On March 15, 1963 Archie Moore met wrestler “Iron Mike” DiBiase in a boxer-wrestler showdown. Moore was nearing the end of his career and th ematch proved to be Moore’s last career fight. It was the only boxing match for DiBiase. The fight drew a disappointing crowd. The press build up for the fight labeled it as a staged affair. But, it turned out to be legitimate.

 

Moore backed DiBiase into a corner and bloodied him in the opening round. DiBiase tried to counter by turning it into a wrestling match, but that was ineffective. Moore pummeled the wrestler and the fight was stopped and ruled a TKO in the third round.

 

Moore Stops DiBiase in Phoenix Bout

 

Phoenix, Ariz. (AP) An ancient Archie Moore, proclaiming the beginning of a comeback campaign, pounded on wrestler Iron Mike DiBiase for two rounds and 20 seconds last night before the officials called a halt to the match.

 

Moore weighed in at 208 as he launched his 29th year of professional boxing. DiBiase, better known lo fans for his airplane spins, drop kicks and eye gouges, weighed 238 for his first pro boxing match. The one-time Navy boxer, 1946 AAU wrestling champion and post war University of Nebraska all-around athlete, challenged Archie several weeks ago while Moore was refereeing a wrestling match.

 

DiBiase played his usual villain role to the hilt as he strode into the arena amid a roar of boos from an estimated 1,200 persons in Phoenix Madison Square Garden. Moore came in with his arm around a young boy and the crowd had its hero.

 

The villain never had a chance. Moore backed DiBiase into a corner time after time and swung away. DiBiase, bloodied early in the first round, flailed away but connected on few punches, and none fazed Moore,

 

The second round was a repeat of the first, with DiBiase serving as little more than a heavy punching bag for the former light heavyweight champion. DiBiase's most spirited showing was in the clinches, where he tried a few ineffective wrestler-like holds on Moore.

 

After the fight, Moore said he planned to meet Brian London in England May 8. For Moore, who is either 46 or 49 years old, depending on whose records are used, this was the first fight since he was knocked out by Cassius Clay last November, In the official record book, this would be his 228th battle. And, it is the 138th knockout.

 

After the bout, Moore had a couple of verbal pot shots for Clay. Archie entered the ring with an old Army sweater over his shoulders and brownish, baggy trunks. Asked after the fight if the attire wasn't a little subdued for him, Moore replied, "Since Cassius Clay has been stealing my stuff, I decided to come as a peasant. I want to see if he will follow."

Moore said he planned to go to Europe, but might go to Alaska first to give a recital on "The Memoirs of Archie Moore."

Asked if he was writing poetry, Moore answered, "I do not write poetry. Cassius Clay has ruined poetry."

 

It was DiBiasi's first fight and, he said, ''it was my last".

 

 

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