Boxer Moorer Faces DWI Charges

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

January 25, 1999 / 9:00 PM EST / CBS Sportsline

Former heavyweight champion Michael Moorer faces charges of drunken driving and evading arrest after driving his car into a ditch.

Rutherford County police arrested Moorer, 31, of Boca Raton, Fla., early Sunday morning after he crashed his 1997 Mercedes Benz into a ditch.

Moorer, who lost a title bout to Evander Holyfield in November 1997, had been visiting with his brother and some friends. Police reports show that Moorer became upset while at a bar and drove away.

Moorer soon struck a guard rail with his car. Deputy Brian Guthrie said he tried to talk to Moorer. But the boxer drove away, and the deputy followed until Moorer crashed the car into a ditch.

The deputy reported that he was forced to pull his gun on Moorer, who was very angry and did not want to cooperate. Two friends finally talked Moorer into surrendering.

A hearing is set for Feb. 24 in Rutherford County General Sessions Court.