ARCHIE MOORE VS. ARTUR BETERBIEV ARTUR BETERBIEV VS. ARCHIE MOORE
appearance brings a roar from the crowd – along with cornermen and Saddler, the great former featherweight champion. They all jog to the ring. Their energy is electric. Archie climbs through the ropes while Foreman holds them open. Moore warms up in the corner by throwing beautiful combinations, inspiring cheers of appreciation. Now Beterbiev is called to the ring. The crowd applauds vigorously, as he is extremely popular in Riyadh. He comes out in his black-hooded robe, led by Ramsay. Behind Artur is Ali. The crowd’s reaction is nothing short of complete awe. No one expected this. Beterbiev’s cornermen follow with his collection of belts raised for all to see. Alalshikh is at ringside, smiling. He knew that Ali was Artur’s hero and secretly arranged for the people’s champ to appear. Beterbiev is in the ring and gliding around the ring to excited applause. The spotlight focuses on Buffer. “The fighters are in the ring and they are ready! To the thousands in attendance, and the millions watching around the world, are you ready!? “LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE! “Fighting out of the blue corner, wearing purple trunks with gold trim, hailing from San Diego, California, weighing 175 pounds even, the former undisputed and longest-reigning light heavyweight champion, The Old Mongoose, Archie Moore! “Fighting out of the red corner, now hailing from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, wearing the black and silver trunks and weighing in at 174¾ pounds, the undefeated IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO and Ring Magazine light heavyweight champion of the world, the Chechen Warrior, Artur Beterbiev! “This undisputed championship fight is made possible by His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, with the title belts of the IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO and The Ring Magazine on the line. The judges assigned are Harold Lederman, Steve
Weisfeld and John McKaie, and the man in charge of this world title fight is referee Charlie Fitch.” Fitch calls the boxers to the middle of the ring with only their chief seconds. Dick Sadler is rubbing the neck and shoulders of Moore and Marc Ramsay stands with Beterbiev. “Gentleman, I’ve given you the rules in the dressing room,” says Fitch. “Protect yourselves at all times and obey my
commands. Good luck to you both.” They touch gloves and return to their corners, awaiting the opening bell. ROUND 1 Both fighters carefully circle each other for a few seconds. Artur is using a passive high-glove defense, a ploy to get Moore to lead and commit. Moore does not take the bait and is feinting Beterbiev with his
shoulders and head. Moore snaps out a sharp left jab that drives Artur’s gloves into his face, and Beterbiev explodes on him, immediately attacking with both hands, driving Moore onto his back foot. Archie absorbs the two-fisted salvo, catching some punches on his shoulders and gloves, until Beterbiev loops some hard shots around the gloves and lands flush on the side of Moore's head. The leather exploding on Moore is clearly audible. Moore retaliates with a pinpoint one-two combination that
lands in the middle of Beterbiev’s face. Beterbiev blazes away with both hands in response, including a hard, fast left hand to the body. Moore is rolling under him in close and switches to his cross-armed defense. There is the bell.
Randy Gordon: “Bad mistake with a fighter like Archie Moore.” Dave Bontempo: “I score that round 10-9 for Beterbiev, but I wonder if he can keep up that kind of Hearns vs. Hagler pace.” Gordon: “He’s done it in all his fights. He never runs out of gas.” 10-9 Beterbiev ROUND 2 Beterbiev is on the attack again with hard, short punches down the middle and around the gloves, stiff uppercuts and short left hooks, none of which are telegraphed but are landing and visibly hurting Moore. He is forcing Moore to fight, and Archie is right in the pocket with him, rolling and countering while taking half steps back and to the side. During the course of the round, Moore can be heard talking to Beterbiev. “Good job, son. You’re doing great. You got me with that one. I’m getting tired. If you keep this up, I’m in trouble.” Beterbiev maintains his poker face but is listening, and during a small pause, Moore rattles him with a vicious left
Commentators between rounds: Al Bernstein: “What a first round.
Beterbiev is on the attack but taking some hard punches in return. One thing I notice is that Beterbiev is keeping his head in the center line right in front of Moore while on the attack, leaving himself open for counters.”
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