10. “The Ol’ Mongoose” Archie Moore 185-23-10, 131 KOs
Archie Moore (born Archibald Lee Wright) came into this world in Benoit, Mississippi on December 13, 1916–though the year is a subject of debate.
Moore boxed professionally from 1935 until he retired in 1963 at the ripe old age of 47. Moore won the Light Heavyweight Championship at 36 years old against Hall of Famer, Joey Maxim, defended it eight times–six by KO–and never lost it in the ring.
Moore was a very solid puncher whose power was greatly amplified by his uncanny ability to position himself with the proper angles and land flush. “The Ol’ Mongoose” also campaigned successfully as a heavyweight scoring numerous knockouts and dropped iron chinned Rocky Marciano with a short right hand in an unsuccessful bid for the Heavyweight championship.
Moore has both the distinction of scoring 131 knockouts, the most by any fighter in the history of the sport, and is the only boxer to face both Marciano and Cassius Clay aka Muhammad Ali.
Suggested viewing: Moore’s 1958 slugfest vs. Yvonne Durelle in which he was dropped three times in the first round, once in the fifth and came back to drop his opponent four times on way to a knockout victory.
