Back from the Brink of Defeat: Archie Moore v. Yvon Durelle
by Bad Left Hook on Oct 20, 2010 6:36 AM EDT
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Ted "The Bull" Sares is back at Bad Left Hook today with a memory of a fight from 1958 that he says you must see to truly believe.
* * * * * * * *
I'm like the drunk in the bar who wants just one more for the road.
-- Archie Moore
The first time he [Durelle] put me down, I hit my head first, then my feet. I was laying there, and I thought, "Wow, this guy can hit."
--Moore
How would you like to watch an entire fight with the ebb and flow of the last round of Castillo-Corrales? How would you like to watch one of the greatest fights of all time?
The 1958 classic between the great Archie "Old Mongoose" Moore and 4-to-1 underdog Yvon "The Fighting Fisherman" Durelle made Durelle a Canadian legend and earned him cult status for his performance in one of the most memorable fights of all time. The fight, held in Montreal, was one of the first to be broadcast coast-to-coast on American television. At stake was Moore's World Light Heavyweight Title.
In a momentum-shifting, back-and-forth brawl that all hardcore boxing fans must see to believe, the rugged and muscular French-Canadian decked the "Mongoose" an incredible three times in a shocking first round with crunching rights (though the second knockdown was part punch and part shove). Durelle appeared to be on his way to a certain stoppage victory. But he missed an opportunity when, after the first knockdown, he stood over the groggy Archie watching for several seconds before returning to his corner. As a result, the referee had to wait before beginning the count. The badly hurt Moore just made it to his feet at the count of nine and somehow managed to weather the subsequent storm and survive the round, but he had been beaten from pillar to post.
Incredibly, the crafty Moore began to work his way back ever-so-slowly, particularly in the 4th. For some reason (maybe due to bad advice from his corner) Durelle did not pursue his advantage and became more cautious. But then the Canadian swarmed all over the "Mongoose" in the 5th round and decked him again with a short vicious right. Still, Archie would not fold. The blows being thrown were of the pier six varieties. Each knockdown shot was a "haymaker," each was malevolent, but Archie always got back up. Somehow, he weathered the onslaught.
Durelle became visibly discouraged by Archie's resolve. More importantly, he was tiring...his arms grown weary from clubbing Moore like he was beating a rug. Durelle had made a fatal mistake by letting the Mongoose off the hook. Now it was Archie Moore who slowly took control and began to put some hurt on the tough challenger.
The cagey Moore knew every trick in the book and used every one of them to come back from the brink. Durelle finally went down in the seventh and then again in the tenth round when he was saved by he bell. Mixing up his attack with lefts and rights, Archie then settled matters once and for all in the eleventh when he finished the spent Canadian with two withering knockdowns -the second and last triggered by a savage right as the crowd watched in disbelief. In all, eight knockdowns occurred in the fight. This classic gave new meaning to the words "courage" and "comeback," and thankfully I remember it. I was 20 at the time.
Archie "The Old Mongoose" Moore ended his career with a slate of 183 - 24 - 10 with an astounding 131 KO's. He fought for an incredible 27 years and knocked out more opponents than anyone else in the history of boxing. However, final stats vary from source to source. He became the light heavyweight champion at the age of 39 and is the only man to have fought both Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali. And get this: he fought 61 times against Top Ten fighters and 15 times against future Hall of Famers. In 1990, he became a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, being one of the original members of the Hall. Over the years, he received awards and dedications too numerous to cite here.
Durrell's record ended at 90 wins, 51 by knockout, against 24 losses and two draws. Between 1971 and 1989 he would be inducted in both the New Brunswick and Canadian Sports Halls of fame, as well as being the subject of a book, The Fighting Fisherman, by Raymond Fraser in 1981.
Yvonne Durelle died at age 77 of a stroke on Christmas day in a hospital in Moncton. He also suffered from Parkinson's disease. Archie Moore died of heart failure in 1998, four days shy of his 85th birthday, with his eight children by his side.
Thanks for the great memories. May you both Rest in Peace.
Take a tour of the author's site at www.tedsares.com and view the many new photos.
Check out the fight after the jump!
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Wow!!!!!!!!!
thank you for the link—I see I’ll have to go back to Phil’s “Fights You Just Have to Watch Again…” and add to my list!
If love would die along with death, this life wouldn't be so hard--Andrew Vachss
From the one and only Ray Gordon Reid via email
GOODWEDNESDAY TED YVONDURRELLE ARCHIE MONGGOSSEMOORE THE LEGEND RAYGORDONREID WAY CROSS GAJAN1/11/1955 A ANOTHER FANTASIC ARTICLE DONE THE BY THE MASTER MOST OF US BACKTHEEN STILLCANT BELIVE HOW ARCHIECAMEBACK BEIBNG KNOCKDOWN 4TIMES BEST FIGHT OF1958 JEAN PASCAL OVER HOPKINS KING ARTHUR ARABHAM OVER CARL COBRA FROCH
Pray for Nick Charles
Crazy this is your topic
as I just read a book about Archie Moore’s career and man is he underrated. I consider myself a massive boxing fan and a budding boxing journalist and I knew of Moore but the guy was a wonder in the ring. Knew every trick in the book and fought at the world level until his 50’s (depending on who you ask haha). He is one of the all time underapperiacted fighters when people talk about the greats.
He had everything. Skill, defense, power, stamina, courage. He was the perfect Killing Machine.
Jersye Joe was the perfect cuite. Man, his shuffle step backwards was a joy to watch as was his left hook. These two guys offer the blueprint for anyone who wants to learn how to box,
Pray for Nick Charles
His KO of Charles
was perfection.
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on Oct 20, 2010 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions
i have both of the fights between this pair and they’re great. the old mongoose along with Harry Greb is one of my favorite old timers. crazy to think he even fought Ali.
Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei. Basillio. Harry Greb.
by theworldsoldestsport on Oct 20, 2010 11:56 AM EDT reply actions
Nice stuff, Ted
Regardless of Ezzard Charles, to me Moore is the top Light-Heavy. A phenomenon.
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on Oct 20, 2010 12:24 PM EDT reply actions
Archie is the perfect riposte to your old-timer article, Ted.
There’s nothing old-timer aboout him in skills, ringcraft or fitness except he could go 15 rounds whereas the babies of today can barely go 12. If that’s old-time, give me back the past.
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on Oct 20, 2010 12:28 PM EDT reply actions
100 % correct!!!
Get away with offers of new wheelchairs, just give me the new Cleto-Reyes instead!
"We are not made to pocket trivial things in an effortless way, but to reach for higher destinations with blood, sweat and tears."
by Ancient Warrior on Oct 20, 2010 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Sir Ted
I’ve not scored it round by round myself but who do you have ahead on points between Marciano and Walcott (first fight) after 12 rounds?
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on Oct 20, 2010 12:32 PM EDT reply actions
Ted, you never cease to amaze me with your writting ability. Everytime you post a story i can visualize it. Especially the old fights. I can see those warriors in my mind’s eye from the films I used to study to get some pointers for my own fights. Unfortunately, Fighters like Moore and Durelle will never be seen again. The courage and tenacity these men, and many others like them, displayed were of an era that is now history.
Randy, i do believe that Marciano was well behind on points when he fought Walcott the first time. If you read the bio on Marciano, he could only win by knockout.
Cheers.
I’ll just await Ted’s reply and look again. I just recall JJW controlling it all so well and so economically but without seriously hurting Rocky (apart from the flash KD). It was a great fight with that stunning, literally, ending. I’m glad that Jersey Joe finally won the title. He deserved it. Mind you, he made a shit referee.
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on Oct 20, 2010 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Mu God, that just mught be Guy The Rock Casele posting. One of my favorite fighters.
I am humbled.
Pray for Nick Charles
Yes I was. I was a junior at LFC and playing some pretty darn good baseball. That was my best year ever re
baseball.
Pray for Nick Charles
Rhythm, it's all in the rhythm.
He was a true master, old Archie. I love his punch choices. The old one-two, the occasional right hand lead, the short left-hook as his opponent attacks, the long left jab turned into a hook from a distance. Reminds me of someone……hmmm. Plus he picks his punches so well and boxes on the retreat. Plus after a right-cross he quickly whips in another smart jab to keep his man off balance. Exquisite. Some get stiff watching Tyson scramble some guy’s brains. Old Archie keeps my pecker primed. Did I just type that? Oh, well.
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on Oct 20, 2010 1:26 PM EDT reply actions
Top Man, (again) Ted!
Great read, and I’ll watch those links when I get back from the boozer. I almost don’t want to go for a pint now… almost ;-)
by Phill on Oct 20, 2010 2:52 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Did Durelle damage his right in the first round?
He barely throws it in the second even when Archie’s open to one.
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on Oct 20, 2010 3:42 PM EDT reply actions
Not that I am aware of. He was very tired in the second round, But he came back
strong in the fifth and decked the Mongoose with a short right cruncher.
Luck is beining prepared when opportunity presents itself.
Ted, just watched the whole thing. Awesome fight.
Thanks for the links. Old-Time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on Oct 20, 2010 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I think you're right.
The pace of the later rounds was amazing. What is is with Round 9s? A bit of Gatti-Ward in there.
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on Oct 20, 2010 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Respect to both fighters.
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on Oct 20, 2010 4:09 PM EDT reply actions
Reposting Ancient Warrior's comment:
Good to see these two great warriors fighting. No other lightheavy could compare with The Old Mongoose. Incredible career. Watch todays fights with color and sound turned off! And You realize what a great influence the presentation has. Imagine the old timers fights shown in great colors, the remarkable punches and moves in super-slow-motion and repeated 5 to 8 times fast and in slomo!
I tried to realize all the moves and punches, but I still can´t see everything what would be needed to understand all the things what was going on in this fight down to the last move.
But how could that man punch! Great skills and ring generalship! Can You name one single light-heavy form the last 30 years who could come near?
May Archie and Yvonne rest in peace! They never will be forgotten as long as men´ll put on gloves!
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Michael Spinks
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on Oct 20, 2010 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Roy Jones
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on Oct 20, 2010 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Moore vs Durelle
This is one fight if you watched it like I did you’ll never forget. How many times to the old Mongoose get up? Durelle was getting tired of hitting him. Who said heavyweights can’t be exciting?
MOORE
Archie is vastly under rated today. He was a boxing master who had the KO punch in either hand. We may never see another fighter with Archie’s blend of skill and power. He was able to beat the top men in his division when he was close to 50 years old. It is a crime that he was kept from a title shot unti he was 39 but even at that age he was not denied a victory. Ted, you have done a great job of putting Archie Moore’s skills into words. THANKS FROM TEXAS
I have to credit Durelle
He was a massive underdog and fought with so much passion. Losing to Ageless Archie was no disgrace, that’s for sure.
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on Oct 20, 2010 6:49 PM EDT reply actions
The fight earned him cult status in Canada
Luck is beining prepared when opportunity presents itself.
Well deserved!
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on Oct 20, 2010 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Taling of Old-Time, I'm just sat in front of the Stax Story on DVD.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Otis Redding has got to be the lost-est megastar of all time.
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on Oct 20, 2010 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Otis Redding sang like an insane person. I mean that in the best way. Did you ever hear the split record of Jimi Hendrix and Otis at the Monterrey Pop Festival? Jimi is pretty damn great, and then side two is Otis just burning it down.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Oct 20, 2010 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Otis Redding Was Great
If love would die along with death, this life wouldn't be so hard--Andrew Vachss
Particularly when he was on the Dock of the Bay.
Luck is beining prepared when opportunity presents itself.
here's what I mean by "sang like an insane person"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHXutgxpjgU
That Monterey set is so great.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on Oct 20, 2010 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Moore’s lefthook was a thing of sheer beauty. And what a tough and talented SOB Durelle was. He must have wondered for the rest of his days how on earth Moore withstood all those shots. A true classic. Watching Moore, I can’t help but think that Ali must have been a fan/student. I swear I can see some Moore in the style of early Ali/Clay.
I see that too.
However, I don’t think that ‘Clay’ was at Moore’s training camp long enough to absorb a lot of Moore’s style. Archie had him sweeping up and such-like, as he did all his fighters, and he (Clay) felt he was too special to do that. He just wanted to train and box. But Ali sure has a similar left hook, to my mind.
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on Oct 21, 2010 3:12 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah, i read a clip of moore talking about clay, moore had a barn basically, as a gym, and clay wasn’t into doing the grunt work around a gym like the sweeping referenced above.
Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei. Basillio. Harry Greb.
by theworldsoldestsport on Oct 21, 2010 11:36 AM EDT reply actions
Good Actor Too
Archie received high praise in literary circles for his sympathetic portrayal of Jim in the 1960 film adapation of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, directed by Michael Curtiz.
by Junkballpitcher on Oct 21, 2010 4:52 PM EDT reply actions
Sticking to a Theme
Another, perhaps less obvious, gauge of a fighter’s greatness is his ability to inspire the great writers of his time. Norman Mailer wrote best about boxing when he wrote about Ali. For AJ Liebling, it was Archie Moore. His comparisons of Moore to the devil in his fifth fight against Johnson and to Ahab when he fought Marciano stick with you like a Micky Ward hook to the body. (My favorite quote from Liebling on Moore comes from his descriptions of round 11 in Johnson V: “Both men looked tired, but Moore looked mean-tired behind his whiskers, like Mephistopheles on a hot night.” Does it get better than that?)
by Junkballpitcher on Oct 21, 2010 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions
And a nice all-around man who gave back to the San Diego community.
Luck is beining prepared when opportunity presents itself.
If you haven’t seen it in a while, I just finished watching Marciano v Moore. Obviously, Moore was pushing 40 and was fighting above his natural weight, but damn, Marciano was like a 185lb Aaron Pryor: Relentless; the guy never stopped throwing punches, big, heavy punches. What a privilege to be able to watch two giants go toe to toe. The head movement and feinting alone is like a master class in boxing defense.
I have RELUCTANTLY
agreed to my warning. I swear, I’ll NEVER get ANOTHER warning from BLH!
MR.BILL
Bill Petersen
MR.BILL
Raleigh, N.C.
Hey, MrBill
Stay with us, mate!
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on Oct 22, 2010 7:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Seconded
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Here Here Randolph
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. " Hunter S Thompson.
Thank you for your cooperation. Yoy are needed on these threads. You have many
fans who appreciate your humor—not to metion your knowledge of boxing and your 100% right first time index when it comes to history.
Luck is beining prepared when opportunity presents itself.
But your pick of movies and food sucks to the base.
Luck is beining prepared when opportunity presents itself.
True dat.
Don't tell me I play bum notes - I KNOW!
by Randy Loathsome on Oct 22, 2010 7:52 AM EDT up reply actions
How Moore won that fight
Is beyond me. The advantage of experience, Moore knew what to do when he was hurt. Archie actually came to Australia in March 1940 and had 7 fights in 6 months against Australia’s best middleweights, winning them all. My grandfather saw him fight and always rated him the best fighter he saw with his own two eyes. How good must Charley Burley have been ? I was sussing the Mongooses record and noted that he had 6 fights with a bloke named Jack Chase aka Young Joe Louis who also had 4 fights with Holman Williams and 3 fights with Burley . Know anything about him Ted? Cheers All .
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. " Hunter S Thompson.
I have BOTH
fight with “Moore and Durelle” from ’58 and ’59… Fight # 1 is a classic; Moore was simply caught cold, thus, he was nearly dusted too… However, he finally warmed-up a bit and found his groove… Moore KO 11 Durelle….
Fight # 2 was a huge letdown… Yvon Durelle was actually exposed here… He had no luck in the rematch and was waxed by Moore inside 3 rds…
By the 1960s, Moore was getting old and beginning to faded… Moore looked 100 yrs old against the 20 year old Cassius Clay out in L.A. in 1962… Moore fell in 4…
MR.BILL
Bill Petersen
MR.BILL
Raleigh, N.C.
Moore was great at 175, but
only very good as a heavyweight upward of 190 pounds… Moore was not very fast on his feet… Moore had trouble with top-notch boxers who were fleet of foot… Since Moore liked to punch, he preferred a dude who came to trade and rumble… Moore could fall behind on points if forced to chase / hunt his man down…
Ezzard Charles’ style was a nightmare for Moore…
Moore preferred Marciano’s style, but Moore wasn’t as strong as Rocco, and Moore was beaten down inside 9 rds in ’55…
I don’t think Moore would do well with Jersey Joe Walcott, either… Walcott was too slick and shifty for the stalking Moore…. Walcott’s style gives Moore fits…
MR.BILL
Bill Petersen
MR.BILL
Raleigh, N.C.
Wlacott was a cutie. I loved to watch him.I tried to fight like him...with limited success.
Luck is beining prepared when opportunity presents itself.
I'd love to see dream fights of:
“Dempsey-Marciano”
“Tunney-Charles”
“Baer-Liston”
“Johnson-Louis”
“Ali-Louis”
These fights in a time machine would float my boat BIG TIME!!
MR.BILL
Bill Petersen
MR.BILL
Raleigh, N.C.
OH!
“Archie Moore vs. Dwight M. Qawi” is a diamond cutter on paper… I’m talkin’ 1952 Moore vs. 1982 / ’83 Qawi… BOING!!
MR.BILL
Bill Petersen
MR.BILL
Raleigh, N.C.
Moore--
should be in most anyone’s top ten favorite fighters.
Mr. Sares is right: Moore + Walcott = a boxing primer.
Thanks for the great article,
what an awesome fight.
"That wasn't just winning. I mean, that was just demolishment."
I quote Old Hops post Tarver
"I just used the moves of Jersey Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles and [Archie] the Mongoose Moore, to keep him spinning and rolling my shoulders and get out of there," explained Hopkins.
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me. " Hunter S Thompson.
I think Tarver at 221
BEATS “The Hopper” in 2010…… Tarver at 175 back in ‘06 was a limp dick in that ring… Tarver is a tad too puffy as high as 221, but 208 to 210 would be fine for Tarver in 2011… I can’t see the finely tuned B-Hops going higher than 190…
Tarver ain’t gonna do jackshit as a heavy in 2011, but he does look well fed these days…
MR.BILL
Bill Petersen
MR.BILL
Raleigh, N.C.
GO TEXAS!!!
Bill Petersen
MR.BILL
Raleigh, N.C.
I recently saw
Buzzard Charles chop-up Rexall Layne from 1953 or ’54 on ESPN Classics… I think it was their 3rd meeting… I gotta check them facts / stats before I swear by it… But giving Charles praise for being able to slice and dice a solid 200 pound farm boy from Utah is a bit much… Layne was tuff and rugged as a one dollar steak in a coffee shop, but he lacked finess, savvy and skills… Charles was way too seasoned for Layne…. A good win for Charles; not a great win…
MR.BILL
Bill Petersen
MR.BILL
Raleigh, N.C.
I saw some of Rex's fights when I was a kid. He was one tough mother.
Luck is beining prepared when opportunity presents itself.
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