Evening star., 1952-12-18
Moore Manager
Hoping for Bout
With Marciano
New Lieht-Heovy
Champion Willing to
Give Maxim Remutch
Picture on Page C-3J
BY the Assoeiotsd Press

81. LOUIS, Dec. l8.-Archle
Moore. veteran Negro fighter who
won the light heavyweight cham.
pionship last night at the age OF
SO, promised today he would "put
some life in the division" and
that "any contender who deserve.
a chance will get it from me-"
Moore also indicated he was
agreeable to a rematch with joey
Maxim. the thoroughly beaten but
astonishingly game ex-champion
from whom Archie won the title
last night at the Arena.
While willing to have his fighter
meet Maxim again, Charley
Johnston, Moore's jubilant man
ager. had some other ideas. He
was voicing hopes of a chance
for Archie to take on Rocky Mar
ciano for the heavyweight cham
pionship.
Maxim can have a rematch, but
I'd like to. get Marciano for the
heavyweight title," Johnston said
I'm going up to see Jim Norris
(head of the International Boxing
Club) about 1t today"
Gets Unanimous Decision.
Moore beat Maxim convincingly
and won unanimous decision
There wasn't much doubt about
the eventual winner by the time
Moore's batterlng fists had mauled
the 30-year-old joey for seven
rounds.
Before the sbout, Moore, who
weighed 172Ha to Maxim's 1741a,
was an 8-to-5 favorite. but the
odds shifted to ~ to 5 just before
fight time.
Judge Fred Connell gave it. to
Moore, 87-63. and Judge Howard
Hess saw it 82-68. Referee Harry
Kessler alone had it surprisingly
close. Repeatedly warning Moore
to keep his punches up, but pen
alizing him only once, Kessler
scored the fight 1874.
The Associated Press card had
its 87-63 for Moore. giving the
new champion IL rounds, Maxim
two and calling one even. The
fourth round was taken from
Moore for a low blow.
The crowd of 1860 fans that
f1ocked to the Arena-and paid a
gross gate Of .$89,487 for a new
st. Louis record-also shouted ap-
tproval of the decision. After the
seventh round, it was obvious that
Moore was going to win and
doubtful that Maxim would last
the IS rounds.
Particularly in the 10th did
Moore assert his punching superb
ority. He leaped out of a crouch
and landed a smashing right that
sent Maxim reeling into the ropes.
Only Joey's ability to tie up his
Opponent kept him from suffering
the second knockout of his 12-
year career.
joey Can Take 1t.
That was the big question
throughout the fight. How much
can Maxim take?
Joey showed he can take an
amazing amount of punishment.
He was hurt in every round after
the seventh. And as early as the
first, he was staggered by right
and had to clinch to clear his
head.
In the eighth, Moore opened a
cut under Maxim's left eye. In the
ninth blood spilled from a deep
cash on Maxim's left cheek. He
finished the 10th with a matching
cut on the right cheek.
Time and again, Moore un-
leashed the full fury of almost a
decade of Illustration as the "un-
crowned champion" only to find
Maxim still on his feet. The Cleve-
lander shufled into clinches, took
left hooks and jabs and tried un-
successfully to avoid Moore's jar
ring, sneaky right hand.
At the end Maxim was bloody,
but unbowed.
Admitted Toughness.
The fight was nationally tele-
cast. with only the st. Louis area
blacked out. But whether those
who saw the title bout sat at ring
side, in the balcony, at bar or
in a living room. easy chair. they
have to agree on Moore's ability
to hit and Maxim's ability to stay
vertical.
Moore, too, admitted Maxim S
toughness and conditioning. We:
his promise to other contenders
was a back-handed swipe at his
opponent Of just a few minutes
beforehand to the record-book
ghosts of such former light-heavy
champs as Billy Conn, Gus Les
nevich and Freddie Mills.
For this was but the third title
bout defense for Maxim since the
Cleveland Italian won the crown
(See FIGHT, Page C-3.) &.
|