The boxing world lost one of its bigger lights today

For God finally decided to take Archie Moore away

Leaving behind the men he fought with, and for ...

Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, so many more ...



A career which included a bout almost forty years ago

When he was k.o.'d by Ali in the fourth round of the show

Only then, "The Greatest" called himself Cassius Clay ...

Before the draft board came after him, making his day



But then, the man went on to become the biggest name

In boxing history, certainly since the days of Joe Louis's fame

Winning bout after bout with the greatest fighters around ...

Including Patterson, Liston, and Norton on U.S. ground ...



And then, in foreign lands ... Frazier, Foreman, Cooper

Losing only three times in a quarter century - just super!!!

But then a few extra power punches ended his long career

Now he just watches from the sidelines grinning ear to ear



Except today, I'm quite sure "The Greatest" is probably in tears

For he's lost a long-time friend he's had for so very many years

And I'm sure he feels the same sentiment expressed here at the core

May God Bless Archie Moore ... who died today at eighty-four ....



- Tristram



(c) Christopher W. Thomas

11am Thursday, Dec. 10th, 1998