Archie Moore


Archie Moore was an American professional boxer and the longest reigning World Light Heavyweight Champion of all time. He had one of the longest professional careers in the history of the sport, competing from 1935 to 1963. Nicknamed "the Mongoose", and then "the Old Mongoose" in the latter half of his career, Moore was a highly strategic and defensive boxer. As of September 2025, BoxRec ranks Moore as the greatest light heavyweight boxer of all time.
Moore was named the greatest light heavyweight of all time by the Associated Press in 1999, and his 132 career knockouts remain the all-time record. He also ranks fourth on The Rings list of "100 greatest punchers of all time". Moore was also a trainer for a short time after retirement, training Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Bob Foster, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Earnie Shavers and James Tillis.
Born in Benoit, Mississippi, Moore was raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up in poverty. Moore was denied a shot at the world title for 15 years, and spent many of those years fighting on the road with little to show for it. 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; he was 84 years old.

Early life

Moore was born Archibald Lee Wright, the son of Thomas Wright, a farm laborer and drifter, and Lorena Wright. Though he always insisted that he was born in 1916 in Collinsville, Illinois, his mother told reporters that he was actually born in 1913 in Benoit, Mississippi. His father abandoned the family when Archie was an infant. Unable to provide for him and his older sister, his mother gave them into the care of an uncle and aunt, Cleveland and Willie Pearl Moore, who lived in St. Louis. Archie later explained why he was given their surname: "It was less questions to be called Moore."
He attended segregated all-Black schools in St. Louis, including Lincoln High School, although he never graduated. His uncle and aunt provided him with a stable upbringing, but after his uncle died in a freak accident around 1928, Moore began running with a street gang. One of his first thefts was a pair of oil lamps from his home, which he sold so that he would have money to buy boxing gloves. He later recalled of his stealing: "It was inevitable that I would be caught. I think I knew this even before I started, but somehow the urge to have a few cents in my pocket made me overlook this eventuality". After he was arrested for attempting to steal change from a motorman's box on a streetcar, he was sentenced to a three-year term at a reform school in Booneville, Missouri. He was released early from the school for good behavior after serving twenty-two months.
Around 1933 Moore joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, working for the forestry division at a camp in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Determined to become a boxer, he decided to make his work at the camp a form of training. He later recalled that the other boys constantly kidded him about one daily exercise—standing upright in the bed of a truck as it drove along primitive forest roads, waiting until the last possible moment before ducking or weaving away from tree branches.

Boxing career

The captain of the camp permitted him to organize a boxing team, which competed in Golden Gloves tournaments in southern Missouri and Illinois. Many of his fights occurred in a racially charged atmosphere; he later described one of them, against a white boxer named Bill Richardson in Poplar Bluff:
I knocked him down with a volley of head punches about one minute into round one. His brother... was the referee. He was furious at me and told me to keep my punches up. Since I had been hitting Bill in the head I would have missed him altogether if I threw my punches any higher. But the referee said I had fouled him.... I got steamed at this and offered to fight, too. I resolved not to hit Bill any place but his head.... In the second round I dropped him with a left hook that spun his head like a top.... I heard a man at ringside say, "For two cents I'd shoot that nigger."

First retirement and comeback

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 and the resulting operations, and had announced his retirement from boxing.
His retirement was brief. 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.

The Atlantic Coast

In 1944, he had nine bouts, going 7–2. His last bout that year marked his debut on the Atlantic Coast, and the level of his opposition began to improve. He beat Jimmy Hayden by a knockout in five, lost to future Hall of Famer Charlie Burley by a decision, and to Booker by a knockout in eight.
He won his first eight bouts of 1945, impressing Atlantic coast boxing experts and earning a fight with light heavyweight Jimmy Bivins, a boxer that was not considered a hard puncher, who defeated Moore by a knockout in six at Cleveland. He returned to the Eastern Seaboard to fight five more times before that year was over. He met, among others, light heavyweight Holman Williams during that span, losing a ten-round decision, and knocking him out in eleven in the rematch.
By 1946, Moore had moved to the light heavyweight division and he went 5–2–1 that year, beating contender Curtis Sheppard, but losing to future World Heavyweight Champion and Hall of Famer Ezzard Charles by a decision in ten, and drawing with old nemesis Chase. By then, Moore began complaining publicly that, according to him, none of boxing's world champions would risk their titles fighting him. 1947 was essentially a year of rematches for Moore. He went 7–1 that year, his one loss being to Charles. He beat Chase by a knockout in nine, Sheppard by a decision in ten and Bivins by a knockout in nine. He also defeated Burt Lytell, by a decision in ten. On June 2, 1948, Leonard Morrow KO’d Archie Moore in the first round to win the California light heavyweight championship. He fought a solid 14 fights in 1948, losing again to Charles by a knockout in nine, losing to Henry Hall by a decision in ten and to Lloyd Gibson by a disqualification in four. But he also beat Ted Lowry, by a decision in ten, and Hall in a rematch, also by decision.
In 1949, he had 13 bouts, going 12–1. He defeated the Alabama Kid twice; by knockout in four and by knockout in three, Bob Satterfield by a knockout in three, Bivins by a knockout in eight, future World Light Heavyweight Champion and IBHOF inductee Harold Johnson by a decision, Bob Sikes by a knockout in three and Phil Muscato by a decision. He lost to Clinton Bacon by a disqualification in six. By Moore's standards, 1950 was a vacation year for him: he only had two fights, winning both, including a 10-round decision in a rematch with Lydell.
In 1951, Moore boxed 18 times, winning 16, losing one, and drawing one. He went on an Argentinian tour, fighting seven times there, winning six and drawing one. In between those seven fights, he found time for a trip to Montevideo, Uruguay, where he defeated Vicente Quiroz by a knockout in six. He knocked out Bivins in nine and split two decisions with Johnson.

World Light Heavyweight Champion

1952 was one of the most important years in Moore's life. After beating Johnson, heavyweight contenders Jimmy Slade, Bob Dunlap, and Clarence Henry and light heavyweight Clinton Bacon, Moore was finally given an opportunity at age 36 to fight for the title of World Light Heavyweight Champion against future IBHOF honoree Joey Maxim. Maxim had just defeated the great Sugar Ray Robinson by a technical knockout in 14 rounds, forcing Robinson to quit in his corner due to heat exhaustion. Against Maxim, Moore consistently landed powerful right hands, hurting him several times en route to a fifteen-round decision. After sixteen long years, he had finally achieved his dream. The next year, Moore won all nine of his bouts, including a 10-round, non-title win against then fringe heavyweight contender Nino Valdez of Cuba and a 15-round decision over Maxim in a rematch to retain the belt. He made two more bouts in Argentina before the end of the year.
In 1954, he had only four fights, retaining the title in a third fight with Maxim, who once again went the 15 round distance, and versus Johnson, whom he knocked out in 14. He also beat highly ranked heavyweight Bob Baker. In 1955, Moore again beat Valdez, who by that time was the no. 1 heavyweight contender, and defended against Bobo Olson, the World Middleweight Champion and future Hall of Famer who was coming off a decision victory over Joey Maxim, by a knockout in three.
"The Mongoose" received two cracks at the heavyweight championship of the world. On September 21, 1955, Moore faced future Hall of Famer Rocky Marciano at New York's Yankee Stadium. The fight was originally scheduled for September 20, according to Trilogy Book. It was in this fight Archie came closest to wearing the belt. A Moore surprise right hand in the 2nd round sent Marciano down for the second and final time in his career, setting the stage for a legendary battle, but also creating controversy as far as shared memory. In subsequent years Moore made much of Referee Harry Kessler's handling of the pivotal moment. A half-decade on, in Archie's autobiography, The Archie Moore Story, he describes in detail the referee, though Rocky arose at "two", continuing a superfluous mandatory eight-count: "...Kessler went on, three, four. The mandatory count does not apply in championship bouts...My seconds were screaming for me to finish him and I moved to do so, but Kessler...carefully wiped off Rocky's gloves, giving him another few seconds...he gave him a sort of stiff jerk, which may have helped Rocky clear his head." Moore admits to being angry enough at what he saw as interference, he went recklessly, "blind and stupid with rage", going for the knockout, toe-to-toe. This resentment toward referee Kessler appears only to have grown more entrenched. By the time of a recorded interview with Peter Heller, in October, 1970, Archie had this to say: " had no business refereeing that match because he was too excitable. He didn't know what to do...He grabbed Marciano's gloves and began to wipe Marciano's gloves and look over his shoulder...I'll never forget it. It cost me the heavyweight title."
This grudge, however, was not mutual. In his own autobiography, Harry Kessler indeed recounts Marciano-Moore with a great excitement, frequently employing exclamation marks in his punctuation, going so far as a direct comparison to the donnybrook between Jack Dempsey and Luis Firpo. Yet, the third man is evenhanded in his praise, taking time over most of a chapter on the bout, to laud Moore. His praise for Moore include the following quotes:
"Archie had exuded a stalwart confidence from his training camp..."
"Archie Moore had more punches in his arsenal than Robin Hood and all his Merry Men had arrows in their quivers..."
"Archie Moore was probably as sure a fighter as ever set foot in the ring..."
"No one ever questioned Archie Moore's courage...".
As for the knockdown, described here also in detail, Kessler offers a perspective directly contradicting Moore's, saying "I didn't bother to wipe Marciano's gloves on my shirt before I waved them back to combat; that early in the drama, there was no resin on the canvas." As opposed to any blind rage, Kessler states that "Archie hesitated a couple of seconds before he came in." With humor and without malice, Kessler even recounts the 41-year-old Moore poo-pooing any talk of retirement at the postfight press conference, then sitting in on bass fiddle at a hotspot in Greenwich Village until 5 a.m.!
In 1956, Moore fought mostly as a heavyweight but did retain his Light Heavyweight title with a ten-round knockout over Yolande Pompey in London. He won 11 bouts in a row before challenging again for the World Heavyweight Championship. The title was left vacant by Marciano, but Moore lost to Floyd Patterson by a knockout in five.
Moore won all six of his bouts during 1957. Among those wins was an easy 10-round decision over heavyweight contender Hans Kalbfell in Germany, a knockout in 7 rounds over highly ranked Tony Anthony to retain the light heavyweight title, a one-sided 10-round decision over light heavyweight contender Eddie Cotton in a non-title bout and a 4th-round knockout of future top ten heavyweight contender Roger Rischer. In 1958, Moore had 10 fights, going 9–0–1 during that span. His fight with Yvon Durelle in particular was of note: defending his world light heavyweight title in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, he was felled three times in round one, and once again in round five, but then dropped Durelle in round 10 and won by a knockout in the 11th. 1959, his last full year as uncontested champion, was another rare low-profile year; in his two fights, he beat Sterling Davis by a knockout in three, and then Durelle again, also by a knockout in three, to once again retain his World Light Heavyweight title.
In 1960, Moore was stripped of his World Light Heavyweight title by the National Boxing Association (NBA) for taking too long to defend his title, but continued to be recognized by most major boxing authorities including the New York State Athletic Commission and The Ring Magazine. Moore won three of his four bouts in 1960, one by decision against Buddy Turman in Dallas, his lone loss coming in a ten-round decision versus Giulio Rinaldi in Rome. In 1961, he defeated Turman again by decision in Manila, Philippines before defending his Lineal World Light Heavyweight Championship for what would be the last time, beating Rinaldi by a 15-round decision to retain the belt. In his last fight that year, he once again ventured into the heavyweights, and met Pete Rademacher, a man who had made history earlier in his career by becoming the first man ever to challenge for a world title in his first professional bout. Moore beat Rademacher by a knockout in nine.
In 1962, the remaining boxing commissions that had continued to back Moore as the World Light Heavyweight Champion withdrew their recognition. He campaigned exclusively as a heavyweight from then on, and beat Alejandro Lavorante by a knockout in 10 and Howard King by a knockout in one round in Tijuana. He then drew against future World Light Heavyweight Champion Willie Pastrano in a 10-round heavyweight contest. On the posters advertising that fight, Moore was billed as the "World Light Heavyweight Champion." The bout took place in California, which had not yet withdrawn recognition from Moore at the time the Moore-Pastrano fight was signed. By the time the bout took place, the California commission, like New York, Massachusetts, the EBU and Ring Magazine, had recognized Harold Johnson, who had beaten Doug Jones 16 days earlier, as the new Light Heavyweight Champion. Johnson had reigned as the NBA Champion since February 7, 1961. Then, in his last fight of note, the 49 year-old Moore faced a young heavyweight out of Louisville named Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali). Moore had been Clay's trainer for a time, but Clay became dissatisfied and left Moore because of Moore's attempts to change his style and his insistence that Clay do dishes and help clean gym floors. In the days before the fight, Clay had rhymed that "Archie Moore...Must fall in four." Moore replied that he had perfected a new punch for the match: The Lip-Buttoner. Nonetheless, as Clay predicted, Moore was beaten by a knockout in four rounds. Moore is the only man to have faced both Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali. After one more fight in 1963, a third-round knockout win over Mike DiBiase in Phoenix, Moore announced his retirement from boxing, for good.

Fighting style

Moore's style relied heavily on the armadillo defense, also knows as crab style of boxing, which includes the cross-armed guard. Moore later taught this to George Foreman who used it extensively during his comeback. Moore also made heavy use of shoulder rolls to avoid punches and set up counters. This style allowed Moore to not only avoid much damage while fighting, leading to his long career, but to score the most knockouts in boxing history.

Post-retirement

Despite retiring, Moore couldn't escape the limelight, and received numerous awards and dedications. In 1965, he was given the key to the city of San Diego, California. In 1970, he was named "Man of The Year" by Listen Magazine, and received the key to the city of Sandpoint, Idaho. He was elected in 1985 to the St. Louis city Boxing Hall of Fame and he received the Rocky Marciano Memorial Award in the city of New York in 1988. In 1990, he became a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York, being one of the original members of that institution.
At one point the oldest boxer to win the World's Light Heavyweight Championship, he is believed to have been the only boxer who boxed professionally in the eras of Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali. He is one of only a handful of boxers whose careers spanned four decades, retiring with a final record of 186 wins, 23 losses, 10 draws and 1 no contest, with 131 official knockouts.
However, at least three of Moore's 131 knockouts came in less-than-competitive matches against pro wrestlers: "Professor" Roy Shire in 1956, Sterling Davis in 1959 and Mike DiBiase in 1963. All three matches are officially listed as third-round TKO stoppages. The second-highest amount of knockouts in boxing history is 128, which belongs to Sam Langford.
During the 1960s he founded an organization called Any Boy Can, which taught boxing to underprivileged youth in the San Diego area. In 1974 he helped train heavyweight boxer George Foreman for his famous "Rumble in the Jungle" title bout in Zaire against Muhammad Ali. In 1976 he served as an assistant coach for the Nigerian Olympic boxing team. Actively involved in efforts to teach children about the dangers of drug abuse, he worked during the 1980s as a youth boxing instructor for the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, assigned largely to ghettos in San Diego and Los Angeles. "I try to pass on the arts I know: self-control, self-reliance, self-defense," he told a reporter. In the early 1990s he again worked as a trainer for George Foreman.
In 1960 he ran as a Democrat for the California State Assembly but was defeated.

Acting career

In 1960, Moore was chosen to play the role of the runaway slave Jim in Michael Curtiz's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, based on the Mark Twain novel, opposite Eddie Hodges as Huck. Moore garnered positive reviews for his sympathetic portrayal of Jim, which some viewers still consider the best interpretation of this much-filmed role.
Moore did not choose to pursue a full-time career as an actor, but he did appear in films such as The Carpetbaggers, The Hanged Man and The Fortune Cookie, and on television in episodes of Family Affair, Perry Mason, Wagon Train, The Reporter, Batman and the soap opera One Life to Live. He also appeared in the critically acclaimed TV movie My Sweet Charlie. His later film appearances included the crime film The Outfit, as a chef in Breakheart Pass with Charles Bronson, and a cameo role as himself in the 1982 film Penitentiary II, along with Leon Isaac Kennedy and Mr. T.

Humanitarian

Boxing took Moore all over the world as a fighter, a civil rights activist, and a leader in the fight to influence the minds of the nation's youth. He arrived in Argentina in June 1951 for a rematch with the champion Abel Cestac. Moore's victory made headlines and caught the attention of the Argentinian President Juan Perón and his wife Eva for his selfless act helping children, buying them shoes, clothing, and building their confidence. Moore was invited to stay in Argentina and accept an appointment as the Minister of Welfare of Children. He declined the offer to continue his road to winning title fights.
In 1957, Moore founded Any Boy Can, a non-profit organization based in San Diego, California. ABC, as it was known, provides services to all who seek help regardless of age, race, creed, religion or national origin. Moore stated that the mission of ABC is to help the youth to "step off in life with their best foot forward." The students were taught good sportsmanship, respect, and confidence. They were instructed to look a person in the eye and give them a firm handshake. They addressed him as Instructor Moore. Word traveled fast about Moore's ABC program. He was invited to Jamaica and sponsored by the to train boys for the Olympics. He trained 600 boys using his ABC methods. In 1968, the ABC Foundation received the Freedom Foundation's Patriotism Award, a special citation for providing a challenge for youth to become contributing members of their communities and upholding the ideals and ideas that were present at the founding of our great nation. This recognition is one of many.
Based on his work with the youth, in 1981, Moore became the Presidential Appointee of Ronald Reagan to work under Samuel R. Pierce, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Under the national heading, Project Build, Moore taught boxing to underprivileged youth in and around the housing projects in California.

Personal life

Archie Moore had three daughters, Reena, J'Marie and Elizabeth Moore-Stump, and four sons, Archie Jr., Hardy, Anthony and D'Angelo. The marriage of Archie Moore and Elizabeth Thorton produced Archie Jr. and Elizabeth. In 1956, he married Joan Hardy and had five children: Reena, J'Marie, Hardy, Anthony and D'Angelo. They were married until his death in 1998.
Moore joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church later in life.
In 1997, J'Marie Moore became the first daughter of a famous boxer to herself become a professional boxer.

Death

Moore died of heart failure on December 9, 1998, four days short of his 85th birthday. He was cremated and is interred in a niche at Cypress View Mausoleum and Crematory, in San Diego.

Legacy

  • In 1965, Moore was also inducted by the San Diego Hall of Champions into the.
  • In 1980, he was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame.
  • In 1990, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
  • In 2002, Archie Moore was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame.
  • In 2006, Moore was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame.
  • The Ring ranked Moore #4 on its "Best Punchers of all time" list in 2003 and #14 on its list of the "80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years."
  • Moore was ranked as the #1 light heavyweight of all time by the International Boxing Research Organization in 2005.
  • Moore was voted as the #1 light heavyweight of the 20th century by the Associated Press in 1999.
  • Moore is rated the number sixth pound for pound fighter of all time by BoxRec.
  • In 2025, US Rep. Darrell Issa introduced a bill to name a post office in Ramona, California after Moore.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateAgeLocationNotes
220WinMike DiBiaseTKO3 Mar 15, 1963Madison Square Garden, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
219Loss185–23–10 Cassius ClayTKO4 Nov 15, 1962Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
218Draw185–22–10 Willie PastranoMD10May 28, 1962Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
217Win185–22–9 Howard KingKO1 May 7, 1962Plaza de Toros, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
216Win184–22–9 Alejandro LavoranteTKO10 Mar 30, 1962Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Lavorante was carried out on a stretcher
215Win183–22–9 Pete RademacherTKO6 Oct 23, 1961Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
214Win182–22–9 Giulio RinaldiUD15Jun 10, 1961Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Retained NYSAC and The Ring light heavyweight titles
213Win181–22–9 Buddy TurmanUD10Mar 25, 1961Araneta Coliseum, Barangay Cubao, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
212Win180–22–9 Buddy TurmanUD10Nov 28, 1960Memorial Auditorium, Dallas, Texas, U.S.
211Loss179–22–9 Giulio RinaldiPTS10Oct 29, 1960Palazzetto dello Sport, Roma, Lazio, Italy
210Win179–21–9 George AbinetRTD3 Sep 13, 1960Memorial Auditorium, Dallas, Texas, U.S.
209Win178–21–9 Willi BesmanoffTKO10 May 25, 1960Fairgrounds Coliseum, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.Promoted as for "American Heavyweight Title"
208Win177–21–9 Yvon DurelleKO3 Aug 12, 1959Forum, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaRetained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring light heavyweight titles
207Win176–21–9 Sterling DavisTKO3 Mar 9, 1959Ector County Coliseum, Odessa, Texas, U.S.
206Win175–21–9 Yvon DurelleKO11 Dec 10, 1958Forum, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaRetained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring light heavyweight titles
205Draw174–21–9 Howard KingPTS10Aug 4, 1958Moana Ball Park, Reno, Nevada, U.S.
204Win174–21–8 Howard KingUD10Jun 9, 1958Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, U.S.
203Win173–21–8 Charley NorkusUD10May 26, 1958Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
202Win172–21–8 Howard KingUD10May 17, 1958Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
201Win171–21–8 Willi BesmanoffSD10May 2, 1958Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
200Win170–21–8 Bob AlbrightTKO7 Mar 10, 1958Exhibition Gardens, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
199Win169–21–8 Bert WhitehurstTKO10 Mar 4, 1958Swing Auditorium, San Bernardino, California, U.S.
198Win168–21–8 Julio NevesKO3 Feb 1, 1958Ginásio Gilberto Cardoso, Río de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
197Win167–21–8 Luis IgnacioPTS10Jan 18, 1958Ginásio Estadual do Ibirapuera, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
196Win166–21–8 Roger RischerKO4 Nov 29, 1957Auditorium, Portland, Oregon, U.S.
195Win165–21–8 Eddie CottonUD10Nov 5, 1957Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
194Win164–21–8 Ralph HookerTKO5 Oct 31, 1957Exhibition Gardens, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
193Win163–21–8 Tony AnthonyKO7 Sep 20, 1957Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Retained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring light heavyweight titles
192Win162–21–8 Alain ChervilleTKO6 Jun 2, 1957Killesberghalle, Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
191Win161–21–8 Hans KalbfellUD10May 1, 1957Dubois-Arena, Essen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
190Loss160–21–8 Floyd PattersonKO5 Nov 30, 1956Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.For vacant NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring heavyweight titles
189Win160–20–8 Roy ShireTKO3 Sep 8, 1956Ogden Stadium, Ogden, Utah, U.S.
188Win159–20–8 James J. ParkerTKO9 Jul 25, 1956Maple Leaf Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
187Win158–20–8 Yolande PompeyTKO10 Jun 5, 1956Harringay Arena, Harringay, London, EnglandRetained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring light heavyweight titles
186Win157–20–8 Gene ThompsonKO3 Apr 30, 1956Sports Center, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
185Win156–20–8 Sonny AndrewsKO4 Apr 26, 1956Edmonton Gardens, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
184Win155–20–8 George ParmentierTKO3 Apr 16, 1956Civic Auditorium, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
183Win154–20–8 Willie BeanTKO5 Apr 10, 1956Auditorium, Richmond, California, U.S.
182Win153–20–8 Howard KingUD10Mar 27, 1956Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, U.S.
181Win152–20–8 Frankie DanielsUD10Mar 17, 1956Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
180Win151–20–8 Bob DunlapKO1 Feb 27, 1956Arena, San Diego, California, U.S.
179Win150–20–8 Howard KingUD10Feb 20, 1956Winterland Arena, San Francisco, California, U.S.
178Loss149–20–8 Rocky MarcianoKO9 Sep 21, 1955Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.For NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring heavyweight titles
177Win149–19–8 Bobo OlsonKO3 Jun 22, 1955Polo Grounds, New York City, New York, U.S.Retained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring light heavyweight titles
176Win148–19–8 Niño ValdésPTS15May 2, 1955Cashman Field, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Won vacant world heavyweight title recognized only by Nevada
175Win147–19–8 Harold JohnsonTKO14 Aug 11, 1954Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Retained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring light heavyweight titles
174Win146–19–8 Bert WhitehurstTKO6 Jun 7, 1954St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
173Win145–19–8 Bob BakerTKO9 Mar 9, 1954Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
172Win144–19–8 Joey MaximUD15Jan 27, 1954Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida, U.S.Retained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring light heavyweight titles
171Win143–19–8 Dogomar MartinezPTS10Sep 12, 1953Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal, Argentina
170Win142–19–8 Rinaldo AnsaloniTKO4 Aug 22, 1953Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal, Argentina
169Win141–19–8 Joey MaximUD15Jun 24, 1953Ogden, Utah, U.S.Retained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring light heavyweight titles
168Win140–19–8 Frank BufordTKO9 Mar 30, 1953Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
167Win139–19–8 Al SpauldingKO3 Mar 17, 1953Armory, Spokane, Washington, U.S.
166Win138–19–8 Niño ValdésUD10Mar 11, 1953Arena, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
165Win137–19–8 Sonny AndrewsTKO5 Mar 3, 1953Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, U.S.
164Win136–19–8 Leonard DuganTKO8 Feb 16, 1953Winterland Arena, San Francisco, California, U.S.
163Win135–19–8 Toxie HallKO4 Jan 27, 1953Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
162Win134–19–8 Joey MaximUD15Dec 17, 1952Arena, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.Won NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring light heavyweight titles
161Win133–19–8 Clinton BaconTKO4 Jul 25, 1952Bears Stadium, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
160Win132–19–8 Clarence HenryUD10Jun 26, 1952Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
159Win131–19–8 Bob DunlapKO6 May 19, 1952Winterland Arena, San Francisco, California], U.S.
158Win130–19–8 Jimmy SladeUD10Feb 27, 1952Arena, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
157Win129–19–8 Harold JohnsonUD10Jan 29, 1952Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
156Loss128–19–8 Harold JohnsonUD10Dec 10, 1951Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
155Win128–18–8 Chubby WrightTKO7 Oct 29, 1951Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
154Win127–18–8 Harold JohnsonUD10Sep 25, 1951Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
153Win126–18–8 Embrel DavidsonKO1 Sep 5, 1951Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
152Win125–18–8 Alfredo LagayKO3 Aug 17, 1951Palacio de los Deportes, Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
151Win124–18–8 Rafael MirandaTKO4 Aug 5, 1951Palacio de los Deportes, Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, Argentina
150Win123–18–8 Americo CapitanelliKO3 Jul 28, 1951San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucuman, Argentina
149Win122–18–8 Victor CarabajalKO3 Jul 26, 1951Córdoba, Argentina
148Win121–18–8 Vicente QuirozRTD6 Jul 14, 1951Cine Boston, Montevideo, Uruguay
147Win120–18–8 Alberto Santiago LovellKO1 Jul 7, 1951Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal, Argentina
146Draw119–18–8 Karel SysPTS12Jun 23, 1951Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal, Argentina
145Win119–18–7 Abel CestacRTD9 Jun 9, 1951Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal, Argentina
144Win118–18–7 Art HenriTKO4 May 14, 1951Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
143Win117–18–7 Herman HarrisTKO4 Apr 26, 1951I.M.A. Auditorium, Flint, Michigan, U.S
142Win116–18–7 Abel CestacUD10Mar 13, 1951Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
141Win115–18–7 Jimmy BivinsTKO9 Feb 21, 1951St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
140Win114–18–7 John ThomasKO1 Jan 28, 1951Estadio Olimpico, Panama City, Panama
139Win113–18–7 Oakland Billy SmithTKO8 Jan 2, 1951Auditoriu, Portland, Oregon, U.S.
138Win112–18–7 Vernon WilliamsKO2 Jul 31, 1950Marigold Gardens Outdoor Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
137Win111–18–7 Bert LytellUD10Jan 31, 1950Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
136Win110–18–7 Leonard MorrowKO10 Dec 13, 1949Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
135Win109–18–7 Charley WilliamsKO8 Dec 6, 1949Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
134Win108–18–7 Phil MuscatoKO6 Oct 24, 1949Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
133Win107–18–7 Bob AmosUD10Oct 4, 1949Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
132Win106–18–7 Esco GreenwoodTKO2 Jul 29, 1949Meadowbrook Arena, North Adams, Massachusetts, U.S.
131Win105–18–7 Bob SikesTKO3 Jun 27, 1949Outdoor Sports Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
130Loss104–18–7 Clinton BaconDQ6 Jun 13, 1949Outdoor Sports Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.Moore was disqualified for low blows
129Win104–17–7 Harold JohnsonUD10Apr 26, 1949Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
128Win103–17–7 Jimmy BivinsKO8 Apr 11, 1949Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
127Win102–17–7 Dusty WilkersonTKO6 Mar 23, 1949Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
126Win101–17–7 Alabama KidKO3 Mar 4, 1949Memorial Hall, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
125Win100–17–7 Bob SatterfieldKO3 Jan 31, 1949Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
124Win99–17–7 Alabama KidKO4 Jan 10, 1949Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
123Win98–17–7 Charley WilliamsKO7 Dec 27, 1948Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
122Win97–17–7 Bob AmosUD10Dec 6, 1948Turner's Arena, Washington, D.C., U.S.
121Win96–17–7 Henry HallUD10Nov 15, 1948Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
120Loss95–17–7 Lloyd GibsonDQ4 Nov 1, 1948Turner's Arena, Washington, D.C., U.S.Moore was disqualified for low blows
119Loss95–16–7 Henry HallPTS10Oct 15, 1948Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
118Win95–15–7 Oakland Billy SmithKO4 Sep 20, 1948Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
117Win94–15–7 Ted LowryUD10Aug 2, 1948Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
116Win93–15–7 Jimmy BivinsMD10Jun 28, 1948Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
115Loss92–15–7 Leonard MorrowKO1 Jun 2, 1948Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.Lost USA California state light heavyweight title
114Win92–14–7 Oakland Billy SmithUD10May 5, 1948Music Hall Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
113Win91–14–7 Charley WilliamsKO7 Apr 19, 1948Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
112Win90–14–7 Dusty WilkersonTKO7 Apr 12, 1948Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
111Loss89–14–7 Ezzard CharlesKO8 Jan 13, 1948Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
110Win89–13–7 George FitchTKO6 Nov 10, 1947Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
109Win88–13–7 Jimmy BivinsTKO8 Sep 8, 19475th Regiment Armory, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
108Win87–13–7 Bobby ZanderPTS12Jul 30, 1947Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.Won vacant USA California state light heavyweight title
107Win86–13–7 Bert LytellUD10Jul 14, 1947Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
106Win85–13–7 Curtis SheppardUD10Jun 16, 1947Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C., U.S.
105Loss84–13–7 Ezzard CharlesMD10May 5, 1947Music Hall Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
104Win84–12–7 Rusty PaynePTS10Apr 11, 1947Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
103Win83–12–7 Jack ChaseKO9 Mar 18, 1947Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
102Draw82–12–7 Jack ChasePTS10Nov 6, 1946Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
101Draw82–12–6 Oakland Billy SmithPTS12Oct 23, 1946Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.For USA California state light heavyweight title
100Win82–12–5 Jimmy O'BrienTKO2 Sep 9, 1946Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
99Win81–12–5 Buddy WalkerKO4 Aug 19, 1946Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
98Loss80–12–5 Ezzard CharlesUD10May 20, 1946Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
97Win80–11–5 Vern EscoeTKO7 May 2, 1946Armory, Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
96Win79–11–5 George ParksKO1 Feb 5, 1946Turner's Arena, Washington, D.C., U.S.
95Win78–11–5 Curtis SheppardUD12Jan 28, 1946Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
94Win77–11–5 Colion ChaneyKO5 Dec 13, 1945Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S.
93Win76–11–5 Holman WilliamsTKO11 Nov 26, 1945Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
92Win75–11–5 O'Dell RileyKO6 Nov 12, 1945Arena Gardens, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
91Loss74–11–5 Holman WilliamsMD10Oct 22, 1945Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
90Win74–10–5 Cocoa KidKO8 Sep 17, 1945Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
89Loss73–10–5 Jimmy BivinsKO6 Aug 22, 1945Lakefront Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
88Win73–9–5 Lloyd MarshallTKO10 Jun 26, 1945Lakefront Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
87Win72–9–5 George KochanTKO6 Jun 18, 1945Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
86Win71–9–5 Lloyd MarshallUD10May 21, 1945Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
85Win70–9–5 Teddy RandolphTKO9 Apr 23, 1945Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
84Win69–9–5 Nate BoldenUD10Apr 2, 1945Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
83Win68–9–5 Napoleon MitchellKO6 Feb 12, 1945Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
82Win67–9–5 Bob JacobsTKO9 Jan 29, 1945St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
81Win66–9–5 Joey JonesTKO2 Jan 11, 1945Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
80Win65–9–5 Nate BoldenUD10Dec 18, 1944St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
79Win64–9–5 Battling MonroeKO6 Sep 1, 1944Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
78Win63–9–5 Jimmy HaydenKO5 Aug 18, 1944Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
77Win62–9–5 Lloyd Kip MaysKO3 Aug 11, 1944Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
76Win61–9–5 Kenny LaSallePTS10May 19, 1944Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
75Loss60–9–5 Charley BurleyPTS10Apr 21, 1944Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
74Win60–8–5 Roman StarrTKO2 Mar 24, 1944Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
73Loss59–8–5 Eddie BookerTKO8 Jan 21, 1944Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
72Win59–7–5 Amado RodriguezKO1 Jan 7, 1944Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
71Win58–7–5 Jack ChaseMD10Nov 26, 1943Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, U.S.
70Win57–7–5 Kid HermosilloTKO5 Nov 4, 1943Glacier Gardens, San Diego, California, U.S.
69Loss56–7–5 Aaron WadePTS10Aug 16, 1943Coliseum Bowl, San Francisco, California, U.S.
68Loss56–6–5 Jack ChaseUD15Aug 2, 1943Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.Lost California state middleweight title
67Win56–5–5 Eddie CerdaKO3 Jul 28, 1943Lane Field, San Diego, California, U.S.
66Win55–5–5 Big Boy HogueTKO5 Jul 22, 1943Lane Field, San Diego, California, U.S.
65Win54–5–5 Jack ChaseUD15May 8, 1943Lane Field, San Diego, California, U.S.Won California state middleweight title
64Draw53–5–5 Eddie BookerPTS12Dec 11, 1942Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.For California state middleweight title
63Win53–5–4 Jack ChaseUD10Nov 27, 1942Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
62Win52–5–4 Tabby RomeroKO2 Nov 6, 1942Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
61Win51–5–4 Shorty HogueTKO2 Oct 30, 1942Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
60Win50–5–4 Jimmy CasinoTKO5 Mar 18, 1942Auditorium, Oakland, California, U.S.
59Win49–5–4 Al GlobeTKO2 Feb 27, 1942Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
58Win48–5–4 Bobby BrittKO3 Jan 28, 1942Legion Arena, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
57Draw47–5–4 Eddie BookerPTS10Feb 20, 1941Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
56Loss47–5–3 Shorty HoguePTS10Jan 31, 1941Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
55Win47–4–3 Clay RowanKO1 Jan 17, 1941Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
54Win46–4–3 Pancho RamirezTKO5 Oct 18, 1940Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
53Win45–4–3 Ron RichardsPTS12Jul 11, 1940Sydney Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
52Win44–4–3 Fred HenneberryTKO7 Jun 27, 1940Sydney Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
51Win43–4–3 Frank LindsayKO4 May 27, 1940City Hall, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
50Win42–4–3 Joe DelaneyKO2 May 18, 1940Grenfell Street Stadium, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
49Win41–4–3 Atilio SabatinoTKO5 May 9, 1940Sydney Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
48Win40–4–3 Ron RichardsTKO10 Apr 18, 1940Sydney Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
47Win39–4–3 Jack McNameeTKO4 Mar 30, 1940West Melbourne Stadium, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
46Loss38–4–3 Shorty HoguePTS6Dec 29, 1939Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
45Win38–3–3 Honeyboy JonesPTS10Dec 7, 1939Municipal Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
44Win37–3–3 Billy DayKO1 Nov 27, 1939Legion Arena, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
43Draw36–3–3 Freddie DixonTD8 Nov 13, 1939Legion Arena, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
42Win36–3–2 Bobby SeamanTKO7 Sep 22, 1939Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
41Win35–3–2 Jack CogginsPTS10Sep 1, 1939Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
4034–3–2 Jack CogginsNC8 Jul 21, 1939Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.Following several warnings to the effect that more action and effort were needed,
the referee called it "no contest" in round eight
39Loss34–3–2Teddy YaroszUD10Apr 20, 1939Municipal Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
38Win34–2–2Marty SimmonsUD10Mar 16, 1939Municipal Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
37Win33–2–2Domenico CeccarelliKO1 Mar 2, 1939Coliseum, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
36Win32–2–2Jack MoranKO1 Jan 20, 1939Coliseum, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
35Win31–2–2Bob TurnerKO2 Dec 7, 1938Arena, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
34Win30–2–2Ray LyleKO2 Nov 22, 1938Coliseum, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
33Win29–2–2Bobby YannesTKO2 Oct 19, 1938Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
32Win28–2–2Tom HenryTKO4 Sep 27, 1938Los Angeles, California, U.S.
31Win27–2–2Frank RowseyTKO3 Sep 16, 1938Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
30Win26–2–2Johnny RomeroKO8 Sep 2, 1938Coliseum, San Diego, California, U.S.
29Win25–2–2Lorenzo PedroPTS10Aug 5, 1938Lane Field, San Diego, California, U.S.
28Win24–2–2Johnny SikesKO1 Jul 22, 1938Lane Field, San Diego, California, U.S.
27Loss23–2–2Johnny RomeroPTS10Jun 24, 1938Lane Field, San Diego, California, U.S.
26Win23–1–2Ray VargasKO3 May 27, 1938Lane Field, San Diego, California, U.S.
25Win22–1–2Jimmy BrentKO1 May 20, 1938Lane Field, San Diego, California, U.S.
24Win21–1–2Karl LautenschlagerTKO2 Jan 7, 1938Coliseum, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
23Win20–1–2Sammy JacksonKO8 Dec 1, 1937Jackson, Missouri, U.S.Month & date need verification
22Win19–1–2Sammy ChristianPTS5Nov 16, 1937Municipal Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S.
21Win18–1–2Chuck VickersKO2 Nov 9, 1937Shrine Auditorium, Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.
20Win17–1–2Charley DawsonTKO5 Sep 17, 1937Municipal Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S.
19Win16–1–2Sammy SlaughterPTS10Sep 9, 1937Outdoor Sports Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
18Loss15–1–2Billy AdamsPTS8Sep 1, 1937Parkway Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
17Win15–0–2Deacon LoganKO3 Aug 19, 1937Municipal Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S.
16Win14–0–2Frank HatfieldKO1 Jul 21, 1937Parkway Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
15Win13–0–2Al DublinskyKO3 Jun 1, 1937United States of AmericaMonth & date unknown
14Win12–0–2Doty TurnerKO1 May 28, 1937Armory, Benton Harbor, Michigan, U.S.
13Win11–0–2Carl MartinRTD1 Apr 23, 1937Armory, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
12Win10–0–2Charley DawsonPTS8Apr 9, 1937Armory, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
11Win9–0–2Ham PounderKO2 Mar 23, 1937Ponca City, Oklahoma, U.S.
10Win8–0–2Joe HuffKO3 Feb 2, 1937Coliseum, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
9Draw7–0–2Sammy JacksonPTS8Jan 29, 1937Quincy, Illinois, U.S.
8Win7–0–1Johnny DavisKO4 Jan 18, 1937Eagles Hall, Quincy, Illinois, U.S.
7Win6–0–1Mack PayneKO1 Jan 5, 1937Coliseum, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
6Win5–0–1Sammy JacksonPTS5Oct 9, 1936Coliseum, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
5Win4–0–1Murray AllenKO2 Sep 30, 1936Hi-Life Garden, Keokuk, Iowa, U.S.
4Draw3–0–1Sammy ChristianPTS6Aug 4, 1936Quincy, Illinois, U.S.
3Win3–0Murray AllenPTS6Jul 14, 1936Eagles Hall, Quincy, Illinois, U.S.
2Win2–0Kid PocahuntasKO3 Jan 1, 1936Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S.
1Win1–0Billy SimmsKO2 Sep 3, 1935Poplar Bluff, Missouri, U.S.

Titles in boxing

Major world titles

''The Ring'' magazine titles

Regional/International titles

Undisputed titles

Honorary titles