13 January 2025

No changes this week. 

On this day in 1948, Archie Moore -who many argue is the greatest light heavyweight who ever lived- crumbled at the feet of Ezzard Charles when he was KO’d in the eighth round during a ten-rounder. It was the third match between the two all-time greats, and Moore just couldn’t defeat Charles, which is convincing evidence that the greatest light heavyweight in boxing history may well be Ezzard Charles (though a certain middleweight would dispute that claim -any guesses?).

Charles-Moore I, II, and II took place in 1946, 1947, and 1948 during the reign of Gus Lesnevich. In 1952, Moore finally got his shot and took the light heavyweight crown from Joey Maxim, who took it from Freddie Mills, who took it from Lesnevich. By then he was the “Ole [read: Old] Mongoose.” 

Ezzard never got a title shot in his natural division, but he did take the heavyweight crown in 1949. Moore tried for it in 1955, but ran into a certain blockbuster from Brockton, Massachusetts.

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