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 in 1941, and after a brief retirement, in earnest in 1942. In 1943 he won the California State Middleweight title. After a series of impressive wins over bigger fighters, Archie moved to the light heavyweight division in 1946, and lost to future champ Ezzard Charles. Unphased, he won 7 fights that year, 14 in 1948, and another 12 in 1949. By age 36 he had suffered a few defeats, but was learning with each one.
By today’s standards, his resume would have earned him a shot at the title. Incredibly he would continue to beat ex champions and top ranked fighters but not get his own shot at the title until he was 39 years old! To me one of the all time great miscarriages in boxing history.
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