Former British Empire boxing champion Yvon Durelle was in hospital Wednesday in serious condition after suffering a stroke.

Durelle, 77, of Baie-Ste-Anne, N.B., was transferred to hospital in Moncton from the Miramichi Regional Hospital on Christmas Day.

"He's in serious, serious condition," Durelle's wife Theresa said Tuesday night.

She said her husband, who also has Parkinson's disease, is weak, unable to walk and can only speak a few words.

"We're praying and hoping for the best," she said. "That's all we can do."

Durelle, one of 14 children, grew up in the small Baie-Ste-Anne fishing village and emerged a boxing legend.

Dubbed the Fighting Fisherman, he rose through the ranks to become one of the greatest in the world.

His light-heavyweight championship fight against the great Archie Moore on Dec. 10, 1958, at the Forum in Montreal is one of the most memorable in boxing history.

Listed as a 4-1 underdog, the bout made Durelle a legend in Canada, gaining him near-cult status.

In one of the first fights broadcast coast to coast on American television, Durelle stunned boxing patrons by knocking the champion down three times in the first round.

Under boxing rules today — except those of the World Boxing Council — the fight would have been stopped after three knockdowns in one round and Durelle would have been world champion.

He also missed an opportunity when, after the first knockdown, he stood over Moore watching for several seconds before returning to his corner. As a result of his delay, the referee had to wait to begin the count, and Moore made it to his feet at the count of nine.

Durelle swarmed all over the champion for four more rounds and knocked him down again in Round 5. But Moore held on and eventually wore Durelle down to retain his world championship with an 11th-round knockout.