Roman Greenberg

Roman Greenberg (born 18 May, 1982, in Russia) is a British-based Israeli 6' 3" heavyweight boxer, currently International Boxing Organization's (IBO's) Intercontinental heavyweight champion.

Boxing career

Amateur

Greenberg began boxing at the age of 11, after a friend took him to a boxing club in their neighborhood in Kiryat Bialik. He fought his first match two years later. At 15, in 1997 he won the silver medal at the European junior boxing championships. [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1159193325469]

In 1999 he was the youngest-ever winner of the Israeli national heavyweight title. [http://www.celebritiesworldwide.com/Ones2watch.cfm?Year=2004&ContentID=278] Greenberg picked up a silver medal at the Junior World Championships in 2000 in Budapestwhere he beat Viktar Zuyev 14:8 but lost to Dzhamal Medzhydov (Ukr).

He posted a 47-5 amateur record. Greenberg was knocked out only once, by an opponent 11 years his senior in a national amateur championship match, when he was only 15. [http://www.hotboxingnews.com/NEWS2005/news0602052.htm]

Pro

quote box2 |width=39em | bgcolor= |align=right |halign=left | quote= "Greenberg has the fastest hands for a heavyweight since Muhammad Ali." [http://www.somethingisraeli.com/articles/333_roman_wins_again.htm]
source= — Angelo DundeeGreenberg won his first 27 professional bouts - 18 by K.O.-before getting beaten. He made his pro debut in November 2001, after serving seven months in the Israeli Army. [http://www.boxnews.com.ua/person.php?id=10522&lng=en]

2006

He won the IBO Intercontinental Championship by 6th round TKO against Alex Vassilev in March 2006. [http://ringsidereport.com/rsr/news.php?readmore=1746]

2007

His 25th victory was a unanimous decision over Michael Simms (formerly 19-6-1; 13 KOs) at Madison Square Garden in March 2007, as he got the nod from the three judges, all by 99-91 scores as he won nine of the 10 rounds, controlling the action with his frequent jab, and much less frequent left hook. [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/11/sports/NA-SPT-BOX-Garden-Fights.php] [http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=10198&more=1] [http://15rounds.com/boxing/News/2007/03/ibragimov-031007.php]

Greenberg next defeated American veteran Damon "Dangerous" Reed at the South Town Exhibition Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on August 18, 2007. Reed, 43-11-(5), a former WBO title challenger, had won his last three fights and fought some of the leading heavyweight and cruiserweight contenders in the world since turning professional in April 1995. [http://www.secondsout.com/UK/news.cfm?ccs=228&cs=22423] Greenberg put together some impressive and heavy three and four punch combinations. [http://www.secondsout.com/romangreenberg/newslead.cfm?ccs=460&cs=22574] Reed grappled, kicked, pushed Greenberg to the canvas on numerous occasions, tried roughing him up on the inside with the elbows, spun Greenberg round full circle and punched on break, and at one point tried to choke Greenberg, and was docked points for his illegal moves. In the eighth round Greenberg floored Reed three times. The contest was stopped 43 seconds into the ninth after he again sent Reed crashing to the canvas. [http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m16&SecId=16&AId=54843&ATypeId=1]

Greenberg comfortably out-pointed Southampton-based Irish-born Colin Kenna over eight rounds in London in October 2007. He had Kenna in trouble in the sixth round with a good right hook, and on the floor in seventh from a straight right hand. [http://www.secondsout.com/uk/lukl.cfm?ccs=471&cs=23135] The only time Greenberg "was in any trouble was when his stool collapsed under his sixteen and a half stone frame at the end of fifth round." [http://www.britishboxing.net/news_2815-No-frights-as-Roman-conquers-Kenna.html]

In December 2007 Greenberg underwent a hand operation. He was hampered by an injury to the second and third metacarpals on the knuckles in his right hand for years, and was operated on successfully by hand surgeon David Evans in Windsor, Berkshire.

2008 Brings First Loss

Greenberg lost his first bout against heavyweight contender Cedric Boswell in August of 2008. Greenberg lost via TKO in the second round after taking numerous punches from heavyweight contender Boswell, who won for the 28th time in 29 fights and who is looking for a title bout opportunity.

Boxing style

Greenberg uses an "orthodox" stance. [http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=077065]

He is best at moving his legs, creating angles, and confusing opponents. [http://www.romangreenberg.tv/UK/news.cfm?ccs=228&cs=20958] He has also been referred to as "cerebral," [http://www.romangreenberg.tv/UK/news.cfm?ccs=228&cs=18962] with "lightening [sic] fast reflexes" [http://www.secondsout.com/romangreenberg/news.cfm?ccs=455&cs=18876] , "incredibly quick hands, [http://www.secondsout.com/romangreenberg/news.cfm?ccs=455&cs=16491] and a "solid jab and quickness of fist." [http://www.secondsout.com/romangreenberg/news.cfm?ccs=455&cs=18212] He "has plenty of flashy moves and can escape from a corner and counter as well as anyone in the division." [http://www.secondsout.com/romangreenberg/news.cfm?ccs=455&cs=18212] At the same time he has been described as steady and patient. [http://www.jrtelegraph.com/2006/11/russian_jew_rom.html]

He isn't a power puncher, but more of a technician, whose knockouts come from an accumulation of punches. He has a very European style, as he stands straight up and relies on his left hand to control distance and set up his combinations. [http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=12111&more=1]

Some experts maintain, however, that he is not a big enough puncher to bother the very best heavyweights. [http://www.romangreenberg.tv/UK/news.cfm?ccs=228&cs=20958] He has also been criticized for just doing enough to win rounds and adopting a safety first attitude, but has responded: "When it is time to take risks in a very big fight, like for the world title, then I will be happy to take the risks. But why should I take unnecessary risks in fights I'm clearly winning?" [http://www.secondsout.com/romangreenberg/news.cfm?ccs=455&cs=19562] He has also been criticized for seeing to be "unwilling to maintain a high level of work," and being "guilty of dropping his hands and stepping back to admire his own work whenever he landed a flashy combination." [http://www.secondsout.com/romangreenberg/news.cfm?ccs=455&cs=18212] He has also received his share of criticism for not jumping on weakened opponents, and lacking killer instinct. His conditioning was suspect, he sported a flabby mid-body for the first time in his professional career, and in many of his bouts (highlights of which can be found on youtube) Greenberg was seen showboating with his hands down, at times measuring opponents and not taking his opponents seriously.

Jewish heritage

quote box2 |width=35em | bgcolor= |align=right |halign=left | quote="Through the Star of David, I represent Israel and myself. All through history, the Jews have always had to fight for their freedom and for their lives. When I come out wearing the Star of David, it shows the whole world that the Jews are still here and that they are successful." [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1159193325469]
source= — GreenbergGreenberg is one of top Jewish boxers, the others being Dmitry Salita, the undefeated junior welterweight (28-0-1), and Yuri Foreman, the undefeated middleweight (26-0-0), and former junior welterweight and undisputed welterweight champion Zab Judah (36-5-0). Judah has been referred to in the press as "the best Jewish fighter of all time," [http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:rV69v5ctnMAJ:www.nypress.com/18/49/sports/.cfm+zab+judah+jewish&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=23&gl=us] but there is some confusion as to his religion since in 2006 he thanked his lord and savior Jesus Christ after a fight against Mayweather. [http://youtube.com/watch?v=BpVlaVy12hE]

Greenberg wears a Star of David on his trunks. [http://www.britishboxing.net/img/records/boxers/Greenberg-0016.jpg]

Miscellaneous

*Greenberg speaks four languages - Hebrew, Russian, German, and English. [http://www.celebritiesworldwide.com/Ones2watch.cfm?Year=2004&ContentID=278]

*His brother was the Junior Chess Champion of Israel in 2004.

*Greenberg is well known for his vocal support of the State of Israel, which has led some to believe he will suffer from a lack of sponsorship as a result of new Anti-Semitism. [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1159193325469]

*He trains in Maidenhead, Berkshire, and has a home near Haifa in Israel. [http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m16&SecId=16&AId=54843&ATypeId=1]

*Greenberg is managed and trained by Jim Evans. [http://www.romangreenberg.tv/USA/news.cfm?ccs=229&cs=21597]

Links

*
* [http://www.britishboxing.net/boxers_45-Roman-Greenberg.html British Boxing bio]
* [http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=182&more=1 "Interview: Roman Greenberg"]
* [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4159/is_20050403/ai_n13509205 "Boxing: Greenberg Rekindles the Jewish Interest," The Independent, April 3, 2005]
* [http://www.raoulwallenberg.net/?en/press/3781.htm "Jewish Boxers are Back in the News"]
* [http://www.secondsout.com/romangreenberg/news.cfm?ccs=455&cs=19791 Roman Greenberg facts]
* [http://www.amateur-boxing.strefa.pl/Championships/WorldJuniorChamps2000.html World juniors 2000]
* [http://lubowphotography.com/boxing.htm Professional photographs of Roman Greenberg in action]