Description
Any Boy Can. The Archie Moore Story by Archie Moore and Leonard Pearl. 1971 1st ed. 263-pages. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Any Boy Can: The Archie Moore Story is a 1971 collaborative autobiography written by the legendary Hall of Fame boxing champion Archie Moore alongside author Leonard B. Pearl. Published by Prentice-Hall in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, this 263-page hardcover volume includes photographic plates and a complete, detailed record of Moore’s historic fights.
Book Description:
• The Core Narrative: The book offers a sincere, retrospective look at Moore’s lengthy professional boxing career, tracing his path from childhood reform school to becoming the longest-reigning World Light Heavyweight Champion in boxing history.
• The “ABC” Movement: Unlike his earlier autobiographical writings, a central focus of this 1971 edition is Moore’s profound post-retirement pivot toward philanthropy and community activism. The book takes its title directly from the “Any Boy Can” (ABC) program—a youth development initiative Moore founded in San Diego in 1967. The text explores his mission to combat juvenile delinquency by teaching underprivileged children sports, self-defense, structured discipline, and moral values, showing them that “any boy can” overcome a difficult background just as he did.
• Physical Formatting: The standard first edition is bound in gray-blue cloth boards featuring gilt-stamped titles on the spine and was issued with a striking pictorial dust jacket.
J. Karel de Vries (1923–2012) was a legendary South African boxing historian, archivist, and premier book collector. Based out of Cape Town, de Vries amassed one of the world’s most comprehensive and celebrated private collections of pugilistic literature and boxing memorabilia.
Life and Career Background:
Born in Worcester, South Africa, de Vries led an eclectic life. Beyond his towering stature in the sports history community, he was highly regarded as a famed Marine photographer. His credited maritime photographs, often capturing international cargo and charter ships docking or operating around Cape Town, remain archived in historical naval collections worldwide. He was an active member of the International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO) until his passing on April 10, 2012, at the age of 89.
J. Karel de Vries (1923–2012) was a legendary South African boxing historian, archivist, and premier book collector. Based out of Cape Town, de Vries amassed one of the world’s most comprehensive and celebrated private collections of pugilistic literature and boxing memorabilia.
Life and Career Background:
Born in Worcester, South Africa, de Vries led an eclectic life. Beyond his towering stature in the sports history community, he was highly regarded as a famed Marine photographer. His credited maritime photographs, often capturing international cargo and charter ships docking or operating around Cape Town, remain archived in historical naval collections worldwide. He was an active member of the International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO) until his passing on April 10, 2012, at the age of 89.
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