MICHAEL MOORER

     After exterminating the light heavyweight division, Michael Moorer jumped to the heavyweight division with one goal in mind: become the first southpaw to capture the World Heavyweight Championship. On April 22, 1994, the 29-year-old fulfilled that goal by defeating three-time world champion Evander Holyfield to win both the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation heavyweight crowns.

In Moorer's professional debut on March 4, 1988, he displayed his devastating punching power by annihilating Adrian Riggs (TKO 1). Moorer followed this performance by crippling his next 10 opponents. Not one of his victims survived past the fourth round. Unbelievably, all 11 of Moorer's bouts were fought in 1988. His 11th victory over Glenn Kennedy (KO 1), earned him a world title shot against WBO Light Heavyweight Champion Ramzi Hassan. Less than 12 months after turning pro, Moorer was in a position to win a world championship.

On December 3, 1988, in front of a national television audience, Moorer clubbed Hassan ruthlessly for four rounds until the referee was forced to halt the bout. With only 12 fights on his professional resume, Moorer had proven himself to be the most lethal puncher in the light heavyweight division.

Moorer successfully defended his title nine times with all nine resulting in knockouts. Three of his victims fell before the bell sounded ending round one. Nevertheless, after his ninth defense--an eight-round drubbing of Danny Lindstrom on December 15, 1990--Moorer was forced to relinquish his WBO crown because he was unable to make the 175- pound light heavyweight limit. He jumped to the heavyweight division, leaving behind possibly the greatest record in the history of the light heavyweight division--22-0, 22 KO's.

Moorer's long-awaited heavyweight debut came on April 19, 1991, against Terry Davis. Not surprisingly, this bout ended the same as his other 22 bouts: Moorer destroyed Davis in just two rounds. Moorer appeared unaffected battling bigger men. In fact, he dispatched granite chinned Levi Billups in just three rounds, and overwhelmed top-10 rated Alex Stewart in four rounds.

On February 1, 1992, Moorer's knockout streak ended at 26. Despite receiving a brutal beating in which he was floored in the first and 10th rounds, the 6'10" giant Mike White was able to survive until the final bell (W 10).

After decisioning Everett "Big Foot" Martin on March 17, 1992, Moorer lambasted Bert Cooper to win the WBO Heavyweight Championship (TKO 5). However, he relinquished the WBO heavyweight crown after bombing Bill Wright in two rounds on November 13, 1992, in order to make a serious run at one of the three major world titles.

Moorer opened 1993 with an impressive decision's win over former World Champion James "Bonecrusher" Smith, and then followed with twin third-round TKO's over Frankie Swindell and James Pritchard. He then closed out 1993 with a 10-round unanimous decision over world-ranked Mike Evans. His four wins in 1993 brought his professional record to 34-0, 30 KO's and elevated him to the No. 1 contender spot in both the IBF and WBA rankings.

Early in 1994 Moorer's desire to fight for a world heavyweight title was fulfilled when he was matched against WBA/IBF Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield. Under the tutelage of trainer Teddy Atlas, Moorer embarked on a rigorous eight-week training regimen designed to combat the always extraordinarily well-conditioned Holyfield.

Moorer's conditioning and sheer power were evident from the opening bell as he and Holyfield traded combinations. But as the bout progressed something unexpected was happening: Michael Moorer was giving Evander Holyfield a boxing lesson. A piston-like jab, ferocious body attack and terrific defense piled up the points in favor of the challenger. When the final bell sounded, the decision was a formality: Michael Moorer was WBA/IBF World Heavyweight Champion (W 12).

Unfortunately, seven months later in his first defense on November 5, 1994, the unthinkable happened. Facing the most prolific puncher in the history of professional boxing, Moorer was coasting to a lopsided decision victory over George Foreman when he was stopped in the 10th round by a thunderous Foreman right cross. The knockout shocked Michael, but it did not discourage him from fighting his way back to the world championship.

Moorer rebounded from the Foreman fight with an impressive 10-round decision win over Melvin Foster. The victory earned Moorer a June 1996 championship bout in Germany against Axel Schulz for the vacant IBF Heavyweight title.

Moorer dominated Schulz from the opening bell, displaying his superior boxing skills. Schulz was unable to solve Moorer's crafty defense and was unable to match Moorer's rapid combinations. After 12 frustrating rounds for Schulz and the partisan German crowd, Moorer was awarded the IBF Heavyweight Championship.

On November 8, 1997, Moorer surrendered his IBF heavyweight crown to WBA Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield in a heavyweight title unification bout. Moorer hurt Holyfield in the first round and was able to frustrate him in the early rounds with an effective right jab; however, Holyfield repeatedly rocked Moorer in the middle rounds, overwhelming the IBF champion with lethal punching furies. Moorer showed tremendous heart and courage in climbing off the canvas five times, but he was unable to avoid the inevitable: Referee Mitch Halpern halted the bout following round eight (TKO 8).

     On November 17, 2000, Moorer returned to the ring for the first time in three years to stop Lorenzo Boyd in four rounds (TKO 4). 

     On July 27, 2001, Moorer was forced to settle for a technical draw against Dale Crow after an accidental head-butt late in round four forced the referee to halt the bout just :33 into round five (TD 5).  Although Moorer was leading on the scorecards and had been dominating the bout since the opening bell, Michigan law states that a technical draw ruling is mandatory should less than half the bout be completed.    

     On December 9, 2001, Moorer twice floored Terry Porter to earn a fourth round stoppage (KO 4). 

     On February 16, 2002, Moorer launched himself back into world title contention with a 10 round unanimous decision over Robert Davis (W 10).  Moorer nearly stopped Davis in round one, twice flooring the tough veteran with bruising combinations.

     In his last bout on August 17, 2002, Moorer was knocked out by David Tua in the first round (KOby 1).