From rags to riches: The legend of Michael Moorer
Michael Moorer
Michael Anthony Moorer (born November 12, 1967) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 2008. He held the WBA, IBF, and WBC heavyweight titles, and is the only boxer to have won all three major sanctioning bodies' belts in the heavyweight division twice.
Moorer was born in Forrest City, Arkansas, and raised in Benton Harbor, Michigan. He began boxing at a young age, and won the 1988 Olympic gold medal in the light heavyweight division. He turned professional later that year, and quickly rose through the ranks of the heavyweight division.
In 1991, Moorer defeated Evander Holyfield to win the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles. He lost the titles to Holyfield in a rematch the following year, but regained them in 1994. He then defeated George Foreman to win the WBC title, becoming the first boxer to hold all three major sanctioning bodies' belts in the heavyweight division since Muhammad Ali.
Moorer lost the WBC title to Lennox Lewis in 1994, and the WBA and IBF titles to Axel Schulz in 1995. He retired from boxing in 1997, but returned in 2000. He fought for the WBC title again in 2004, but lost to Vitali Klitschko.
Moorer retired from boxing for good in 2008. He finished his career with a record of 52-4-1, with 43 knockouts. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2017.
Early life and amateur career
Michael Moorer was born in Forrest City, Arkansas, on November 12, 1967. He was raised in Benton Harbor, Michigan, by his mother, Shirley Moorer. He began boxing at a young age, and won the 1988 Olympic gold medal in the light heavyweight division.
Professional career
Moorer turned professional in 1988, and quickly rose through the ranks of the heavyweight division. He won his first 24 fights, 23 of them by knockout. In 1991, he defeated Evander Holyfield to win the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles. He lost the titles to Holyfield in a rematch the following year, but regained them in 1994. He then defeated George Foreman to win the WBC title, becoming the first boxer to hold all three major sanctioning bodies' belts in the heavyweight division since Muhammad Ali.
Later career and retirement
Moorer lost the WBC title to Lennox Lewis in 1994, and the WBA and IBF titles to Axel Schulz in 1995. He retired from boxing in 1997, but returned in 2000. He fought for the WBC title again in 2004, but lost to Vitali Klitschko.
Moorer retired from boxing for good in 2008. He finished his career with a record of 52-4-1, with 43 knockouts. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2017.
Legacy
Michael Moorer is considered one of the best heavyweight boxers of all time. He was a skilled boxer with a powerful punch. He is also known for his resilience, as he came back from several defeats to win world titles again.
Here are some of his notable fights:
- Michael Moorer vs. Bert Cooper (1991)
Moorer defeated Cooper by unanimous decision to win the WBO heavyweight title.
- Michael Moorer vs. Evander Holyfield (1994)
Moorer lost to Holyfield by unanimous decision in a unification bout for the WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles.
- Michael Moorer vs. George Foreman (1994)
Moorer defeated Foreman by unanimous decision to win the IBF heavyweight title.
- Michael Moorer vs. Riddick Bowe (1994)
Moorer defeated Bowe by majority decision to win the WBC heavyweight title.
- Michael Moorer vs. George Foreman (1995)
Moorer lost to Foreman by 10th-round TKO in a rematch for the IBF and WBC heavyweight titles.
- Michael Moorer vs. Lennox Lewis (1997)
Moorer lost to Lewis by 2nd-round TKO in a challenge for the WBC heavyweight title.
Moorer was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2017.
