Michael Moorer – who faced boxing greats George Foreman and Evander Holyfield – is in the history books for becoming the first southpaw to win a world heavyweight title
He is also part of an exclusive four-man club of men who had belts at light-heavy and heavyweight. Over the course of a 20-year career, hard-hitting ‘Double M’ had wins over the likes of Bert Cooper, Leslie Stewart and Holyfield.
He first boxed Holyfield in 1994 to win the WBA and IBF heavyweight straps. In his first defence, Moorer was knocked out by George Foreman who, by doing so, became the division’s oldest ever champion at age 45.
Moorer regained the IBF belt two years later and would rematch Holyfield for the vacant WBA but was stopped by order of the ringside doctor after suffering five knockdowns.
Speaking to the Ring Magazine about his storied career, Moorer named David Tua as the man who hit him hardest.
“There was a lot of big punchers. Francois Botha hit hard. Foreman hit hard – at that time he caught me with a good punch. Holyfield hit hard. Anyone, if they get hit the right way, will go. Tua knew how to deliver the power, being more flatfooted than being on his toes and being that he kept a fist. Most boxers keep their hands open, and he knew the way he came in – short, stocky – and he had a good chin, but he could do the hitting as well.”
Tua knocked out Moorer within 30 seconds of their bout in 2002. The Samoan-New Zealand heavyweight is without doubt one of the hardest punchers to never win a world title after losing in his one bid against Lennox Lewis.
Despite never reaching the very pinnacle, Tua had wins over former or future champs Hasim Rahman, John Ruiz and Moorer.
