Mike Rossman

Mike Rossman (born July 1, 1955) 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.

Life and career

Rossman was born in Turnersville, New Jersey.^[1] 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.

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.

Hall of Fame

Rossman was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame.^[2]

Miscellaneous

• Rossman has a tattoo of the Star of David on the calf of his right leg (ironically contradicting the Jewish commandment against tattoos).
• Rossman now lives in Atlantic City, NJ.

See also

• List of select Jewish boxers

References

1. ^ "Peltz Boxing". Peltz Boxing. http://www.peltzboxing.com/halloffamefighters.cfm. Retrieved January 20, 2011. 
2. ^ "Mike Rossman". Njboxinghof.org. http://www.njboxinghof.org/cgi-bin/henryseehof.pl?62. Retrieved January 20, 2011. 

External links

• NJ Boxing Hall of Fame bio and record
• boxing record

Preceded by Victor Galindez

WBA Light Heavyweight Champion 15 Sep 1978–14 Apr 1979

Succeeded by Victor Galindez

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Name	Rossman, Mike
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Date of birth	July 1, 1955
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