"Moore is down again! He's hurt! Durelle goes to a neutral corner as Moore struggles to get up...Moore is up now, and Durelle charges, throwing bombs from every angle, and Moore seems unable to defend himself. Moore goes down again -- for the third time! This fight could be over in the very first round. Moore is badly hurt! Well....Father Time has finally caught up with 'The Ol' Mongoose.'"
---- Announcer Jack Dreese in Montreal,
Dec. 10, 1958

It is generally agreed among connoisseurs of Boxiana that the Archibald Lee Wright, a.k.a. Archie Moore, achievement is the ultimate, one enduring 27 years through the '40s, '50s and 60s, finishing with a record of 196-26-8 with 143 KOs. And that record stands today, defying an advanced breed, who have busted records in every other sport from golf to tidally winks.

Archie's career began at age 15. He fought as a lightweight in Hot Springs, Arkansas and won by a KO in January 1936. When he retired in 1964 the closest rival to his knockout record was Young Stribling, who had kayoed 127 foes. No fighter has surpassed that number since.

The dossier on the "ol' Mongoose" reads: weight 175. Won 36 of his first 45 pro fights, 35 by KO. Won light-heavyweight crown at age 39 from Joey Maxim, 1952, held that title for over a decade before vacating it in 1962. Engaged in 12 world title fights. It must be remembered that when Moore fought Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) the Louisville Lip was 20 and Moore was stalking 50. By that time the only thing Archie grew in his garden was tired. Every morning he scanned the obituary column; if his name wasn't there, he went back to bed. Simply, the bounce and snap that carried him beyond the Maxims, Johnsons, Olsons and Durelles, the tiger instinct that made him the greatest light-heavyweight champion ever, were left in another epoch.

Former boxing champion Jose Torres said of Moore: "Archie was the only light heavyweight likely to beat me on my best night." Moore later pointed out that another ring immortal, Muhammad Ali, at age 38, couldn't fight a lick against Larry Holmes. That was because most fighters at that age become so lazy that even loafing is hard work. Moore was an exception. This writer interviewed Archie several times in 1981-1982, at my house in Anaheim, California, and at his house in San Diego. I attended several functions with him over the years and we became close friends. At the time, Moore was involved in the ABC program. The club, whose initials stand for "Any Boy Can," the title of his popular book, was designed by Archie to motivate kids into stealing third base instead of hubcaps.

There seemed to be some question in the record books about Archie's age. Some said he had outlasted three Popes and 200 John Wayne movies. I asked Archie to set the record straight.

"My mother gives one age and I claim another. The boxing records say I was born on December 13, 1913, in Benoit, Mississippi. My mother says I was born in 1916, somewhere near Missouri or Illinois. She should know, she was there. My father deserted us when I was a shaver and I went to live with an aunt in St. Louis. I got into trouble and ended up in reform school for 22 months. There, I learned to respect authority, and I learned to respect myself. "When I got out I joined the CCC and started planning my fight career. Through hard work I developed muscles. I lifted bricks into trucks. I chopped down trees. Pick and shoveled. I developed forearms and shoulder muscles for punching power. I figured fighting was the quickest road to riches. It took me 17 years to get a title fight. Joey Maxim wanted $100,000 guarantee - hard to come by in those days. We finally found backers. The NBA ordered him to quit stalling and lay his title on the line against the top contender - which was me. I won the title, and my end of the purse was $800. "In order to get a shot at Maxim's title I had to fight the toughest opponents around: Ezzard Charles, Jimmy Bivins, Clarence Henry and Bob Satterfield. Things are different now. Easy build-ups make for fast title fights."

Six months after whipping Maxim you stopped Harold Johnson in 14 rounds. He was a tough customer wasn't he?

"These guys today duck all the hard fights. In my day, we enjoyed the challenge. I fought Johnson five times. I refused to fight him the sixth time because I couldn't see making near a hundred-thousand each. Various commissioners began nipping at my title. It started in Philly, Harold's home town. An undertaker who was on the commission in Massachusetts took another slice of it. Soon there was only slivers left. When they were finished I think I was champion of Outer Mongolia. So I never lost my title to a fighter. I retired undefeated champion."

You whipped Nino Valdes in 15, then Carl (Bobo) Olsen easily in three. Wasn't the Valdes fight a stepping stone to a crack at Marciano's heavyweight throne?

"I took the fight because I was sure I could put Rocky away - and I would have if the referee hadn't of saved him. I knocked Rocky down in the second round -- I knew I had him, and I knew just how I was gonna finish him off. He got up and he put his hands on the ropes looking out, glassy-eyed. All I had to do was take two steps, clobber him, and lift the title. But the ref rushed over to him, got in front of me, chased me and got Marciano by the gloves and jerked his arms. Now what do you think that's for? To snap him out of it. He knew it. He knew I knew it. Maybe I would have kayoed him. I do not know he would have fallen again, because he was standing loose-mouthed on the ropes, gazing out at the audience. At liberty to be hit. Well, the fight's over and Rocky's gone. I lost it, but I enjoyed it. I lost my chance to be heavyweight champion of the world."

Archie, you are the only man alive who fought both Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali. Who do you think was the better fighter?

"I would like to say something I've been wanting to say for a long time. I thought Rocky was one of the nicest people I've ever met. They were both great in their own particular way. I think Ali was the greater fighter. I feel there will be scolding over this remark, but that's my opinion. I felt Rocky was guided closely and Wolcott was his first real test. Rocky never fought the caliber of fighters Ali fought. It wasn't his fault, they just weren't around. Rocky and Willie Pep stopped by my house after our fight. They sought me out, were glad to see me. We played pool, sat at my bar and chatted. How more sociable can you get? The champ didn't have to stop to see me. The only thing I regret is I was unable to attend Rocky's funeral. He was a great man."

Was the Marciano fight your toughest fight?

"No. My fight against Yvon Durelle was my toughest. It was the 128th knockout of my career, breaking a tie I shared with Young Stribling and setting a new knockout record that I am proud of. I don't think that record will be broken in my lifetime. Durelle knocked me down three times in the first round, twice for counts of nine. Today, these weak-sister referees would have stopped that fight. Durelle could hit like a mule's kick, and he dropped me again in the fifth. I felt it was curtains for me, and yet I fought back to stop him in the eleventh. I had to call on every human resource to win. That's what I teach my ABC kids. You get knocked down, but you get up and keep trying. Finally the answer comes and you hit the main road. If I would have fought Durelle today I would have lost. They would have stopped it in the first round."

You fought nine world champions and seven Hall-of Famers. You won four of five fights from Jimmy Bivins and all three fights against Joey Maxim. Since you lost all three fights against Ezzard Charles, you have to consider him among the greatest fighters you ever fought.

"I would have to put Charles up there with the greatest fighters of all time. He gets too little credit from boxing critics. I think he would have beaten Marciano in his prime. When Rocky fought Charles he was a shell of himself."

Ali was your last big fight. I understand there was no love lost between you and Ali.

"He was 20, I was pushing 50. When he was only 19, I taught him the umbrella defense he called the rope-a-dope. I taught him how to slip punches, how to box. At one time he was gonna leave the training camp because I was to hard on him. I beat him up like his daddy. Johnny Nickle talked him into staying. Now years later he predicted 'Moore in four.' I knew what he was trying to do, because he learned it from me. I knew the game he was playing. At the weigh-in when he started his hoopin' and jivin' I wanted to slap his face. But that's all behind me now. I retired in 1963 after stopping Mike DiBiase in the third round. Now I'm interested in my ABC boys. You see, ABC boys will not lie, cheat or steal. They will not refuse to go to church or school. They won't push old folks around, break windows, or destroy property. I teach them these things. I teach them how to box -- self defense."

And how does Archie Moore want to be remembered?

"I am more proud of my accomplishments with these kids than any of my ring experiences. If I am to be remembered, let it be for saving one kid from the penitentiary."

Archie Moore held the title for eleven of the 27 years he was in the ring. After his heart surgery his health deteriorated and in 1998 he was taken to a San Diego hospice where several of his eight children kept vigil at his bedside. He died of old age and the accumulation of life at age 84 on December 9, 1998.

A bout with the flu stopped me from accompanying Moore the night he received the Boxing Legend Award from the World Boxing Association at the Waldorf - Astoria in New York. That, and the fact that getting this writer into a tuxedo would be tantamount to getting Mike Tyson to fight by the Marquess of Queensbury.

Both suggestions would be impossible. *******

A Bit About Bill Kelly

From 1965 to present Bill Kelly has written for dozens of magazines and newspapers either as a staff writer or free-lancer. His 15,000 published articles include modern crime and gangsters, celebrity interviews, old West gambling stories, treasure stories, tales of the old West, and boxing. His most memorable interviews were conducted with John Wayne (Wayne's last interview), Henry Fonda, Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson and Ike Williams.

His California tabloid experience includes The Los Angeles Herald Examiner, Orange County Register, Valley Tribune, and Valley Star, where he doubled as Managing Editor and feature writer.

Kelly's magazine experience includes Gambling Scene Magazine, Poker Digest, Treasure Search, Oklahoma State Trooper, California State Trooper, Virginia State Trooper, Boxing Digest, Boxing Illustrated, KO Magazine, Hollywood Studio, Country Review, Sports Illustrated, and too many true crime magazines to list here.

Kelly's true crime stories, and his book, Homicidal Mania, can be viewed on http://www.cybersleuths.com/

For additional true crime by Bill Kelly: editor@crimemagazine.com

His stories on New Mexico History are currently running in the On-Line New Mexico Magazine: http://www.southernnewmexico.com

Autographed copies of Bill Kelly's books, Gamblers of the Old West ( $25 plus $3.50 shipping & handling) and Treasure Trails and Buried Bandit Booty ($14.95 total) can be purchased by contacting the author at: wildbill@cosmoaccess.net

Bill is currently looking for a publisher for his manuscript, Empty Saddles. This book contains interviews with 50 of the 1940 B-cowboy movie stars including Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Bob Steele, Sunset Carson, and many more. This book is the result of 25 years research and writing, and Kelly considers this his finest work to date.

Bill Kelly is a writer for hire. His Kelly's Korner was at one time syndicated and well received. He is especially interested in reviving this column for an interested tabloid.