Mike Rossman
Encyclopedia
Mike Rossman is an American former world champion boxer
. He is of Jewish/Italian origin, which led to his monikers "The Kosher Butcher" and "The Jewish Bomber." He finished his professional boxing career in 1983 with a record of 44–7–3, with 27 knockouts.
. His real name is Michael Albert DePiano – Rossman is his mother's maiden name, which he uses rather than his father's as part of an 'appeasement agreement.' Rossman's father was Italian, and his mother Jewish.
He began boxing at the age of 14, and had 23 amateur bouts before turning pro on August 10, 1973. Illegally, he won 22 pro fights in a row (he was not yet the requisite age
to be a pro boxer).
Rossman beat such standouts as Mike Nixon, Mike Quarry
(twice), Christy Elliott, and Gary Summerhays before getting a shot at the light heavyweight championship of the world against Argentine
Victor Galindez
.
The championship
was contested in a bout on the undercard of an Ali
-Spinks
rematch in September 1978. The bout was in front of the largest crowd ever up to that time to see a bout indoors. Many thought Galindez would defeat him, but Rossman opened up cuts over Galindez's eyes and continued fighting until near the end of the 13th round, when the referee stopped the fight, and Rossman became world champion.
Rossman made one successful defense before his hometown Philadelphia fans in December of the same year, stopping Italian challenger Aldo Traversaro in the fifth round after opening a wound on Aldo's forehead with a left hook.
Later, after losing the title back to Galindez in 1979 (see below), his career declined as he lost several matches; he never again fought a title match. He fought into the early 1980s, and perhaps the biggest name he faced in post-championship status was the upstart Dwight Braxton
(today known as Dwight Muhammad Qawi), who defeated him in seven rounds in May 1981.
With Rossman perhaps still fretting about boxing politics, Galindez was focused on regaining the title, and was able to defeat Rossman. Rossman apparently broke his right hand during the bout, severely limiting his boxing ability. The pain became worse over the course of the fight, and unbearable to a point where Rossman told his father-manager after the ninth round that he could not continue. Galindez was thus able to reclaim the championship.
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...
. He is of Jewish/Italian origin, which led to his monikers "The Kosher Butcher" and "The Jewish Bomber." He finished his professional boxing career in 1983 with a record of 44–7–3, with 27 knockouts.
Life and career
Rossman was born in Turnersville, New JerseyTurnersville, New Jersey
Turnersville is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Washington Township, in Gloucester County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 3,867. It is named after the Turner family, one of the original families of Washington Township...
. His real name is Michael Albert DePiano – Rossman is his mother's maiden name, which he uses rather than his father's as part of an 'appeasement agreement.' Rossman's father was Italian, and his mother Jewish.
He began boxing at the age of 14, and had 23 amateur bouts before turning pro on August 10, 1973. Illegally, he won 22 pro fights in a row (he was not yet the requisite age
Ageing
Ageing or aging is the accumulation of changes in a person over time. Ageing in humans refers to a multidimensional process of physical, psychological, and social change. Some dimensions of ageing grow and expand over time, while others decline...
to be a pro boxer).
Rossman beat such standouts as Mike Nixon, Mike Quarry
Mike Quarry
Mike Quarry born in Bakersfield, California, was a light heavyweight boxer. He had a record of 63-13-6 including 17 knockouts during his career, which began in 1969 and ended in 1982....
(twice), Christy Elliott, and Gary Summerhays before getting a shot at the light heavyweight championship of the world against Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
Victor Galindez
Víctor Galíndez
Víctor Emilio Galíndez was an Argentine boxer who was the third Latin American to win the world Light Heavyweight championship, after Puerto Rico's José Torres and Venezuela's Vicente Rondon.Galíndez was born in Vedia in the Leandro N...
.
The championship
Championship
Championship is a term used in sport to refer to various forms of competition in which the aim is to decide which individual or team is the champion.- Title match system :...
was contested in a bout on the undercard of an Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
-Spinks
Leon Spinks
Leon Spinks is a former American boxer. He had an overall record of 26 wins, 17 losses and 3 draws as a professional, with 14 knockout wins, and was the former World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association heavyweight champion of the world...
rematch in September 1978. The bout was in front of the largest crowd ever up to that time to see a bout indoors. Many thought Galindez would defeat him, but Rossman opened up cuts over Galindez's eyes and continued fighting until near the end of the 13th round, when the referee stopped the fight, and Rossman became world champion.
Rossman made one successful defense before his hometown Philadelphia fans in December of the same year, stopping Italian challenger Aldo Traversaro in the fifth round after opening a wound on Aldo's forehead with a left hook.
Later, after losing the title back to Galindez in 1979 (see below), his career declined as he lost several matches; he never again fought a title match. He fought into the early 1980s, and perhaps the biggest name he faced in post-championship status was the upstart Dwight Braxton
Dwight Muhammad Qawi
Dwight Muhammad Qawi is a former world boxing champion in the light heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions...
(today known as Dwight Muhammad Qawi), who defeated him in seven rounds in May 1981.
Rossman vs. Galindez championship rematch
In February 1979, Rossman participated in what is sometimes considered one of professional boxing's most embarrassing moments (at least in modern times). At a scheduled rematch between Rossman and Galindez, Rossman was left waiting in the ring as Galindez failed to appear: the challenger's camp was disputing the neutrality of the judges scoring the fight. After immediate attempts to remedy the situation failed, the fight was suspended, and rescheduled two months later in April 1979.With Rossman perhaps still fretting about boxing politics, Galindez was focused on regaining the title, and was able to defeat Rossman. Rossman apparently broke his right hand during the bout, severely limiting his boxing ability. The pain became worse over the course of the fight, and unbearable to a point where Rossman told his father-manager after the ninth round that he could not continue. Galindez was thus able to reclaim the championship.
Miscellaneous
- Rossman has a tattooTattooA tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
of the Star of DavidStar of DavidThe Star of David, known in Hebrew as the Shield of David or Magen David is a generally recognized symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism.Its shape is that of a hexagram, the compound of two equilateral triangles...
on the calf of his right leg (ironically contradicting the Jewish commandment613 mitzvotThe 613 commandments is a numbering of the statements and principles of law, ethics, and spiritual practice contained in the Torah or Five Books of Moses...
against tattoos). - Rossman now lives in Atlantic City, NJ.