BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : ARCHIE MOORE AFRICAN AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL BOXER AND WORLD CHAMPION : GOES INTO THE " HALL OF BLACK GENIUS "

Archie Moore (born Archibald Lee Wright; December 13, 1913  – December 9, 1998), was an American professional boxer and the Light Heavyweight World Champion (December,1952–May,1962), who had one of the longest professional careers in the history of the sport. Nicknamed "The Old Mongoose," Moore holds the record for the most career knockouts (131). He ranks 4 on The Ring's list of "100 greatest punchers of all time," has the longest reign in Light Heavyweight history, and is rated by prominent boxing website BoxRec as the greatest pound-for-pound boxer of all-time.
A native of Benoit, Mississippi, Moore was raised in St. Louis, Missouri. An important figure in the American black community, he became involved in African American causes once his days as a fighter were over. He also established himself as a successful character actor in television and film. Moore died in his adopted home of San Diego, California.


Moore often found himself in trouble as a youngster, and was in a reformatory until 1934. In 1935, he began his boxing career with nine fights as a boxer, winning 5 and losing 4. He also claimed to have boxed under the name "Fourth of July Kid," so he may have had even more fights.

He turned professional in 1938 and boxed all but one of his 12 bouts that year in San Diego. Moore had eight bouts in 1939, going 5-2 during that span, with one "no contest." He lost to former Middleweight Champion and future Hall of Famer Teddy Yarosz during that time, and his no contest was against Jack Coggins, in eight rounds. In 1940, Moore made a tour of Australia and fought in Melbourne, Tasmania, Adelaide and Sydney. He won all of his seven bouts there, including six by knockout. Upon returning to the United States, he defeated Pancho Ramirez by a knockout in five, but lost to Shorty Hogue on a six round decision.

Moore had four fights in 1941, during which he went 2-1-1, with the draw against Eddie Booker. By then, however, he had suffered through several stomach ulcers, with the resulting operations, and he announced his retirement from boxing.
His retirement was brief, however, and by 1942 he was back in the ring. He won his first six bouts that year, including a second round knockout of Hogue in a rematch, and a ten round decision over Jack Chase. He met Booker in a rematch, and reached the same conclusion as their first meeting had: another 10 round draw.
In 1943, Moore fought seven bouts, winning five and losing two. He won and then lost the California State Middleweight title against Chase, both by 15 round decisions, and beat Chase again in his last bout of that year, in a ten round decision. He also lost a decision to Aaron Wade

that year.