Archie Moore would get his first shot at the light heavyweight championship on December 17, 1952 in St, Louis, Missouri against veteran Joey Maxim. The 39 year old grizzled fighter did not disappoint his hometown at the arena, and defeated Maxim via a 15 round decision. After sixteen long years, he had finally achieved his […]
Archie’s First Title Read More »
Archie Moore was born Archibald Lee Wright on December 13, 1913. He began his boxing career as middleweight after being a thief landed him in reform school for 2 years in Missouri. He then joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, and worked on his physical fitness and learning to become a boxer. He started his career
Sugar Ray Robinson was enjoying his reign as welterweight champion of the world in the summer of 1946, when he signed to fight L.A. fighter Jimmy Doyle. Training was nothing out of norm for Ray, with a morning 5 mile run followed by an afternoon of bag work, sparring and jumping rope. But something extraordinary
Sugar Ray Robinson was born Walker Smith on May 21, 1989 in Ailey, Georgia. His family later moved to Detroit, Michigan and began perhaps the most successful amateur career in boxing history. His record is a reported 89-0, although some say he actually lost 2 bouts. He captured 2 golden gloves championships in 1939 and
Howard Cosell was born on March 25th, 1918 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. He graduated law school and practiced it before becoming a sports writer and television reporter in New York City. He covered all sports, but his claim to fame began when he met Muhammad Ali. Ali and Cosell were an odd couple from
The Mouth that Roared Read More »
Dr. Ferdie Pacheco was born as Fernando Pacheco Jimenez on December 8, 1927 in Tampa, Florida. Although he was a cut doctor for other fighters, he came to fame by being assistant cornerman to Angelo Dundee in Muhammad Ali’s career. Ali’s home base for training was the 5th street gym in Miami Beach from the
Muhammad Ali was enjoying the fame and fortune that comes with being heavyweight champion of the world. He was good looking, had a gift of gab, and was improving as a fighter by the day. After the second Liston fight, Ali signed to fight former champ Floyd Patterson in November. The bout was set for
Immediately after the Liston fight, Cassius Clay announced that he was now a member of the Muslim sect ‘The Nation of Islam’. Now following the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, he wanted to be known as Muhammad Ali from that point forward. Much of this was treated by the press as folly, with the important news
Cassius had won 2 big fights in 1963 against contenders Doug Jones and Henry Cooper. His title shot was set for February 25, 1964 in Miami Beach, Florida against feared Charles ‘Sonny’ Liston. Liston had destroyed Floyd Patterson in one round twice, and was listed as an 8-1 favorite over what sportswriters had labeled the
Cassius Clay made his debut as a professional on October 29, 1960 against Tunney Hunsaker, and won it by a unanimous decision at Freedom Hall in is hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Angelo Dundee was hired as his trainer, and would remain in his corner until his last bout in 1981. Clay would have one more
