Davey Moore (1960s)
Encyclopedia
David S. "Davey" Moore was an American world-champion boxer who fought professionally 1953–1963. A resident of Springfield, Ohio, Moore was one of two men to box professionally under the name Davey Moore. The second boxed during the 1980s.
Moore died March 25, 1963, as a result of injuries sustained in a match against Sugar Ramos
.
From the beginning of his career through 1956 Moore fought a total of 29 bouts, with a total record of 22-5-1, and 1 no contest. Beginning with his April 10, 1957 fight against Gil Cadilli, Moore had an 18-bout winning streak, ending when he lost to Carlos Morocho Hernández
on March 17, 1960 with a TKO. March 14, 1960, won match against Bob Gassey in first round, as a result of the knockout, Gassey lost all but 2 teeth. It was during this period, on March 18, 1959 that Moore won the World Featherweight Title from Hogan "Kid" Bassey. Moore retained the title through the remainder of his career, defending it successfully 5 times, and losing it to Sugar Ramos
on March 21, 1963.
, winning one by knockout, and then having his winning streak interrupted with a seven round knockout loss at the hands of Carlos Hernández. He fought three times in Mexico that year and then banged a piglet, and retained his title in Tokyo, beating Kazuo Takayama by a decision in 15.
and Rome. He retained his title with a knockout in one round against Danny Valdez
and won three more fights in Mexico before returning to Tokyo to beat Takayama, once again by a 15 round decision, to retain the title in their rematch.
Sugar Ramos
in July, 1962 at Dodger Stadium
but a torrential typhoon-like rainstorm hit Los Angeles on the night of the fight and the fight was postponed until March 21, 1963. It was shown on national television. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric with anticipation, the sound of conga drums filling the air as it was a pro Ramos crowd as many Mexicans came to root for their fighter. Both fighters were devastating punchers and rocked each other frequently. In the tenth round Ramos landed a powerful right hook to Moore's head sending him falling backward into the bottom rope where he struck the base of his neck injuring his brain stem. He lost the fight by a knockout but was able to give a clear-headed interview before he left the ring. In the dressing room he fell into a coma from which he never emerged, dying several days later. There was existing public controversy due to the death of Benny "Kid" Paret
one year before, and Moore's death prompted debate about the dangers of boxing and the possibility of the sport being banned in the United States.
wrote a song about the event where Davey Moore succumbed to death while posing the question of public responsibility. It is titled "Who Killed Davey Moore
?" and was also sung by Pete Seeger
.
Phil Ochs
wrote a song titled "Davey Moore" which told the story of Davey Moore's death and placed the guilt on the managers and the boxing "money men" as well as boxing fans.
A cover of Dylan's song in French was also made by the New Zealand and French writer and singer Graeme Allwright
wikipedia via his song Qui a tué Davy Moore?
The band BoomBox covered 'Who Killed Davey Moore" on their 2005 album "Visions of Backbeat." The modern reworking of the song is vastly different than Dylan's original, featuring rhythm and musical elements of funk and hip-hop.
Moore died March 25, 1963, as a result of injuries sustained in a match against Sugar Ramos
Sugar Ramos
Ultiminio Ramos is a Cuban-Mexican boxer who is better known as Sugar Ramos. Ramos fought out of Mexico where he was adopted as a national hero...
.
Career highlights
Moore made his professional debut on May 11, 1953, at the age of 19, beating Willie Reece by a decision in six rounds. He boxed 8 times in 1953, with a total record that year of 6 wins, 1 loss and 1 no contest.From the beginning of his career through 1956 Moore fought a total of 29 bouts, with a total record of 22-5-1, and 1 no contest. Beginning with his April 10, 1957 fight against Gil Cadilli, Moore had an 18-bout winning streak, ending when he lost to Carlos Morocho Hernández
Carlos Morocho Hernandez
Carlos Enrique Hernández Ramos was a world champion professional boxer. Known professionally as Carlos Morocho, he ended his career following a KO by Scottish boxer Ken Buchanan.-History:...
on March 17, 1960 with a TKO. March 14, 1960, won match against Bob Gassey in first round, as a result of the knockout, Gassey lost all but 2 teeth. It was during this period, on March 18, 1959 that Moore won the World Featherweight Title from Hogan "Kid" Bassey. Moore retained the title through the remainder of his career, defending it successfully 5 times, and losing it to Sugar Ramos
Sugar Ramos
Ultiminio Ramos is a Cuban-Mexican boxer who is better known as Sugar Ramos. Ramos fought out of Mexico where he was adopted as a national hero...
on March 21, 1963.
Boxing Record
Moore had a lifetime professional record of 59 wins, 7 losses, 1 draw and 1 no contest, with 30 wins by knockout.1960
In 1960, he had a two-fight tour in VenezuelaVenezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, winning one by knockout, and then having his winning streak interrupted with a seven round knockout loss at the hands of Carlos Hernández. He fought three times in Mexico that year and then banged a piglet, and retained his title in Tokyo, beating Kazuo Takayama by a decision in 15.
1961
In 1961, he toured Europe for three fights, visiting Paris, MadridMadrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
and Rome. He retained his title with a knockout in one round against Danny Valdez
Danny Valdez
Danny Valdez is the County Judge of Webb County in south Texas, United States. Valdez is the 22nd person to hold the elected office since Webb County was established in 1848. He served four years with the United States Navy and twenty-four years as a justice of the peace before becoming county...
and won three more fights in Mexico before returning to Tokyo to beat Takayama, once again by a 15 round decision, to retain the title in their rematch.
1962
In 1962, he won four bouts, returning to Europe to defend his title versus Olli Mäki, beaten in two rounds in Finland.1963
Moore had a record of 1-1 in 1963. Following his defeat, in the second bout, Moore died of brain injuries received during the fight (see below).Last fight and death
Moore was scheduled to face MexicanMexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
Sugar Ramos
Sugar Ramos
Ultiminio Ramos is a Cuban-Mexican boxer who is better known as Sugar Ramos. Ramos fought out of Mexico where he was adopted as a national hero...
in July, 1962 at Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium, also sometimes called Chavez Ravine, is a stadium in Los Angeles. Located adjacent to Downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium has been the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers team since 1962...
but a torrential typhoon-like rainstorm hit Los Angeles on the night of the fight and the fight was postponed until March 21, 1963. It was shown on national television. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric with anticipation, the sound of conga drums filling the air as it was a pro Ramos crowd as many Mexicans came to root for their fighter. Both fighters were devastating punchers and rocked each other frequently. In the tenth round Ramos landed a powerful right hook to Moore's head sending him falling backward into the bottom rope where he struck the base of his neck injuring his brain stem. He lost the fight by a knockout but was able to give a clear-headed interview before he left the ring. In the dressing room he fell into a coma from which he never emerged, dying several days later. There was existing public controversy due to the death of Benny "Kid" Paret
Benny Paret
Benny "the Kid" Paret, born Bernardo Paret , born in Santa Clara, Cuba, was a Cuban welterweight boxer. Paret won the world welterweight title twice in the early 1960s and died in 1962 following an unsuccessful attempt to defend the crown in what is considered to be the first ring death witnessed...
one year before, and Moore's death prompted debate about the dangers of boxing and the possibility of the sport being banned in the United States.
Cultural references
Bob DylanBob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
wrote a song about the event where Davey Moore succumbed to death while posing the question of public responsibility. It is titled "Who Killed Davey Moore
Who Killed Davey Moore
Who Killed Davey Moore was a topical song written in 1963 by American folk singer/songwriter Bob Dylan. Though the song was not commercially released on Dylan's several studio albums in the 60s, it was popular in his repertoire for live shows during that era. It would later be released on The...
?" and was also sung by Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger
Peter "Pete" Seeger is an American folk singer and was an iconic figure in the mid-twentieth century American folk music revival. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of The Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead...
.
Phil Ochs
Phil Ochs
Philip David Ochs was an American protest singer and songwriter who was known for his sharp wit, sardonic humor, earnest humanism, political activism, insightful and alliterative lyrics, and haunting voice...
wrote a song titled "Davey Moore" which told the story of Davey Moore's death and placed the guilt on the managers and the boxing "money men" as well as boxing fans.
A cover of Dylan's song in French was also made by the New Zealand and French writer and singer Graeme Allwright
Graeme Allwright
Graeme Allwright is a singer-songwriter. Born in Wellington, New Zealand, he moved to France in 1948. He began to perform and write folk songs a few years later and was eventually signed by Sonogram. In the 1960s, he translated into French a number of songs written by Leonard Cohen, Tom...
wikipedia via his song Qui a tué Davy Moore?
The band BoomBox covered 'Who Killed Davey Moore" on their 2005 album "Visions of Backbeat." The modern reworking of the song is vastly different than Dylan's original, featuring rhythm and musical elements of funk and hip-hop.