4. Barney Ross 72-4-3, 22 KOs
Birthplace: NewYork City, NY
Professional Career: 1929-1938
1909 was a big year as the genesis of many things that will develop and become part of everyday life for generations to come. The Queensboro Bridge was opened linking Manhattan and Queens, the first Lincoln head pennies were minted, workers began pouring concrete to build the Panama Canal and Orville Wright tested the 1st U.S. Army airplane. It also began several sports legends as Ty Cobb hit two in the park home runs, the Boston Red Sox traded 41 year old Cy Young to the Cleveland Naps and Dov-Ber Rasofsky was born.
He is better known as Barney Ross.
Ross has as amazing an American story that has been ever told.
He was a first generation American when his parents barely survived the organized massacre of Jews in Eastern Europe to immigrate to New York. They then moved to Chicago where they opened a small vegetable store in the Jewish ghetto of the Maxwell Street neighborhood.
Ross’ father was a Rabbi very opposed to fighting and violence and wanted him to follow in his footsteps. Ross himself planned to become a Jewish teacher and Talmudic scholar until his life took an irrevocable and tragic turn when his father was shot dead while his store was being robbed.
His Mother was overcome with a grief so devastating that his siblings were sent to orphanages and extended family while Ross was left to fend for himself at age 14.
With his world turned upside down and rage filling his young heart he turned his back on the ordained religion of his father and began running the streets with other urchins. He developed into a thief, street brawler and money runner even working for famed mobster Al Capone with the ultimate goal of assembling enough money to reunite his family.
Ross found boxing and it was at this time that he changed his name so that he would not dishonor his father or bring shame on his birth name by fighting which was completely counter to the way he was raised.
Shortly after turning professional Ross began gaining popularity with is iron will, style and tenacity. It is rumored that early in his career Al Capone would purchase blocks of tickets for Ross’ fights knowing that it would help him make some money and help him along his way.
Not only was Barney Ross on the rise but so was Nazi leader Adolf Hitler who heavily promoted anti- Semitic propaganda to further his stranglehold and this made Ross a hero to the Jews and a symbol of strength, freedom and success in the face of evil.
Ross battled his way through the lightweight and light welterweight divisions, winning the world championship in both classes.
Amazingly, in 1935 and his very first fight in the 147 pound division he challenged future Hall of Famer Jimmy McLarin for the welterweight championship of the world.
At the Madison Square Garden Bowl in Queens, NY Ross became the welterweight champion in front on 60,000 screaming fans in attendance via 15 round split decision and one of the very first triple champions in boxing history.
Ross lost the title back to McLarin in an immediate rematch via 15 round split decision, dropped back down in weight to reclaim his light welterweight crown with a decision over Bobby Pacho and in 1935 challenged McLarin again for the welterweight championship in a rubber match.
This time in front of a crowd of 35,000 and with legendary heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey as the referee, Ross regained the welterweight crown with a 15 round unanimous decision.
Ross was determined to hold on to his championship and won his next 17 fights including Baby Joe Gans and three victories over Ceferino Garcia among others.
In his final fight Ross was dethroned in a one sided beating by a prime, all-time great Henry Armstrong. During the fight there were calls for the fight to be stopped but Ross strongly protested against his corner and finished the fight on his feet having never been stopped in 79 professional fights.
His story continues with World War II heroics and overcoming a serious morphine (heroin) addiction as a result of his wounds.
He ultimately accomplished his life’s goal and successfully reunited his family.
Greatest rival: His greatest rival was Jimmy McLarin with whom he was 2-1 in world welterweight championship contests.
