By Ted Sares

January 10, 2007 - Sadly, I have just learned that former British empire boxing champion Yvon "The Fighting Fisherman" Durelle  has died at age 77. Family members said he suffered a stroke on Christmas day and also had Parkinson disease. He died in a hospital in Moncton on Saturday. His 1958 ebb and flow classic with Archie "Old Mongoose" Moore made him a Canadian legend and is one of the most memorable fights of all time.  

How would you like to watch an entire fight with the ebb and flow of the last round of Castillo-Corrales ? This one, one of the first fights broadcast coast-to-coast on American television, earned the 4-to-1 underdog, Yvon, cult status for his performance.  

In an ebb and flow classic that all hardcore boxing fans must see to believe, the rugged French Canadian decked the "Mongoose" an incredible three times in the shocking first round with savage shots and appeared to be on his way to a certain stoppage victory. But he missed an opportunity when, after the first knockdown, he stood over Archie inexplicably watching for several seconds before returning to his corner. As a result, the referee had to wait before beginning the count. Moore just made it to his feet at the count of nine and somehow managed to weather the storm and survive the round. Then, incredibly, he began to work his way back ever-so-slowly. But Durelle swarmed all over the Mongoose for four more rounds viciously decking again in the 5th round. Still, he would not fold. The blows being thrown were of the pier six variety.  Each knockdown shot was a "haymaker," each was malevolent, but Archie always got back up.

Durelle became visibly discouraged by Archie's resolve. More importantly, he was tiring...his arms grown weary from clubbing Moore like he was beating a rug. Durelle had made a fatal mistake by letting the Mongoose off the hook. Now it was Archie Moore who slowly took control and began to put some hurt on the tough challenger. The cagey Moore knew every trick in the book and used everyone of them to come back from the brink of defeat. Durelle finally went down in the seventh. And then again in the tenth round. Archie then settled matters once and for all in the eleventh when he finished the spent Canadian as the crowd watched in disbelief. This classic gave new meaning to the words "courage" and "comeback," and thankfully I remember it.  I was 20 at the time.

Archie "Old Mongoose" Moore ended his career with a slate of 183 - 24 - 10 with an astounding 141 ko's. He fought for an incredible 27 years and knocked out more opponents than anyone else in the history of boxing. He became the light heavyweight champion at the age of 39 and is the only man to have fought both Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali. And get this: he fought 61 times against Top Ten fighters and 15 times against future Hall of Famers. "I'm like the drunk in the bar who wants just one more for the road." Archie once said.

Durelle's record would stand at 90 wins, 51 by knockout, against 24 losses and two draws. Between 1971 and 1989 he would be inducted in both the New Brunswick and Canadian Sports halls of fame, as well as the country's boxing hall of fame. He was also the subject of a book, The Fighting Fisherman, by Raymond Fraser in 1981.

Rest in peace Archie and Yvon and thanks for the great memories.

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He was possibly the greatest light heavyweight of all time, The wily "Old Mongoose" Archie Moore. The man who scored 140 knockouts in a career that spanned from 1936 to 1963 never lost his crown in the ring. Although he unsuccessfully challenged twice for the heavyweight title, he did campaign successfully among the "Big Boys" throughout his tenure as a professional boxer. His record reads lie "Who's Who" of boxing history. In 228 recorded bouts, Archie was only stopped seven times, a testimony to his courage and uncanny defensive ability.

Born on December 13, 1913, ( or 1916 to Archie) Moore boxed for years without due recognition. He fought all over the country. He even traveled to Australia and Argentina in search of fame and fortune. After six years on the circuit, Archie began to make his move toward the big time. In 1942, he knocked out Shorty Hogue in two rounds. Hogue had decisioned Archie no less than three times earlier in his career. He also beat rugged Jack Chase and drew with Ed Booker. In 1943, he won two out of three against Chase. In 1944, Moore lost by a knockout to Booker and also dropped a decision to the great Charley Burley. 1945 was a good year for Archie as he lost only two of fourteen fights. He beat Clevelander Lloyd Marshall twice. He was stopped by another Clevelander, the outstanding Jimmy Bivins. He lost a decision to Holman Williams but kayoed Holman in a rematch.

As world champion the legacy of Archie Moore would flourish. He defeated Maxim twice in title rematches. He beat heavyweight Nino Valdes twice, Bob Baker and Bert Whitehurst. He would successfully defend his crown with knockouts over Harold Johnson and Bobo Olson. On September 21, 1955, Archie would get his first crack at the heavyweight crown when he met Rocky Marciano. In the second round Archie sent Marciano to the canvas. Rocky beat the count and lasted out the round. Slowly the tide turned in Marciano's favor. Rocky proved to be too strong for the gritty Moore who finally succumbed in round nine. He kayoed Yolande Pompey in a title defense and on November 30, 1956, he was matched with Floyd Patterson for the heavyweight championship that Marciano had vacated. Although Archie was given a good chance to win by experts the youthful Patterson was much too fast and stopped Moore in round five.

Archie went back to defending his light heavyweight crown stopping the highly regarded Tony Anthony in seven rounds. Moore continued to meet heavyweights in hope of securing one more shot at that title. Archie defeated Howard King twice, Roger Rischer, Willi Besmanoff and Charley Norkus before putting his title on the line. Moore's 1958 bout with Canada'sYvon Durelle secured Archie's place in fistic history. Repeatedly knocked down in the early rounds and then down again in the fifth, Moore refused to surrender. By the middle rounds Durelle began to tire. Archie came on to stop Durelle in the eleventh round to retain his title in a classic thriller. In their 1959 rematch Yvon was a lot less troublesome as he exited in round three. Moore did not defend his title at all in 1960 much to the dismay of the National Boxing Association who withdrew recognition of Archie as a champion on October 25th. Old foe Harold Johnson beat Jesse Bowdry to claim the vacant NBA title. Still recognized be New York State and the European Boxing Union Archie decisioned Giulio Rinaldi in his final title defense. On February 10, 1692, New York and the EBU stripped Archie of his crown. A feat no mere mortal could accomplish in the ring. Finally the ageless wonder began to slow down. Archie still had enough left in 1962 to draw the future protege Cassius Clay. Clay had won the light heavyweight Gold Medal at the 1960 Olympics and had trained briefly under Archie early in his pro career. The brash upstart overwhelmed the aging warrior as he had predicted in round four. Archie had no more illusions of becoming heavyweight champion.

Upon his retirement, Archie did some acting and he also became very involved in helping the youth of America. He started a program called "Any Boy Can" and used this as a vehicle to reach young people in a positive manner. Archie's book which is aptly titled "Any Boy Can" explains Archie's views on helping youth as well as Archie covering his life and boxing career.