Defeating arguably the greatest boxer of all time is a recognition only a select few have. But to put him into retirement, that’s even rarer. While the world of boxing continues to grow, it also bids farewell to the past legends who helped shape its history. Earlier this year, on March 21, former heavyweight champion and boxing icon George Foreman passed away at 76. Now, a month later, the sport mourns the loss of yet another towering legend.
Joey Archer, a notable middleweight title contender from the 50s and 60s, has passed away at the age of 87. Rick Glaser broke the news on X, stating, “Joey Archer has passed away, top middleweight multiple time world title challenger was 87 years old. Archer beat many top fighters in the 1960’s. His final record was 45-4. R.I.P. Joey Archer.” Earlier this year, in February, Archer had just celebrated his 87th birthday.
Nicknamed the “Irish”, the Bronx native fought in the middleweight division and was the last fighter to not only meet the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson in the ring but also give him his 19th career loss. After the loss at the hands of the Irish on November 10, 1965, Sugar Ray Robinson stepped away from the sport that he had dominated for more than 25 years. Archer’s other notable wins also include triumphs over boxing stars like Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter and Dick Tiger.
Throughout his career, Archer built a reputation for his exceptional technical skills, slick footwork, and a precise jab. While he never claimed a major world title from the leading sanctioning bodies of his time, he achieved notable success at the regional level.
Joey Archer has passed away, top Middleweight multiple time world title challenger was 87 years old. Archer beat many top fighters in the 1960’s. His final record was 45-4. R.I.P. Joey Archer.
— Rick Glaser (@RealRickGlaser1) April 28, 2025
Spanning 1956 to 1967, the New York native amassed an impressive record of 45 wins, 4 losses, and no draws. In 2005, the ‘Irish’ Joey earned a well-deserved place in the World Boxing Hall of Fame, capping off a career that showcased his undeniable skill and lasting legacy in the sport. However, his impact on the pugilistic world is perhaps best defined by the smaller, yet significant achievements that marked his journey.
Joey Archer’s path to beating Sugar Ray Robinson
Born on February 11, 1938, Archer grew up in a gritty neighborhood where boxing was more than a sport, it was a ticket out for many young men. ‘Irish’ was one of those young men in pursuit of greatness. He dropped out of school to pursue the sport, training in local gyms that hummed with the energy of the 1950s boxing scene.
Fighting in the amateurs, he showed immense promise, eventually reaching the Golden Gloves finals as a sub-novice on the same night his brother, Jimmy Archer, won the open division title. This early success filled him with the confidence to go pro when he turned 18 in 1956. It didn’t take long for Archer to win his first 30 fights, where he showed a masterful boxing style defined by speed, a flickering jab, and deft footwork.
He fought mostly in New York and Texas, as he built a reputation as a charismatic, cocky contender. Archer once sparred with heavyweight champion Ingemar Johansson and claimed he could get the better of him after putting on some more pounds. This got him kicked out of the camp. But that didn’t matter because by the early 1960s, he was climbing the middleweight division, facing tougher competition.
Come 1962, Archer suffered his first career upset when he lost to Jose ‘Monon’ Gonzalez via a close split decision. Two months later, Archer returned and avenged his loss to Gonzalez in a rematch, sparking a 15-fight win streak. During this time, he outclassed Mick Leahy, Denny Moyer, Farid Salim, Blair Richardson, Holley Mims, Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter, and even future Hall of Famer Dick Tiger.
His most notable win came in 1965 against Sugar Ray Robinson. Archer floored the aging icon in the fourth round and won via a unanimous decision, cementing his place in boxing history. However, it was the last time Archer would get his hand raised. A win over the legend soon earned him a title shot, which he desperately wanted. He got it when he went up against Don Fullmer for Fullmer’s WBA American middleweight title in December 1965. However, it ended in a loss for Joey Archer.
Despite losing to Don Fullmer via split decision, he still received a shot at the WBA and WBC middleweight titles held by the then-champion Emile Griffith. Unfortunately for Archer, he lost the fight via majority decision, but the fight itself was close, so there was a rematch set six months later. In January 1967, he faced Griffith again, and this time he fell to a unanimous decision loss. Disillusioned with boxing after the loss, Joey Archer never returned to the ring again.
That said, Joey Archer may not be as widely remembered in the boxing community as some of his more famous opponents, but his career stands as a testament to his legendary status. Though he has moved on to the next world, the legacy he forged in the ring will forever live on in the memories of those who witnessed his skill and determination. Do you have a few words of farewell for the Irish?
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