In the long history of professional boxing there was only one man who fought both Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali. There was only one man who recorded an astounding 141 professional knockouts. There was only one man who trained both a young Ali and heavyweight champion George Foreman. There was only one Archie Moore. Moore's vast career and exploits are finally chronicled in "The Long Sunset: The Life of Boxing Legend Archie Moore, highlighting his seven-decade boxing career. Author and veteran boxing biographer Mike Fitzgerald spent several months with Moore before the boxer's 1998 death in an effort to capture the full life story of one of the 20th century's most colorful and accomplished athletes. Moore's opponent list reads like a "Who's Who" of boxing: it includes nine world champions and seven Hall of Famers. Starting his career in the middleweight division, Moore moved up in weight class in 1945. Ultimately he dominated the light-heavyweight division, winning his first world title in 1952 (at age 39) and successfully defending that title for nearly a decade. The versatile Moore often fought at heavyweight in the 1950s, twice challenging for the heavyweight crown, including an epic battle with Marciano in 1955. Following the 1960 Olympics, Moore took over training duties for Ali (known then as Cassius Clay). The two eventually parted ways before their fight in 1962. Retiring from the ring in 1963 after compiling 194 career wins, Moore remained active in boxing for the rest of his life, helping guide George Foreman to the heavyweight title in 1973 and overseeing his legendary comeback in 1987. Moore was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. Archie Moore'slife wasn't just about boxing, however. "The Long Sunset also spotlights his Hollywood career in the 1960s, his five marriages, and his beloved "Any Boy Can" youth organization, which reached underprivileged youth. Featuring a foreword by the "Raging Bull." Jake LaMotta, who provides his own fond memories of Moore, "The Long Sunset: The Life of Boxing Legend Archie Moore is certain to provide a never-before-seen side of one of America's all-time greatest athletes.
Mike Fitzgerald is an established biographer of boxing legends who co-authored former heavyweight champion Ken Norton s book Going the Distance and Welcome to the Big Time: The Earnie Shavers Story. He also wrote Tale of the Gator, the autobiography of boxing s contending amputee, Craig Bodzianowski. Fitzgerald lives in Janesville, Wisconsin, with his wife Debra and son Ross.
