Michael Moorer Biography

Michael Moorer is an American former professional boxer famous for being the first ever southpaw to win the unified IBF and WBA heavyweight titles. Raised in Monessen, Pennsylvania, he began playing football at an early age. At the age of eleven, he began boxing as an amateur under the guidance of his grandfather. He rose rapidly through the amateur ranks and began training under Emanuel Steward. He made his professional boxing debut in March 1988 and knocked out Adrian Riggs in the first round. The same year, he became the WBO light heavyweight champion. He then won the unified WBA and IBF title belts to become the first ever southpaw to do so. He then lost the titles to George Foreman, marking the first defeat of his professional career. He again won the IBF heavyweight title against Axel Schultz, and lost it to Evander Holyfield. In 2008, he retired after winning his last fight with Shelby Gross. In his two-decade-long boxing career, he won forty fights by knockout, garnering a record of 52-4-1 with four losses and one draw. After retirement, he worked as a boxing trainer with Freddie Roach in Los Angeles.