeles, CA KO7 (Retained World Light Heavyweight Title) 31 Oct Bob Mitchell Vancouver, Canada KO5 5 Nov Eddie Cotton Seattle, WA W10 29 Nov Roger Rischer Portland, OR KO4 1958 18 Jan Luis Ignacio Sao Paulo, Brazil W10 1 Feb Julio Neves Rio de Janeiro, Brazil KO3 4 Mar Bert Whitehurst San Bernardino, CA KO10 10 Mar Bob Albright Vancouver, Canada KO7 2 May Willi Besmanoff Louisville, KY W10 17 May Howard King San Diego, CA W10 26 May Charlie Norkus San Francisco, CA W10 9 Jun Howard King Sacramento, CA W10 4 Aug Howard King Reno, NV D10 10 Dec Yvon Durelle Montreal, Canada KO11 (Retained World Light Heavyweight Title) 1959 2 Feb Eddie Cotton Victoria, Canada Exh. 5 9 Mar Sterling Davis Odessa, TX KO3 12 Aug Yvon Durelle Montreal, Canada KO3 (Retained World Light Heavyweight Title) 1960 25 May Willi Besmanoff Indianapolis, IN KO10 13 Sep George Abinet Dallas, TX KO4 25 Oct NBA Withdrew Recognition of Title 29 Oct Giulio Rinaldi Rome L10 28 Nov Buddy Turman Dallas, TX W10 1961 25 Mar Buddy Turman Manila W10 8 May Dave Furch Tucson, AZ Exh. 4 12 May Cliff Gray Nogales, Mexico KO4 10 Jun Giulio Rinaldi New York, NY W15 (Retained World Light Heavyweight Title) 23 Oct Pete Rademacher Baltimore, MD KO6 1962 10 Feb NY and EBU Withdrew Recognition of Titles 30 Mar Alejandro Lavorante Los Angeles, CA KO10 7 May Howard King Tijuana, Mexico KO1 28 May Willie Pastrano Los Angeles, CA D10 15 Nov Cassius Clay Los Angeles, CA KOby4 1963 15 Mar Mike DiBiase Phoenix, AZ KO3 1964 Announced Retirement 1965 27 Aug Nap Mitchell Michigan City, MI Exh. KO3

Perhaps the first published picture of Archie Moore, from the April, 1938 Ring magazine:

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