Moore, Archie

Moore, Archie, 1913–98, American boxer, b. Benoit, Miss., as Archie Lee Wright. He claimed to have been born in 1916 in Collinsville, Ill. He first boxed professionally as a middleweight in 1935 or 1936, winning his first 13 matches by knockouts. In a long and colorful career Moore, a clever boxer and dangerous puncher, engaged in 220 recorded bouts and scored 136 knockouts, a record in boxing history. In 1952 he won the light heavyweight title from Joey Maxim, holding it until 1962. Moore twice fought for the heavyweight championship—in 1955 he was beaten by Rocky Marciano, and in 1956 he lost to Floyd Patterson.

See his autobiography (1960).

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: Sports: Biographies