I can see how a rising block can work out of a cross armed defense, but I don't see any redeeming points for using that stance.

In Archie Moore's case, I think he was able to do some nifty moves not so much because he made a wall with his arms, but because his shoulders were square to his opponent which allowed him to use both arms to good effect when he would slip to the inside of his opponent's jab. He'd stop his opponent's right hand while coming in and then bang away with the other hand.

And that other one too we talked about Chris where you have missed ,your arm is straight ,your arms extended and they come over the top of it ,so you leave it out there and just turn your center line to face their arm and it stops it dead.
Hmmm, it sounds like a sort of leverage block, like how one fighter's jab can deflect anothers. I like the one you mentioned because of the economy of movement and how it allows you to follow up with a hard right hand.

Good Stuff.