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Philadelphia Pal Moore
(The "Other" Pal)
Although Memphis Pal Moore was once a title claimant and the possessor of a
fine record, he should not be confused with Pal Moore out of Philadelphia.
In fact, the Pal from the City of Brotherly Love may have been the overall
better fighter.
Philadelphia Pal Moore was a member of the famous "Fighting Moore Family"
which included brothers Willie, Reddy, and Frank. He was born Paul Von
Franzke October 1891, in Germany. He began his professional career in 1907
in Philadelphia. By 1909 he had invaded New York and began to draw
attention. By 1910, he had hit the big time. On February 1st of that year he
stopped Henry Miers in Boston prompting ex-heavyweight champion James J.
Corbett who was in attendance to heap praise on Pal. On May 25th Pal scored
an upset six round newspaper verdict over the heralded Jim Driscoll. In his
last five bouts for 1910 he twice met Owen Moran losing a newspaper decision
and then holding Moran to a draw. He then lost newspaper verdicts to Abe
Attel, Harlem Tommy Murphy, and Tommy Langdon.
Pal remained at the top of his game in 1911 battling some of the best
fighters in the world. Win, lose, or draw Moore always gave a good account
of himself. In April the paper had him a loser against Freddie Welsh in New
York. He twice met Harlem Tommy Murphy in rematches dropping a newspaper
decision and then holding Tommy to a draw. He won a clear-cut decision over
Battling Nelson on October 17th in Boston. He gave Nelson quite a going over
in that one.
In 1912 Pal drew with Owen Moran and then lost a twenty round decision to
Jack Britton. He was a newspaper winner over Johnny Dundee but ended the
year losing to Charley White and Joe Shugrue. In 1913, he again lost to
White and had a no contest with Britton. 1914 he again met Dundee. He also
had two battles with Young Abe Brown. On September 7th he met the great
Benny Leonard and lost a newspaper decision after ten torrid rounds. In 1915
according to newspaper accounts Pal lost all five of his fights. Among his
losses was a ten rounder to Shugrue.
By 1916 Pal's career was slowing down and in 1917 he suffered two major
setbacks losing by knockout to Paul Doyle and on May 14th a two round
stoppage at the hands of George "KO" Chaney. He finished 1917 with three
fights after the Chaney debacle. There are no fights on record for Pal in
1918. In 1919 he fought once against Al Thompson. Pal had his last recorded
fight on March 20, 1920 winning a newspaper decision over ten rounds against
Johnny Herman in Shamokin, Pennsylvania. Pal passed away on December 20,
1942 in Philadelphia.
Some other notable boxers that Pal met during his distinguished career were
Knockout Brown, Jimmy Walsh, Tommy Maloney, **** Hyland, Matty Baldwin,
Johnny Griffith, Patsy Cline, and Frankie Callahan.
Although Pal was probably the most famous of the "Fighting Moore Brothers,"
Reddy, Frankie, and Willie carved out respectable careers. Also brothers Al
and Harry boxed and oldest brother Charley was a bare-knuckle saloon
brawler. A special thank you to Joe Cassidy of Cleveland who is Willie's
grandson for providing me with much of the information.
(The "Other" Pal)
Although Memphis Pal Moore was once a title claimant and the possessor of a
fine record, he should not be confused with Pal Moore out of Philadelphia.
In fact, the Pal from the City of Brotherly Love may have been the overall
better fighter.
Philadelphia Pal Moore was a member of the famous "Fighting Moore Family"
which included brothers Willie, Reddy, and Frank. He was born Paul Von
Franzke October 1891, in Germany. He began his professional career in 1907
in Philadelphia. By 1909 he had invaded New York and began to draw
attention. By 1910, he had hit the big time. On February 1st of that year he
stopped Henry Miers in Boston prompting ex-heavyweight champion James J.
Corbett who was in attendance to heap praise on Pal. On May 25th Pal scored
an upset six round newspaper verdict over the heralded Jim Driscoll. In his
last five bouts for 1910 he twice met Owen Moran losing a newspaper decision
and then holding Moran to a draw. He then lost newspaper verdicts to Abe
Attel, Harlem Tommy Murphy, and Tommy Langdon.
Pal remained at the top of his game in 1911 battling some of the best
fighters in the world. Win, lose, or draw Moore always gave a good account
of himself. In April the paper had him a loser against Freddie Welsh in New
York. He twice met Harlem Tommy Murphy in rematches dropping a newspaper
decision and then holding Tommy to a draw. He won a clear-cut decision over
Battling Nelson on October 17th in Boston. He gave Nelson quite a going over
in that one.
In 1912 Pal drew with Owen Moran and then lost a twenty round decision to
Jack Britton. He was a newspaper winner over Johnny Dundee but ended the
year losing to Charley White and Joe Shugrue. In 1913, he again lost to
White and had a no contest with Britton. 1914 he again met Dundee. He also
had two battles with Young Abe Brown. On September 7th he met the great
Benny Leonard and lost a newspaper decision after ten torrid rounds. In 1915
according to newspaper accounts Pal lost all five of his fights. Among his
losses was a ten rounder to Shugrue.
By 1916 Pal's career was slowing down and in 1917 he suffered two major
setbacks losing by knockout to Paul Doyle and on May 14th a two round
stoppage at the hands of George "KO" Chaney. He finished 1917 with three
fights after the Chaney debacle. There are no fights on record for Pal in
1918. In 1919 he fought once against Al Thompson. Pal had his last recorded
fight on March 20, 1920 winning a newspaper decision over ten rounds against
Johnny Herman in Shamokin, Pennsylvania. Pal passed away on December 20,
1942 in Philadelphia.
Some other notable boxers that Pal met during his distinguished career were
Knockout Brown, Jimmy Walsh, Tommy Maloney, **** Hyland, Matty Baldwin,
Johnny Griffith, Patsy Cline, and Frankie Callahan.
Although Pal was probably the most famous of the "Fighting Moore Brothers,"
Reddy, Frankie, and Willie carved out respectable careers. Also brothers Al
and Harry boxed and oldest brother Charley was a bare-knuckle saloon
brawler. A special thank you to Joe Cassidy of Cleveland who is Willie's
grandson for providing me with much of the information.