The Ballad of Davy Moore 🥊

In a little over two weeks, President Trump will be hosting a boxing match to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary on the lawn of the White House. Right now a massive boxing ring and stadium is being built on the White House lawn. Many people, especially those who can remember the death of boxer Davy Moore back in 1963 have a very different perspective on the matter, when the pope came out against boxing and several states started the process passing laws or amending their constitution to permanently end the practice of fighting matches.

Davey Moore’s tragic death following his March 21, 1963, featherweight championship fight against Ultiminio “Sugar” Ramos sparked global outrage, a papal condemnation, and a massive national controversy over the morality of boxing. 

The Fatal 1963 Fight

• The Match: World Featherweight Champion Davey Moore defended his title against Cuban exile Sugar Ramos at Dodger Stadium, broadcast live on national television to millions of viewers.
• The Injury: In the 10th round, Ramos unleashed a flurry of punches that sent Moore falling backward. The base of Moore’s neck snapped violently against the bottom rope of the ring.
• The Delayed Collapse: Moore managed to finish the round, lost by technical knockout, and even gave clear-headed post-fight interviews. However, once in his dressing room, he complained of a severe headache and collapsed into a coma.
• The Outcome: Moore died 75 hours later on March 25, 1963, at age 29. An autopsy revealed the cause was not direct punches, but rather a “one-in-a-million” whiplash injury from the steel ring rope that caused fatal brain stem swelling. 

The Pope’s Comments

As Moore lay dying in the hospital, Pope John XXIII issued a blistering public statement from Rome: 

• He denounced the sport of boxing as “barbaric”.
• He declared that fistfights are “contrary to natural principles”.
• He added that it is “barbaric to pit brother against brother”.
• Following his comments, Vatican Radio officially labeled professional boxing as “an objectively immoral sport” and urged people worldwide to advocate for its abolition. 

The National Controversy

Moore’s death was the third high-profile ring fatality in a single year—following the 1962 televised death of Benny Paret—igniting an aggressive, nationwide anti-boxing movement. 

• Political Backlash: California Governor Edmund “Pat” Brown launched a crusade to ban the sport, initiating legislation to amend the state constitution to outlaw professional prize fighting. Similar bills to ban boxing were introduced in Oregon, Texas, Maryland, and Ohio.
• Federal Intervention: In the U.S. Senate, Senator Estes Kefauver revived bills for strict federal regulation of the boxing industry, calling Moore’s death another milestone of “mistreated human beings”.
• Media Retreat: The backlash was so severe that ABC Network canceled its long-running, 18-year staple program, ABC’s Fight of the Week, pulling live boxing off mainstream broadcast television for decades.
• Cultural Impact: The national soul-searching inspired 21-year-old folk singer Bob Dylan to write his iconic protest song, “Who Killed Davey Moore?”, which pointed fingers at everyone who profited from or cheered for the brutality—the referee, the crowd, the managers, and the boxing writers. 

In 1964, both Phil Ochs and Bob Dylan penned songs about the death of Davey Moore. Pete Seeger would preform that song on his show, Rainbow Quest in 1963.

It was out to California young Davey Moore did go,
to meet with Sugar Ramos and trade him blow for blow
He left his home in Springfield, his wife and children five;
the spring was fast approaching, it was good to be alive.
His wife, she begged and pleaded, “You have to leave this game.
Is it worth the bloodshed and is it worth the pain?”
But Davey could not hear above the cheering crowd
He was a champion, and champions are proud.

Hang his gloves upon the wall, shine his trophies bright clear,
another man will fall before we dry our tears
For the fighters must destroy as the poets must sing,
as the hungry crowd must gather for the blood upon the ring.

And thousands gave a roar when Davey Moore walked in,
Another man to beat, another purse to win
And all along the ringside, a sight beyond compare
the money-chasing vultures were waiting for their share,
He stood there in his corner and he waited for the bell;
the signal of the struggle of two men facin’ hell;
and when the bell was sounded, the blows began to rain,
And blows will lead to hate — hate drives men insane.

Hang his gloves upon the wall, shine his trophies bright clear,
another man will fall before we dry our tears
For the fighters must destroy as the poets must sing,
as the hungry crowd must gather for the blood upon the ring.

The fists were flying fast and hard, the sweat was pouring down,
And Davey Moore grew weaker with ev’ry passin’ round.
His legs began to wobble and his arms began to strain,
He fell upon the canvas floor, a fog around his brain.
At last the fight was over, young Davey fought no more,
He lost the final battle behind a doctor’s door.
And back at the arena, the screaming crowd is gone,
and death is waiting ringside, for the next fight to come on.

Hang his gloves upon the wall, shine his trophies bright clear,
another man will fall before we dry our tears
For the fighters must destroy as the poets must sing,
as the hungry crowd must gather for the blood upon the ring.