Bruce Strauss
Encyclopedia
Bruce Strauss is a former boxer
who is more known for his losses than for his wins. Sometimes he would use the alias of Ruben Bardot to obtain fights. His nickname was The Mouse.
Strauss was a boxing journeyman, title given to fighters who typically fight anyone and anywhere, often on short notice. Nevertheless, he became famous around boxing circles because of the number of fights he lost by knockout
. Officially, he lost 28 fights by knockout, but it has been estimated that, combined with his fights using the Ruben Bardot alias, he might have actually lost more than 150 fights by knockout. He himself has made mockery of his knockout loss number, stating that he is probably the only boxer in history that has lost by knockout on every continent
. Mr. Strauss has, in fact, been knocked out on every continent except Antarctica.Mr. Strauss apparently does not mind mockery at his expense: In a 1990 Kayo boxing cards
set, he posed while sitting on the canvas, with black make-up covering his eye, as he held on to a ring rope. This was clearly a pose and not a photo from a fight, as he looked straight into the camera when the photo to be used for the trading card was taken.
On June 1 of 1976, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
, Strauss debuted as a professional boxer, outpointing Gary Maiza after four rounds. His first official knockout defeat came at the hands of Mauricio Aldana, on January 10 of 1979 at Las Vegas
. He also lost fights by knockout in Africa
(Cameroon
, South Africa
), Europe
(France
, Germany
, Italy
), South America
(Peru
) and Oceania
(Fiji
). It is unclear whether he actually lost a fight by knockout in Australia
or Asia
under the Ruben Bardot alias.
To his credit, Strauss fought a number of top challengers and world champions in the Middleweight division, including Charlie Weir, Bobby Czyz
, Eckhard Dagge
, Al Ford
, Billy Collins
, Mike McCallum
, Marlon Starling
, Nino Gonzalez, Juan Jose Gimenez, David Braxton
, Al Ford
and Davey Hilton, among others. He also fought former world Lightweight champion Harry Arroyo
, and a boxer who was also named Howard Stern.
His last official fight was a six round decision win over Terry Jesmer on November 24 of 1989 in Bismarck, North Dakota
.
Strauss officially had a record of 77 wins, 53 losses and 5 draws (ties), with 55 knockout wins and 28 knockout losses. His 54 knockout wins did place him in boxing's exclusive group of fighters with 50 or more wins by knockout.
In 1997, a movie was released based on his career entitled, "The Mouse" in which John Savage
portrayed him. The film, which also starred Rip Torn
, was written and directed by Daniel Adams, and had cameos from well known boxers Randall "Tex" Cobb, Ray Mancini
, Vito Antuofermo
, Vinny Pazienza and Sean O'Grady.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who is more known for his losses than for his wins. Sometimes he would use the alias of Ruben Bardot to obtain fights. His nickname was The Mouse.
Strauss was a boxing journeyman, title given to fighters who typically fight anyone and anywhere, often on short notice. Nevertheless, he became famous around boxing circles because of the number of fights he lost by knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
. Officially, he lost 28 fights by knockout, but it has been estimated that, combined with his fights using the Ruben Bardot alias, he might have actually lost more than 150 fights by knockout. He himself has made mockery of his knockout loss number, stating that he is probably the only boxer in history that has lost by knockout on every continent
Continent
A continent is one of several very large landmasses on Earth. They are generally identified by convention rather than any strict criteria, with seven regions commonly regarded as continents—they are : Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.Plate tectonics is...
. Mr. Strauss has, in fact, been knocked out on every continent except Antarctica.Mr. Strauss apparently does not mind mockery at his expense: In a 1990 Kayo boxing cards
Kayo boxing cards
Kayo boxing cards was the name of a brand of boxing trading cards that were released in 1991. The cards were named "Kayo" because kayo, being the sound produced when someone spells k.o., is an alternative word to knockout...
set, he posed while sitting on the canvas, with black make-up covering his eye, as he held on to a ring rope. This was clearly a pose and not a photo from a fight, as he looked straight into the camera when the photo to be used for the trading card was taken.
On June 1 of 1976, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
, Strauss debuted as a professional boxer, outpointing Gary Maiza after four rounds. His first official knockout defeat came at the hands of Mauricio Aldana, on January 10 of 1979 at Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. He also lost fights by knockout in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
(Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
), Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
(France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
), South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
(Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
) and Oceania
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
(Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
). It is unclear whether he actually lost a fight by knockout in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
or Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
under the Ruben Bardot alias.
To his credit, Strauss fought a number of top challengers and world champions in the Middleweight division, including Charlie Weir, Bobby Czyz
Bobby Czyz
Robert Edward "Bobby" Czyz is a retired American boxer. A New Jersey native of mostly Polish and Italian descent, he is both a former world light heavyweight and cruiserweight champion.Czyz was born in Orange, New Jersey...
, Eckhard Dagge
Eckhard Dagge
Eckhard Dagge , was a professional boxer in the super welterweight division....
, Al Ford
Al Ford
Al Ford is a former lightweight professional boxer from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.-Professional Boxing Career:Ford made his debut as a professional boxer on October 20, 1967 , a 3rd round knockout win over Joe Hogue, who was also making his professional debut...
, Billy Collins
Billy Collins (boxer)
William Ray Collins, Jr. was an Irish-American professional boxer whose career was ended after he sustained serious injuries against an opponent with illegal under-padded gloves.-Career:...
, Mike McCallum
Mike McCallum
Mike McCallum is a retired boxer. Nicknamed "The Body Snatcher" for his fierce body punching. McCallum won world titles in three weight classes.-Amateur career:Claimed an amateur record of 240-10...
, Marlon Starling
Marlon Starling
Marlon "Magic Man" Starling was a two-time US world champion boxer.Starling was born in Hartford, CT in 1959. He turned professional in 1979. After 25 straight wins, he lost his first fight. He lost a 12 round decision to Donald Curry in 1982. Starling had a rematch with Curry in 1984, challenging...
, Nino Gonzalez, Juan Jose Gimenez, David Braxton
David Braxton
David Braxton was a Linebacker in the National Football League for the Minnesota Vikings, Phoenix Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals. Kozak attended Wake Forest....
, Al Ford
Al Ford
Al Ford is a former lightweight professional boxer from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.-Professional Boxing Career:Ford made his debut as a professional boxer on October 20, 1967 , a 3rd round knockout win over Joe Hogue, who was also making his professional debut...
and Davey Hilton, among others. He also fought former world Lightweight champion Harry Arroyo
Harry Arroyo
Harry Arroyo is a former American boxer who gained international recognition as the IBF Lightweight Champion of the World from 1984 to 1985.- Early years :...
, and a boxer who was also named Howard Stern.
His last official fight was a six round decision win over Terry Jesmer on November 24 of 1989 in Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck is the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. It is the second most populous city in North Dakota after Fargo. The city's population was 61,272 at the 2010 census, while its metropolitan population was 108,779...
.
Strauss officially had a record of 77 wins, 53 losses and 5 draws (ties), with 55 knockout wins and 28 knockout losses. His 54 knockout wins did place him in boxing's exclusive group of fighters with 50 or more wins by knockout.
In 1997, a movie was released based on his career entitled, "The Mouse" in which John Savage
John Savage
John Savage may refer to:* John Savage, 2nd Earl Rivers * John F. Savage Hall, the basketball arena for the University of Toledo* John Savage , actor* John Savage , baseball head coach...
portrayed him. The film, which also starred Rip Torn
Rip Torn
Elmore Rual "Rip" Torn, Jr. , is an American actor of stage, screen and television.Torn received an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 1983 film Cross Creek. His work includes the role of Artie, the producer, on The Larry Sanders Show, for which he was nominated...
, was written and directed by Daniel Adams, and had cameos from well known boxers Randall "Tex" Cobb, Ray Mancini
Ray Mancini
Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini is a retired Italian-American boxer. He held the World Boxing Association lightweight championship from 1982 to 1984. Mancini inherited his distinctive nickname from his father, veteran boxer Lenny "Boom Boom" Mancini, who laid the foundation for his son's career...
, Vito Antuofermo
Vito Antuofermo
Vito Antuofermo is an Italian-American actor who is also a former world Middleweight boxing champion.-Background:Antuofermo was born in Italy, in the town of Palo del Colle, which is located about 15 km inland from the city of Bari. but his family moved to the United States when he was 17...
, Vinny Pazienza and Sean O'Grady.