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I have a rough outline of something. It isn't fully detailed or anything, very rough. This is a bit embarrassing, putting it out here to be judged. Lemme know if this **** will work:
The Grandfathers of Boxing
Historically, boxing has mostly been a young man’s sport; young men fighting for financial gain, recognition, and shot at the world title. The rigors of such a physically violent sport can take a massive toll on your body and mind. You see men in their mid-30’s whose bodies are ravaged from years upon years of training and battles. They take unnecessary risks for one last shot at glory; they risk further damage to their bodies and minds by taking on the challenges of young fighters who are looking to make a name for themselves by adding a once-feared champion’s name to their records. But some fighters take extra care to protect themselves while they are young through honing their defensive skills and treating their bodies as a temple. These fighters are exceptional specimen who come only once or so a generation. Yes, throughout boxing history there have been several examples of men well in their 40’s who have defied the odds and shocked the world by defeating young champions in their prime.
An early example of a fighter who held a world title past the 40-year milestone is Archie Moore. Archie Moore was born in Benoit, Mississippi in 1916, and raised in St. Louis, Louisiana. After a troubled childhood in and out of trouble with the law, Archie Moore began boxing in 1934 as a way to occupy himself. Little is known about his amateur career, but he began fighting professionally in 1938. Over the next few years he compiled a respectable record of 27-5 before retiring in 1941 due to stomach ulcers. His retirement was short-lived, however, and
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he would return to the ring less than a year later at the age of 25. The next ten years of his life would have him fighting, and defeating, many past and future world champions. In 1952, at the age of 36, Archie Moore achieved his goal of becoming the World Light Heavyweight Champion by defeating reigning champion Joey Maxim over 15 hard-fought rounds. Archie Moore would spend the next 8 years fighting top contenders from the middleweight division all the way up to the heavyweight division, losing few along the way to the likes of Ezzard Charles and Rocky Marciano, before being stripped off his title in 1960 at the age of 43. Archie Moore would continue to fight for 3 more years, never regaining the world title.
The 1970’s is considered by many to be the golden age of heavyweight boxing. Many of the most feared and respected heavyweight fighters were active during that time, including the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Kenny Norton, and Larry Holmes. But one fighter, although a highly regarded, large, formidable world champion during that time and known for stunning knockout victories over Joe Frazier and Kenny Norton may perhaps be better known for his later accomplishments in the ring. George Foreman went undefeated during the 1970’s before being upset by Muhammad Ali, who was in the rare position of underdog. After his loss to Ali, Foreman disappeared from the limelight for nearly 10 years before returning to endorse grills and resume fighting as a way to support his church. Although he made hundreds of millions on his grills, many saw Foreman’s return to the ring as a sideshow act; Foreman cashing in on his former glory. His appearance showed a man who was badly out of shape and unready to reenter a resurrected heavyweight division. He started off slowly, facing unknown journeymen
Stout 3
and similarly old fighters, but he was winning. As he compiled more and more wins against increasingly difficult opposition people began to wonder if Foreman really might be back. He would have a chance to show the world he was serious when he signed a contract to fight the reigning undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World, Evander Holyfield, in Atlantic City, New Jersey in April of 1991. Although Foreman started the fight well, keeping Holyfield on the end of his jab, Holyfield would adjust and defeat Foreman in triumphant fashion. Not one to be discouraged, George Foreman worked his way back up to a title shot many times, dropping them all until a new challenge arose. Michael Moorer, who was the IBF and WBA world champion in 1994, saw Foreman as an easy payday, an old man with a name. When Foreman entered the ring in November of that year few, if any, oddsmakers gave him a chance at victory. Their prediction seemed to hold true as Foreman took as vicious beating through round 9. In round 10 the tides began to turn with Foreman unleashing a barrage of punches to his younger opponent. Nearing the end of the round, Foreman caught Moorer on the chin with a perfect right hook, putting him down for the count. Fans and media alike couldn’t believe what they had just witnessed. The prime Michael Moorer had just suffered the most devastating loss of his career to an old man. The victory put Foreman into the history books as the oldest man to ever win a world title at the age of 45. Foreman’s record would remain intact until 2011, when history would once again be made.
Enter Bernard Hopkins, a former convict turned boxing-legend. Hopkins was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1965. Like Archie Moore, his childhood was a troubled one.
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Hopkins was in and out of juvenile detention centers for everything from muggings to robberies. In 1983, at the age of 17, he was convicted to 18 years in prison; he had just finished 11th grade. Released only 5 years later he picked up boxing as a way to start anew. No one expected much of him as a boxer starting his career at the age of 22, but early on it was evident that he had a natural ability. Almost seven years to the day that he first laced up, Hopkins became the World Middleweight Champion in 1995 with a technical-knockout victory over Segundo Mercado in Quito, Ecuador. Hopkins would break his first record by defending the middleweight crown 20 times in the next 10 years when he lost it to Jermain Taylor in a hotly contested match in 2005. Over the next 6 years Hopkins would lose almost as much as he was winning. By 2011, many in the boxing community would call for Hopkins to retire. To them, he had clearly declined in his ability and he was 46 years old. Hopkins would prove them all wrong in May of 2011 when he defeated the WBC Light Heavyweight Champion, Jean Pascal, over 12 rounds in Canada to break George Foreman’s record and become the oldest champion in the history of boxing. Throughout the course of the fight Hopkins taunted Pascal, who was nearly 20 years his junior, by sticking his tongue out and doing pushups in the corner between rounds. Hopkins lost the belt in April of 2012 when he faced Chad Dawson, the number one ranked light heavyweight in the world. Once again from the boxing world were cries of retirement. Hopkins wouldn’t oblige. Never the quitter, Hopkins broke his own record in March, 2013, when he defeated the IBF Light Heavyweight Champion to once again stun the boxing world, and the sporting world in general. Today, at the age of 48, Bernard Hopkins sits atop the boxing world as a testament to the human will.
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These success stories, although few and far between, prove that you can never question the determination of a man with something to prove. Although time will eventually catch up with you, it is possible to halt the clock on certain, special occasions. The boxing world is full of great tales of victory and crushing stories of defeat. These are the stories I like to tell.
The Grandfathers of Boxing
Historically, boxing has mostly been a young man’s sport; young men fighting for financial gain, recognition, and shot at the world title. The rigors of such a physically violent sport can take a massive toll on your body and mind. You see men in their mid-30’s whose bodies are ravaged from years upon years of training and battles. They take unnecessary risks for one last shot at glory; they risk further damage to their bodies and minds by taking on the challenges of young fighters who are looking to make a name for themselves by adding a once-feared champion’s name to their records. But some fighters take extra care to protect themselves while they are young through honing their defensive skills and treating their bodies as a temple. These fighters are exceptional specimen who come only once or so a generation. Yes, throughout boxing history there have been several examples of men well in their 40’s who have defied the odds and shocked the world by defeating young champions in their prime.
An early example of a fighter who held a world title past the 40-year milestone is Archie Moore. Archie Moore was born in Benoit, Mississippi in 1916, and raised in St. Louis, Louisiana. After a troubled childhood in and out of trouble with the law, Archie Moore began boxing in 1934 as a way to occupy himself. Little is known about his amateur career, but he began fighting professionally in 1938. Over the next few years he compiled a respectable record of 27-5 before retiring in 1941 due to stomach ulcers. His retirement was short-lived, however, and
Stout 2
he would return to the ring less than a year later at the age of 25. The next ten years of his life would have him fighting, and defeating, many past and future world champions. In 1952, at the age of 36, Archie Moore achieved his goal of becoming the World Light Heavyweight Champion by defeating reigning champion Joey Maxim over 15 hard-fought rounds. Archie Moore would spend the next 8 years fighting top contenders from the middleweight division all the way up to the heavyweight division, losing few along the way to the likes of Ezzard Charles and Rocky Marciano, before being stripped off his title in 1960 at the age of 43. Archie Moore would continue to fight for 3 more years, never regaining the world title.
The 1970’s is considered by many to be the golden age of heavyweight boxing. Many of the most feared and respected heavyweight fighters were active during that time, including the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Kenny Norton, and Larry Holmes. But one fighter, although a highly regarded, large, formidable world champion during that time and known for stunning knockout victories over Joe Frazier and Kenny Norton may perhaps be better known for his later accomplishments in the ring. George Foreman went undefeated during the 1970’s before being upset by Muhammad Ali, who was in the rare position of underdog. After his loss to Ali, Foreman disappeared from the limelight for nearly 10 years before returning to endorse grills and resume fighting as a way to support his church. Although he made hundreds of millions on his grills, many saw Foreman’s return to the ring as a sideshow act; Foreman cashing in on his former glory. His appearance showed a man who was badly out of shape and unready to reenter a resurrected heavyweight division. He started off slowly, facing unknown journeymen
Stout 3
and similarly old fighters, but he was winning. As he compiled more and more wins against increasingly difficult opposition people began to wonder if Foreman really might be back. He would have a chance to show the world he was serious when he signed a contract to fight the reigning undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World, Evander Holyfield, in Atlantic City, New Jersey in April of 1991. Although Foreman started the fight well, keeping Holyfield on the end of his jab, Holyfield would adjust and defeat Foreman in triumphant fashion. Not one to be discouraged, George Foreman worked his way back up to a title shot many times, dropping them all until a new challenge arose. Michael Moorer, who was the IBF and WBA world champion in 1994, saw Foreman as an easy payday, an old man with a name. When Foreman entered the ring in November of that year few, if any, oddsmakers gave him a chance at victory. Their prediction seemed to hold true as Foreman took as vicious beating through round 9. In round 10 the tides began to turn with Foreman unleashing a barrage of punches to his younger opponent. Nearing the end of the round, Foreman caught Moorer on the chin with a perfect right hook, putting him down for the count. Fans and media alike couldn’t believe what they had just witnessed. The prime Michael Moorer had just suffered the most devastating loss of his career to an old man. The victory put Foreman into the history books as the oldest man to ever win a world title at the age of 45. Foreman’s record would remain intact until 2011, when history would once again be made.
Enter Bernard Hopkins, a former convict turned boxing-legend. Hopkins was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1965. Like Archie Moore, his childhood was a troubled one.
Stout 4
Hopkins was in and out of juvenile detention centers for everything from muggings to robberies. In 1983, at the age of 17, he was convicted to 18 years in prison; he had just finished 11th grade. Released only 5 years later he picked up boxing as a way to start anew. No one expected much of him as a boxer starting his career at the age of 22, but early on it was evident that he had a natural ability. Almost seven years to the day that he first laced up, Hopkins became the World Middleweight Champion in 1995 with a technical-knockout victory over Segundo Mercado in Quito, Ecuador. Hopkins would break his first record by defending the middleweight crown 20 times in the next 10 years when he lost it to Jermain Taylor in a hotly contested match in 2005. Over the next 6 years Hopkins would lose almost as much as he was winning. By 2011, many in the boxing community would call for Hopkins to retire. To them, he had clearly declined in his ability and he was 46 years old. Hopkins would prove them all wrong in May of 2011 when he defeated the WBC Light Heavyweight Champion, Jean Pascal, over 12 rounds in Canada to break George Foreman’s record and become the oldest champion in the history of boxing. Throughout the course of the fight Hopkins taunted Pascal, who was nearly 20 years his junior, by sticking his tongue out and doing pushups in the corner between rounds. Hopkins lost the belt in April of 2012 when he faced Chad Dawson, the number one ranked light heavyweight in the world. Once again from the boxing world were cries of retirement. Hopkins wouldn’t oblige. Never the quitter, Hopkins broke his own record in March, 2013, when he defeated the IBF Light Heavyweight Champion to once again stun the boxing world, and the sporting world in general. Today, at the age of 48, Bernard Hopkins sits atop the boxing world as a testament to the human will.
Stout 5
These success stories, although few and far between, prove that you can never question the determination of a man with something to prove. Although time will eventually catch up with you, it is possible to halt the clock on certain, special occasions. The boxing world is full of great tales of victory and crushing stories of defeat. These are the stories I like to tell.
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