Michael Moorer

Michael Lee Moorer (born November 12, 1967) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 2008.

In 1986, Moorer was a National Champion for the 156 lb (light middleweight) weight class.

At Steward's Kronk Gym, Moorer was known for beating professionals while still an amateur.

Moorer also won a bronze medal at the Goodwill Games, and finished his amateur career with a record of 48–16.

Moorer had a fast rise through the professional boxing ranks.

Moorer graduated from Monessen High School in 1987, where he starred in football as a linebacker and tight end.

As his amateur career developed, Moorer moved to Detroit, Michigan to train with the legendary Emanuel Steward.

He won a world championship on four occasions in two weight classes, having held the WBO light heavyweight title from 1988 to 1991; compiling 22 straight KOs in 22 fights and the WBO heavyweight title from 1992 to 1993; the unified WBA, IBF and lineal heavyweight titles in 1994; and regained the IBF heavyweight title again from 1996 to 1997 becoming a three-time heavyweight world champion.

Michael Moorer was an undefeated southpaw in his first 35 professional bouts.

He captured the WBO light heavyweight title in 1988 which he defended 9 times.

He debuted on March 4, 1988, knocking out Adrian Riggs in the first round.

Before the year's end, he was undefeated in eleven bouts (winning all by way of early round knockouts) and fighting for the world title for the first time.

He acquired the newly created WBO light heavyweight title with a five-round knockout of Ramzi Hassan.

In 1989, he retained the title six times, beating Freddie Delgado, Frankie Swindell, Mike Sedillo and former WBA champion Leslie Stewart, among others.

In 1990, he retained the title three times before the end of the year, beating Mario Melo and former Michael Spinks challenger Jim McDonald, among others.

In 1991, Moorer moved up to Heavyweight winning the vacant WBO heavyweight title from Bert Cooper via TKO in 1992.

1991 saw Moorer move up to the heavyweight division.

He rolled through the competition en route to securing an opportunity to fight for the vacant WBO heavyweight championship the following year against Bert Cooper.

Moorer stopped Cooper in the fifth round after both fighters were down and hurt during the bout.

He did not defend the then-lesser regarded WBO heavyweight belt.

Moorer and trainer Emanuel Steward parted ways after the Cooper fight.

Moorer eventually joined Lou Duva's team, and was trained by Georgie Benton for three fights in 1993, including a 10-round decision win over former champion James "Bonecrusher" Smith.

Moorer then parted ways with the Duvas and Benton, and hired New York-based trainer Teddy Atlas in late 1993.

Moorer closed the year with a ten-round decision over Mike Evans.

He went on to beat Evander Holyfield for the unified WBA, IBF and lineal heavyweight titles in 1994.

He remains the only southpaw to win the lineal world championship at heavyweight and the only light heavyweight world champion to win a heavyweight world title on more than one occasion.

Moorer is only one of four boxers over the last century that has ever won a version of a world title at both light heavyweight and heavyweight along with Roy Jones Jr., Michael Spinks, and James Toney.

Since retiring from the sport, Moorer has worked as a boxing trainer.

On April 22, 1994, Moorer challenged Evander Holyfield for the lineal, IBF, and WBA title belts.

In round 2 Holyfield sent Moorer down on the canvas, but Moorer overcame and went on to win a majority decision.

As a result, he became the first-ever southpaw heavyweight champion.

In his first defense of those belts, on November 5, 1994, Moorer faced 45-year-old George Foreman, who lost his last fight for the vacant WBO heavyweight title to Tommy Morrison.

For nine rounds, Moorer easily outboxed him, hitting and moving away, while Foreman moving forward, seemingly unable to "pull the trigger" on his punches.

In 2009, he worked alongside Freddie Roach at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles.

Moorer was born in Brooklyn and raised in the small town of Monessen, Pennsylvania.

From an early age, Moorer began playing football and was raised by a single mother, who noticed Moorer's unusual hyperactivity.

At age 10, Moorer's grandfather, a former New York Golden Gloves Champion who sparred with greats such as Archie Moore, encouraged Moorer to begin training at age 11.

Moorer is naturally right-handed, but fought the entirety of his career as a southpaw.

Moorer was ahead on all three judges' scorecards entering the 10th round, when Foreman hit him with a number of long-range jabs.

Then, suddenly, a short right hand caught Moorer square on his chin, gashing open his bottom lip, and he collapsed to the canvas.