Presents:
Archie Moore vs. Floyd Patterson
November 30, 1956
Rocky Marciano has announced his retirement as undefeated heavyweight champion of the world, and world light heavyweight king Archie Moore meets 21-year-old Floyd Patterson of Brooklyn for the vacant world heavyweight championship title.
Archie Moore floored Rocky Marciano in the second round of their world heavyweight title bout at Yankee Stadium on September 21, 1955 before succumbing in round nine. When Marciano retired the following April, many looked on Moore as Rocky’s heir apparent, Moore himself included. Archie’s seven-round TKO of James J. Parker in Toronto was advertised as a world heavyweight title bout.
But Floyd Patterson had already won a split decision over Tommy “Hurricane” Jackson in a 12-round title elimination bout at Madison Square Garden.
Now the stage was set for Patterson, the number one contender to meet "Ancient Archie" in a scheduled 15-rounder for the vacant heavyweight championship of the world at Chicago Stadium on November 30, 1956.
Archie Moore, a pro since 1936, is favored, 12-5 at fight time. The mandatory eight-count has been waved for this title bout. The referee is Frank Sikora. The color commentator is Win Elliot. Your blow-by-blow commentator for this radio broadcast is the great Don Dunphy.
How old was Archie Moore at the time of this fight? Moore himself claimed that he was born in Collinsville, Illinois on December 13, 1913, but his mother said that he was born three years earlier in Benoit, Mississippi.
Archie later stated he had given the matter serious thought and come to the conclusion he was three years old when he was born. Accepting the word of his mother, Moore was almost forty-three on November 30, 1956 -- more than double the age of Floyd Patterson.
Floyd Patterson was born in Waco, North Carolina, but grew up in Brooklyn. Floyd did his first boxing in reform school, but came into his own at Cus D’Amato’s Gramercy Park Gym. Floyd became an outstanding amateur middleweight, winning the 1952 Golden Gloves and that year’s Olympic title in Helsinki, Finland.
Patterson’s fast hands and peek-a-boo style carried him to 30 victories in 31 pro fights prior to his bout with Moore. Floyd’s one loss came in a close eight-rounder against former world light heavyweight champ Joey Maxim at Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway Arena, where Floyd had 12 of his first 21 paid bouts.
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