12.10.2022
"Learn from the Fight" moved towards the end of 1958 for arguably Archie Moore's last great moment. The fight is significant for demonstrating how far technical excellence, experience and old fashioned tenacity can go in a fight as well as the dangers of underestimating any opponent, in this case Durelle.
Archie Moore versus Yvon Durelle Undisputed World Light Heavyweight Championship 10.12.1958
Archie Moore was having a good year in 1958. Over the past 12 months he had won eight bouts and drawn one against Howard King. He had been the undefeated world light heavyweight champion since 1952 and defended the title six times. Not the most active in his title defences, Moore had spent a lot of time taking non-title fights and had twice tried for the heavyweight title. This final match of the year was to be his 206th official professional fight and it was anticipated to be an easy title defence.
However, his opponent was a quiet force to be reckoned with. Yvon "The Fighting Fisherman" Durelle was born on the 14th October 1929 in Baie-Ste-Anne, a small Acadian fishing village on Miramichi Bay on the Atlantic coast, Canada, and was one of 14 children. As was the norm in that region, he left school early to work on a fishing boat. However, in his spare time he took up boxing and began taking prize-fighting. His official professional career began in 1948 where he took only one loss of his first 23 bouts, this was a disqualification to Billy Snowball. A large percentage of his wins came via knockout and he became a respected slugger. Durelle won the New Brunswick middleweight title and the Eastern Canada middleweight title within his first 22 fights. He then later won the Canadian middleweight title on 4th May 1953, stopping George Ross in round 12. In the same year, after once successfully defending the middleweight title, he went up a division and took the Claim Maritime light heavyweight title and the Canada light heavyweight title. He defended the latter once successfully and then lost it to Doug Harper before the year was over. Durelle fought Harper in a rematch on 27th January the following year getting a draw but not the title.
The following month he lost a unanimous decision to the future world heavyweight champion, Floyd Patterson in his fight outside of Canada. Six fights later that year he finally won back the Canadian light heavyweight title from Harper. He successfully defended it twice but didn't fair very well outside of Canada, taking another loss to Floyd Patterson where the referee stopped the fight in round 5. He also suffered a technical knockout to Yolande Pompey in round 7 amongst other losses in the UK. In '57 he retained the Canadian light heavyweight championship and won the Commonwealth version of the title. He successfully defended the latter in 1958.
Durelle was known as a reserved and modest man whose out-of-ring nickname was "doux" meaning "soft".
Yvon Durelle was ranked number 3 by Ring Magazine when his fight was set up with Archie Moore. He came into the bout with a record of 78-19-2. He was the 4-1 underdog despite Moore now being almost 45. The Montreal Gazette said that sports fans “snicker when the name of Yvon Durelle is placed alongside that of Archie Moore.” Durelle weighed in at 172 lbs to Moore's 174 lbs. He was 5' 9 1/2" and possessed a 70" reach. The bout took place at The Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
The fight was on 5 point scoring was used whereby the winner of the round got 5 points and the loser four, a draw awarded both men 5. Only the three judges were permitted to score the match. The referee was former world heavyweight champion Jack Sharkey.
Moore would later remark how much the temperature bothered him during the fight. The Forum venue was used for hockey matches and the boards and seating were laid over ice. The champion remarked that it was three degrees in his corner. He came out in the first round feeling very stiff and cold. By contrast, Durelle, having fought the majority of his career in Canada, felt lively from the first bell. His strategy was take Moore out early. He didn't want to give the Mongoose a lot of time.
Round 1 - Durelle came out aggressively and Moore took to the outside. One minute in and the shunting back and forth affair was suddenly interrupted by Durelle landing a short overhand right to the jaw that sent Moore down. At this point, it is argued that Durelle hung around too long before going to his neutral corner for referee Sharkey to begin the count. The shocked champion made it back to his feet at the count of 8. Durelle then clipped him with an uppercut and Moore looked dazed in their exchanges. Archie allowed the fight to move into the corner and onto the ropes as he shelled against the onslaught of heavy punches. He moved out and Durelle pursued him around the ring, trying to land rights. Moore went down again but this time Sharkey ruled it a slip. However, it was little compensation as Durelle moved across the ring to land a powerful one-two combination that put the Old Mongoose down for a nine-count. Moore held on for the remaining minute, putting everything into his shell defence. He came back a few times with hooks, demonstrating he was still in the fight before the bell went. His legs looked rubbery as he was helped back to his corner but assured the referee he was fine.
Round 2 - Moore moved back out and began to look steadier on his legs. His whipping jab was ever-present along with his dextrous shell. Durelle forced the fight for the most part. It appeared that Moore was doing his best to recover from the previous round. By the halfway point it looked like Moore was beginning to regain his composure and strength. Durelle stuck to a power jab and a right, occasionally throwing clubbing hooks when the ranges closed.
Round 3 - Moore drew and set up some big left hooks. Durelle pushed on and even had the champion in the corner again. Moore skimmed off some jabs, still keeping cautious but building up steam towards the end of the round. Durelle swarmed in within the last few seconds.
Round 4 - The round opened with some very active close-in fighting. No clinch as such just closing guards and lots of hook punches. Moore began to step up his offensive and angled more, dropping sharper punches. Durelle's right hand kept threatening as he just missed with a a very hard straight. As the fight remained in the centre of the ring, Moore pulled off a good overhand right. The bell rang and both men hit as it rang.
Round 5 - Durelle drove into Moore, picking up the pace. Moore moved to the outside, using more footwork to pick off shots. Durelle was undeterred he chased Moore with one-twos, connecting and sending the champion down again. Moore was up at six and went to a clinch as Durelle tried to finish the fight yet again. As the fight went to the ropes, Moore began fighting back harder. A clinch was separated and Moore, demonstrating amazing recuperative powers went straight to "sink or swim". Swapping punches in the middle of the ring, he staggered the challenger with several accurate jabs combined with a big right. He was on him immediately with a left hook and another two rights. Now Durelle was clinching to clear his head.
Round 6 - Using a tactic first taught to me by muay Thai kru, Tony Hayes, Archie Moore chose to forego his stool. This was a noted psychological message being sent to Durelle. Moore came out with confidence and was on top on Durelle, landing a good right. Durelle, ahead in the fight but sporting a bloody nose, gamely fought back. It was clear the champion had taken back control of the fight. This didn't mean Durelle was lacking ferocity. He waded in and was warned by Sharkey for rabbit punching and at one point holding Moore's neck to set up a bolo punch. Moore landed some sharp left hooks and scored with straight rights and right hooks too. The champion clearly had better control of the range at this point.
Round 7 - Moore worked the distance well as Durelle became more frustrated, unable to get around the champion's shell. Jack Sharkey warned the challenger again for holding and hitting. The champion jabbed freely from the outside and then burrowed down on the inside. Moore manufactured the pace, scoring regularly and then deflecting Durelle's attacks with ease. With a minute to go Moore started exploding out from his defence. Just after the 30 second mark, Moore circled out delivering punishment off his lead. He then dropped a right that hurt Durelle. It was immediately followed by a left and then a powerful right that dropped the challenger. Durelle was up at three.
Round 8 - Durelle took the fight to Moore but was missing with big shots now. Nevertheless, the two continued to trade at all ranges. This was where Moore began timing Durelle. He countered the challenger's rights with his own. Durelle just seemed to be taking punishment as he circled against Moore.
Round 9 - The challenger went for broke in this round. He pressed forward, trying to maintain a decent guard and even countered more of the champion's shots. Moore was put on the defensive as Durelle pounded away, only getting in a few body shots. The round finished with some even exchanges.
Round 10 - Continuing where they left off, Durelle and Moore got into the trenches. The challenger was bleeding a lot at this point. He took more punishment and he forced the fight to Moore who just kept picking. him off. As the round wore on, The Fighting Fisherman's punches just looked more and more sluggish as Moore's seemed to be picking up momentum. Finally, the challenger's open guard gave allowed Moore the opportunity he needed. He delivered a series of short left and right hooks to the jaw that sent Durelle down for a second time. Sharkey counted 8 before the bell rang, ending the round.
Round 11 - Durelle did not look like he had recovered much from the previous round. Moore rounded on him, delivering a series of unanswered shot that quickly sent the Canadian champion to the canvas. Durelle took the count on one knee and was up at 9. Moving back into the centre of the ring to trade with Moore was a suicide machine as the champion took him down in seconds, although Durelle landed a good left hook before he was caught by the left/right. Demonstrating grit and courage, Durelle struggled to his feet but Sharkey had counted 10 before he got there.
The Canadian Press called the fight "The Sporting Event of the Year" and Moore was awarded the Edward J. Neil trophy by the Boxing Writer's Association. Boxing Illustrated put it on their front cover declaring the match to be "The Fight of the Decade". His victory also broke Young Stribling's long-standing 126 knockout world record.
Yvon Durelle went down in Canadian boxing history for the amazing fight he had with Moore and how close he had come to score a knockout victory. Moore would go on record to say, "As the fight wore on and I got stronger, I thought to myself that this fella was the toughest man I'd ever fought. I turned professional in 1936 and fought until 1965--229 bouts. And I still think Durelle was the toughest man I ever faced."
Many years later where Moore gave talks to schools he would often show the Durelle fight and then tell the astonished audience: “See? No matter how out of it you are, you can always get up, come back, and be a winner. Never give up!”
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