Barney Ross

Barney Ross (born Dov-Ber "Beryl" David Rosofsky; December 23, 1909 – January 18, 1967) was an American professional boxer. Ross held world championships in three weight divisions from lightweight to welterweight, and was a decorated veteran of World War II. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class in 1990. In 2007, ESPN ranked him the 22nd greatest boxer of all time. In his time, he was known as the Pride of the Ghetto.

Initially known locally as a brawler, Ross joined a local gang as a teenager, running errands with Jack Ruby (who would later become world-famous for murdering Lee Harvey Oswald) for mobster Al Capone.

Ross later rose to prominence after turning professional in boxing, becoming only the third fighter in history to capture world titles in three weight divisions, the first in the "Queensberry Rules era" to win championships in two weight classes simultaneously, He was named The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year in 1934 and 1935, and received the Edward J. Neil Trophy by the BWAA in 1942.

Following his boxing career, Ross joined the United States Marine Corps during World War II. While wounded during a night patrol, Ross single-handedly held off a Japanese attack, killing 22 soldiers and saving a fellow Marine. For his bravery, Ross was awarded a Silver Star, Purple Heart, and a Presidential Unit Citation, among others.

Early life

Dov-Ber (or Beryl) Rosofsky was born in New York City to Isidore "Itchik" Rosofsky and Sarah Epstein Rosofsky. His father was a Talmudic scholar who had emigrated to America from his native Brest-Litovsk after barely surviving a pogrom. The family then moved from New York to Chicago. Isidore became a rabbi and owner of a small vegetable shop in Chicago's Maxwell Street neighborhood, a vibrant Jewish ghetto akin to the New York's Lower East Side of the 1920s and '30s. Dov-Ber was being raised to follow in his footsteps.

The young Rasofsky grew up on Chicago's mean streets, ultimately ignoring his father's desire for him to become a rabbi and his admonition that Jews do not resort to violence. Let the goyim be the fighters, Ross later recalled being told by his father. The trombeniks, the murderers—we are the scholars. Prostrate from grief, his mother Sarah suffered a nervous breakdown and his younger siblings—Ida, Sam and George—were placed in an orphanage or farmed out to other members of the extended family. Dov was left to his own devices at the age of 14.

As recounted in Barney Ross: The Life of a Jewish Fighter, by Ross biographer Douglas Century, in the wake of the tragedy, Dov became vindictive towards everything and turned his back on the orthodox religion of his father. He began running around with local toughs (including another wayward Jewish ghetto kid, the future Jack Ruby), developing into a street brawler, thief and money runner; he was even employed by Al Capone. Ross's goal was to earn enough money to buy a home so that he could reunite his family. He continued his friendship with Ruby into adulthood, testifying as a character witness during Ruby's trial in 1964.

Boxing career

thumb|180px|Barney Ross

After winning amateur bouts, Dov would pawn the awards—like watches—and set the money aside for his family. and Chicago Golden Gloves champion in 1929 at the age of 19. He was the first Golden Gloves champion to ever win a world championship.

At a time—the late 1920s and '30s—when rising Nazi leader Adolf Hitler was using propaganda to spread his virulently anti-Jewish philosophy, Ross was seen by American Jews as one of their greatest advocates. He represented the concept of Jews finally fighting back. Idolized and respected by all Americans, Ross showed that Jews could thrive in their new country. He made his stand against Hitler and Nazi Germany a public one. He knew that by winning boxing matches, he was displaying a new kind of strength for Jews. He also understood that Americans loved their sports heroes and if Jews wanted to be embraced in the U.S. they would have to assume such places in society. Though Ross had lost faith in religion, he openly embraced his role as a leader of his people. Ross defeated great Hall-of-Fame champions like Jimmy McLarnin and Tony Canzoneri in epic battles that drew crowds of more than 50,000.

His first paid fight was on September 1, 1929, when he beat Ramon Lugo by a decision in six rounds. After ten wins in a row, he lost for the first time, to Carlos García by decision after ten rounds.

Over the next 35 bouts, his record was 32–1–2, including a win over former world champion Battling Battalino and one over Babe Ruth (not the baseball player). Ross also campaigned heavily in the city of Chicago prior to the fight. After two more wins, including a knockout in six rounds over Johnny Farr, Ross and Canzoneri boxed again, with Ross winning again by decision, but this time after 15 rounds.

Ross was known for his relentless pace, sharp footwork, and ability to absorb punishment while dishing out precise combinations. He retained his title by decision against Sammy Fuller to finish 1933 and against Peter Nebo to begin 1934. Then he defended against former world champion Frankie Klick, against whom he drew. Then came the first of three bouts versus Jimmy McLarnin. Ross vacated the light welterweight title to go after McLarnin's welterweight title and won by decision, his third world championship. He was the first lightweight champion in history to win the welterweight championship as well. However, in a rematch a few weeks later, McLarnin beat Ross by a decision and recovered the title. After that, Ross went back down to light welterweight and reclaimed his title with a 12-round decision over Bobby Pacho. After beating Klick and Henry Woods by decision to retain that title, he went back up in weight for his third and last fight with McLarnin; he recovered the welterweight title by outpointing McLarnin again over 15 rounds. He won 16 bouts in a row after that, including three over future world middleweight champion Ceferino Garcia and one against Al Manfredo. His only two defenses, however, over that stretch were against Garcia and against Izzy Jannazzo, on points in 15 rounds.

In his last fight, Ross defended his title on May 31, 1938, against fellow three-division world champion Henry Armstrong, who beat him by a decision in 15. Although Armstrong pounded Ross inexorably and his trainers begged him to let them stop the fight, Ross refused to stop or go down. Barney Ross had never been knocked out in his career Some boxing experts view Ross's performance against Armstrong as one of the most courageous in history. Some believe that Ross's will to survive every tough fight on his feet had to do with his understanding of his symbolic importance to Jews. That is, Jews would not only fight back, but they would not go down. In 1999, the Associated Press ranked him the second-greatest junior welterweight and fifth-greatest welterweight of the 20th century.

World War II

In retirement in his early thirties, Ross enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on April 21, 1942, to fight in World War II. The Marines wanted to keep him stateside and use his celebrity status to boost morale. Most of the athletes of the era, like heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey, had ceremonial roles in the military, but Ross insisted on fighting for his country.

Before he was to go overseas, Ross physically assaulted a non-commissioned officer who had made an anti-Semitic remark. He was to be court martialed at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. Suffering from malaria, he and three comrades were pinned down under heavy enemy fire in a shell hole. All four were wounded; Ross was the only one able to continue fighting. He gathered his comrades' rifles and grenades and, over the course of the night, threw 21 hand grenades and fired hundreds of rounds of ammunition, single-handedly fighting nearly two dozen Japanese soldiers and killing them all by morning. After the action, his helmet was found to be dented by 30 pieces of shrapnel. Two of the Marines were killed, but Ross carried the third on his shoulders to safety, despite the man weighing 230 lb (104 kg) compared to Ross' 140 lb (64 kg).

Ross was awarded America's third highest military honor, the Silver Star, As one of America's greatest "celebrity" war heroes, he was honored by President Roosevelt in a Rose Garden ceremony. He was also awarded the Edward J. Neil Trophy as boxing's "man of the year" by the Boxing Writers Association of New York in 1942. Gehring considered Ross a national treasure who defied logic when it came to bravery and the defense of principle. Ross was the only person on Guadacanal capable of playing the temperamental pipe organ kept there. On Christmas Eve, before he and his fellow Marines were to go into battle, Gehring asked Ross to learn "Silent Night" and other Christmas songs for the troops. After Ross had played them, Gehring asked him to play a Jewish song. Ross played "My Yiddishe Momma," about a child's love for his self-sacrificing mother. Many of the Marines knew the melody of the song from Ross's boxing days, when it was played when he entered the ring. When the Marines heard Ross play the song, newspaper reports say, they were all in tears.

Drug addiction and recovery

Recovering at the hospital from malaria and his wounds suffered at Guadalcanal, Ross developed a dependency on the morphine he was administered for pain. Back in the states, the morphine was replaced with street heroin.

Later life and death

Following World War II, Ross supported the creation of Israel by reportedly smuggling weapons to the newly established state. He also offered to lead a group of Jewish war veterans called the "George Washington Legion," alongside British organizer Major Samuel Wiser. Additionally, Ross allied with the Bergson Group, a militant Zionist organization.

Ross spent his last days using his celebrity status in promotional work for casinos and other businesses. He remained with his second wife, Cathy Howlett, although they never had children. He was happy he reached the two goals he had set: reunite his family and become a world champion in boxing. He wrote an autobiography titled No Man Stands Alone.

In Sport Life<nowiki/>'s July 1951 edition, the author pointed out to readers to be aware of tricksters impersonating sport personalities to gain gifts and freebies. The magazine closed the article by highlighting how Ross had walked into a restaurant, where a faker was impersonating Jackie "Kid" Berg and was surrounded by admirers. "So you're Jackie Kid Berg?" the inwardly boiling Ross inquired as he approached the 200-pounder. "Sure" the faker responded. Ross then threw a right hand punch and flattened the phony. "If you were really Jackie Kid Berg, you could have easily taken that punch without going down!"

He also remained loyal to his friend Jack Ruby and testified as a character witness on Ruby's behalf at his trial for killing Lee Harvey Oswald, who was charged with the killings of President John F. Kennedy and Dallas patrolman, J. D. Tippit.

Ross died in his hometown Chicago of throat cancer at the age of 57 and is buried at Rosemont Park Cemetery.

His relatives include Yuri Rasovsky, Solomon Rosowsky and Baruch Leib Rosowsky.

Awards and honors

In 1936, the Chicago Golden Gloves created a new sportsmanship trophy named after Ross to be awarded to the outstanding welterweight. The Aleph Zadik Aleph chapter located in Chicago's south suburbs (primarily in Flossmoor, Homewood, and Olympia Fields), is named in his honor.

Halls of Fame

The Ring magazine Hall of Fame – Class of 1956
International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame – Class of 1979
World Boxing Hall of Fame – Class of 1981
Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame – Class of 1985
International Boxing Hall of Fame – Class of 1990 (Inaugural inductee)
National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum – Class of 1997
Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame – Class of 2006

Boxing awards

The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year: 1934, 1935
Edward J. Neil Trophy: 1942

Military awards

30px Silver Star
30px Purple Heart
30px American Campaign Medal unless otherwise stated.

Official record

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center"

!Result

!Record

!Opponent

!Type

!Round

!Date

!Location

!Notes

|81

|Loss

|align=left| Henry Armstrong

|UD

|15

|May 31, 1938

|align=left|

|80

|Win

|72–3–3

|align=left| Bobby Venner

|TKO

|7 (10)

|Apr 25, 1938

|align=left|

|79

|Win

|71–3–3

|align=left| Henry Schaft

|TKO

|4 (10)

|Apr 4, 1938

|align=left|

|78

|Win

|70–3–3

|align=left| Ceferino Garcia

|UD

|15

|Sep 23, 1937

|align=left|

|77

|style="background:#DDD"|Win

|69–3–3

|align=left| Al Manfredo

|NWS

|10

|Aug 19, 1937

|align=left|

|76

|Win

|69–3–3

|align=left| Jackie Burke

|KO

|5 (10)

|Jun 27, 1937

|align=left|

|75

|Win

|68–3–3

|align=left| Chuck Woods

|KO

|4 (10)

|Jun 17, 1937

|align=left|

|74

|Win

|67–3–3

|align=left| Al Manfredo

|PTS

|10

|Jan 29, 1937

|align=left|

|73

|Win

|66–3–3

|align=left| Izzy Jannazzo

|UD

|15

|Nov 27, 1936

|align=left|

|72

|Win

|65–3–3

|align=left| Phil Furr

|UD

|10

|Jul 22, 1936

|align=left|

|71

|Win

|64–3–3

|align=left| Morrie Sherman

|KO

|2 (10)

|Jun 22, 1936

|align=left|

|70

|Win

|63–3–3

|align=left| Laddie Tonielli

|TKO

|5 (10)

|Jun 10, 1936

|align=left|

|69

|Win

|62–3–3

|align=left| Chuck Woods

|TKO

|5 (10)

|May 1, 1936

|align=left|

|68

|Win

|61–3–3

|align=left| Gordon Wallace

|MD

|10

|Mar 11, 1936

|align=left|

|67

|Win

|60–3–3

|align=left| Lou Halper

|TKO

|8 (10)

|Jan 27, 1936

|align=left|

|66

|Win

|59–3–3

|align=left| Ceferino Garcia

|UD

|10

|Nov 29, 1935

|align=left|

|65

|Win

|58–3–3

|align=left|Ceferino Garcia

|PTS

|10

|Sep 13, 1935

|align=left|

|64

|Win

|57–3–3

|align=left| Baby Joe Gans

|KO

|2 (10)

|Sep 6, 1935

|align=left|

|63

|Win

|56–3–3

|align=left| Jimmy McLarnin

|UD

|15

|May 28, 1935

|align=left|

|62

|Win

|55–3–3

|align=left| Henry Woods

|UD

|12

|Apr 9, 1935

|align=left|

|61

|Win

|54–3–3

|align=left| Frankie Klick

|UD

|10

|Jan 28, 1935

|align=left|

|60

|Win

|53–3–3

|align=left| Bobby Pacho

|PTS

|12

|Dec 10, 1934

|align=left|

|59

|Loss

|52–3–3

|align=left| Jimmy McLarnin

|SD

|15

|Sep 17, 1934

|align=left|

|58

|Win

|52–2–3

|align=left| Jimmy McLarnin

|SD

|15

|May 28, 1934

|align=left|

|57

|Win

|51–2–3

|align=left| Bobby Pacho

|PTS

|10

|Mar 27, 1934

|align=left|

|56

|Win

|50–2–3

|align=left| Kid Moro

|PTS

|10

|Mar 14, 1934

|align=left|

|55

|Draw

|49–2–3

|align=left| Frankie Klick

|PTS

|10

|Mar 5, 1934

|align=left|

|54

|Win

|49–2–2

|align=left| Pete Nebo

|PTS

|12

|Feb 7, 1934

|align=left|

|53

|Win

|48–2–2

|align=left| Billy Petrolle

|UD

|10

|Jan 24, 1934

|align=left|

|52

|Win

|47–2–2

|align=left| Sammy Fuller

|MD

|10

|Nov 17, 1933

|align=left|

|51

|Win

|46–2–2

|align=left| Tony Canzoneri

|SD

|15

|Sep 12, 1933

|align=left|

|50

|Win

|45–2–2

|align=left| Johnny Farr

|TKO

|6 (10)

|Jul 26, 1933

|align=left|

|49

|Win

|44–2–2

|align=left| Tony Canzoneri

|MD

|10

|Jun 23, 1933

|align=left|

|48

|Win

|43–2–2

|align=left| Joe Ghnouly

|PTS

|10

|May 3, 1933

|align=left|

|47

|Win

|42–2–2

|align=left| Billy Petrolle

|UD

|10

|Mar 22, 1933

|align=left|

|46

|Win

|41–2–2

|align=left| Tommy Grogan

|PTS

|10

|Feb 22, 1933

|align=left|

|45

|Win

|40–2–2

|align=left| Johnny Datto

|KO

|2 (10)

|Jan 30, 1933

|align=left|

|44

|Win

|39–2–2

|align=left| Johnny Farr

|PTS

|10

|Nov 25, 1932

|align=left|

|43

|Win

|38–2–2

|align=left| Goldie Hess

|PTS

|10

|Nov 11, 1932

|align=left|

|42

|Win

|37–2–2

|align=left| Battling Battalino

|UD

|10

|Oct 21, 1932

|align=left|

|41

|Win

|36–2–2

|align=left| Frankie Petrolle

|KO

|2 (10)

|Sep 15, 1932

|align=left|

|40

|Win

|35–2–2

|align=left| Ray Miller

|UD

|10

|Aug 26, 1932

|align=left|

|39

|Win

|34–2–2

|align=left| Henry Perlick

|TKO

|3 (8)

|Jul 28, 1932

|align=left|

|38

|Win

|33–2–2

|align=left| Dick Sisk

|TKO

|6 (8)

|May 20, 1932

|align=left|

|37

|Win

|32–2–2

|align=left| Frankie Hughes

|PTS

|10

|Apr 5, 1932

|align=left|

|36

|Win

|31–2–2

|align=left| Nick Ellenwood

|PTS

|10

|Mar 2, 1932

|align=left|

|35

|Win

|30–2–2

|align=left| Billy Gladstone

|PTS

|Feb 18, 1932

|align=left|

|34

|Win

|29–2–2

|align=left| Micky O'Neill

|PTS

|Feb 8, 1932

|align=left|

|33

|Win

|28–2–2

|align=left| Jimmy Lundy

|PTS

|Nov 18, 1931

|align=left|

|32

|Win

|27–2–2

|align=left| Young Terry

|PTS

|Nov 13, 1931

|align=left|

|31

|Win

|26–2–2

|align=left| Lou Jallos

|PTS

|Nov 4, 1931

|align=left|

|30

|Win

|25–2–2

|align=left| Glen Gamp

|PTS

|10

|Oct 2, 1931

|align=left|

|29

|Win

|24–2–2

|align=left| Jimmy Alvarado

|PTS

|Jul 30, 1931

|align=left|

|28

|Win

|23–2–2

|align=left| Babe Ruth

|TKO

|4 (10)

|Jul 15, 1931

|align=left|

|27

|Win

|22–2–2

|align=left| Billy Shaw

|PTS

|May 13, 1931

|align=left|

|26

|Win

|21–2–2

|align=left| Jackie Dugan

|KO

|2 (8)

|May 1, 1931

|align=left|

|25

|Win

|20–2–2

|align=left| Lud Abella

|TKO

|2 (6)

|Apr 24, 1931

|align=left|

|24

|Win

|19–2–2

|align=left| Midget Mike O'Dowd

|PTS

|Apr 8, 1931

|align=left|

|23

|Loss

|18–2–2

|align=left| Roger Bernard

|PTS

|Mar 27, 1931

|align=left|

|22

|Win

|18–1–2

|align=left| Jackie Davis

|PTS

|Mar 20, 1931

|align=left|

|21

|Win

|17–1–2

|align=left| Young Terry

|UD

|10

|Feb 20, 1931

|align=left|

|20

|Win

|16–1–2

|align=left| Henry Falegano

|PTS

|Jan 14, 1931

|align=left|

|19

|Draw

|15–1–2

|align=left| Harry Dublinsky

|PTS

|Nov 21, 1930

|align=left|

|18

|Win

|15–1–1

|align=left| Petey Mack

|KO

|1 (8)

|Nov 6, 1930

|align=left|

|17

|Win

|14–1–1

|align=left| Sammy Binder

|KO

|2 (6)

|Oct 14, 1930

|align=left|

|16

|Draw

|13–1–1

|align=left| Young Terry

|PTS

|Sep 19, 1930

|align=left|

|15

|Win

|13–1

|align=left| Luis Perez

|KO

|1 (6)

|Aug 2, 1930

|align=left|

|14

|Win

|12–1

|align=left| Eddie Koppy

|PTS

|Jul 1, 1930

|align=left|

|13

|Win

|11–1

|align=left| Mickey Genaro

|PTS

|Apr 25, 1930

|align=left|

|12

|Loss

|10–1

|align=left| Carlos Garcia

|PTS

|Apr 21, 1930

|align=left|

|11

|Win

|10–0

|align=left| Eddie Bojack

|TKO

|2 (4)

|Apr 8, 1930

|align=left|

|10

|style="background:#DDD"|Win

|9–0

|align=left| Jackie Davis

|NWS

|Mar 3, 1930

|align=left|

|Win

|9–0

|align=left| Jiro Kumagai

|PTS

|Feb 24, 1930

|align=left|

|Win

|8–0

|align=left| Johnny Andrews

|PTS

|Jan 24, 1930

|align=left|

|Win

|7–0

|align=left| Louis New

|PTS

|Jan 10, 1930

|align=left|

|Win

|6–0

|align=left| Al DeRose

|PTS

|Dec 5, 1929

|align=left|

|Win

|5–0

|align=left| Joey Barth

|PTS

|Nov 29, 1929

|align=left|

|Win

|4–0

|align=left| Virgil Tobin

|KO

|2 (4)

|Oct 21, 1929

|align=left|

|Win

|3–0

|align=left| Joe Borola

|PTS

|Oct 12, 1929

|align=left|

|Win

|2–0

|align=left| Joe Borola

|PTS

|Sep 14, 1929

|align=left|

|Win

|1–0

|align=left| Ramon Lugo

|PTS

|Aug 31, 1929

|align=left|

Unofficial record

Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" style="text-align:center"

!Result

!Record

!Opponent

!Type

!Round

!Date

!Location

!Notes

|81

|Loss

|align=left| Henry Armstrong

|UD

|15

|May 31, 1938

|align=left|

|80

|Win

|74–3–3

|align=left| Bobby Venner

|TKO

|7 (10)

|Apr 25, 1938

|align=left|

|79

|Win

|73–3–3

|align=left| Henry Schaft

|TKO

|4 (10)

|Apr 4, 1938

|align=left|

|78

|Win

|72–3–3

|align=left|Ceferino Garcia

|UD

|15

|Sep 23, 1937

|align=left|

|77

|Win

|71–3–3

|align=left| Al Manfredo

|NWS

|10

|Aug 19, 1937

|align=left|

|76

|Win

|70–3–3

|align=left| Jackie Burke

|KO

|5 (10)

|Jun 27, 1937

|align=left|

|75

|Win

|69–3–3

|align=left| Chuck Woods

|KO

|4 (10)

|Jun 17, 1937

|align=left|

|74

|Win

|68–3–3

|align=left| Al Manfredo

|PTS

|10

|Jan 29, 1937

|align=left|

|73

|Win

|67–3–3

|align=left| Izzy Jannazzo

|UD

|15

|Nov 27, 1936

|align=left|

|72

|Win

|66–3–3

|align=left| Phil Furr

|UD

|10

|Jul 22, 1936

|align=left|

|71

|Win

|65–3–3

|align=left| Morrie Sherman

|KO

|2 (10)

|Jun 22, 1936

|align=left|

|70

|Win

|64–3–3

|align=left| Laddie Tonielli

|TKO

|5 (10)

|Jun 10, 1936

|align=left|

|69

|Win

|63–3–3

|align=left| Chuck Woods

|TKO

|5 (10)

|May 1, 1936

|align=left|

|68

|Win

|62–3–3

|align=left| Gordon Wallace

|MD

|10

|Mar 11, 1936

|align=left|

|67

|Win

|61–3–3

|align=left| Lou Halper

|TKO

|8 (10)

|Jan 27, 1936

|align=left|

|66

|Win

|60–3–3

|align=left| Ceferino Garcia

|UD

|10

|Nov 29, 1935

|align=left|

|65

|Win

|59–3–3

|align=left|Ceferino Garcia

|PTS

|10

|Sep 13, 1935

|align=left|

|64

|Win

|58–3–3

|align=left| Baby Joe Gans

|KO

|2 (10)

|Sep 6, 1935

|align=left|

|63

|Win

|57–3–3

|align=left| Jimmy McLarnin

|UD

|15

|May 28, 1935

|align=left|

|62

|Win

|56–3–3

|align=left| Henry Woods

|UD

|12

|Apr 9, 1935

|align=left|

|61

|Win

|55–3–3

|align=left| Frankie Klick

|UD

|10

|Jan 28, 1935

|align=left|

|60

|Win

|54–3–3

|align=left| Bobby Pacho

|PTS

|12

|Dec 10, 1934

|align=left|

|59

|Loss

|53–3–3

|align=left| Jimmy McLarnin

|SD

|15

|Sep 17, 1934

|align=left|

|58

|Win

|53–2–3

|align=left| Jimmy McLarnin

|SD

|15

|May 28, 1934

|align=left|

|57

|Win

|52–2–3

|align=left| Bobby Pacho

|PTS

|10

|Mar 27, 1934

|align=left|

|56

|Win

|51–2–3

|align=left| Kid Moro

|PTS

|10

|Mar 14, 1934

|align=left|

|55

|Draw

|50–2–3

|align=left| Frankie Klick

|PTS

|10

|Mar 5, 1934

|align=left|

|54

|Win

|50–2–2

|align=left| Pete Nebo

|PTS

|12

|Feb 7, 1934

|align=left|

|53

|Win

|49–2–2

|align=left| Billy Petrolle

|UD

|10

|Jan 24, 1934

|align=left|

|52

|Win

|48–2–2

|align=left| Sammy Fuller

|MD

|10

|Nov 17, 1933

|align=left|

|51

|Win

|47–2–2

|align=left| Tony Canzoneri

|SD

|15

|Sep 12, 1933

|align=left|

|50

|Win

|46–2–2

|align=left| Johnny Farr

|TKO

|6 (10)

|Jul 26, 1933

|align=left|

|49

|Win

|45–2–2

|align=left| Tony Canzoneri

|MD

|10

|Jun 23, 1933

|align=left|

|48

|Win

|44–2–2

|align=left| Joe Ghnouly

|PTS

|10

|May 3, 1933

|align=left|

|47

|Win

|43–2–2

|align=left| Billy Petrolle

|UD

|10

|Mar 22, 1933

|align=left|

|46

|Win

|42–2–2

|align=left| Tommy Grogan

|PTS

|10

|Feb 22, 1933

|align=left|

|45

|Win

|41–2–2

|align=left| Johnny Datto

|KO

|2 (10)

|Jan 30, 1933

|align=left|

|44

|Win

|40–2–2

|align=left| Johnny Farr

|PTS

|10

|Nov 25, 1932

|align=left|

|43

|Win

|39–2–2

|align=left| Goldie Hess

|PTS

|10

|Nov 11, 1932

|align=left|

|42

|Win

|38–2–2

|align=left| Battling Battalino

|UD

|10

|Oct 21, 1932

|align=left|

|41

|Win

|37–2–2

|align=left| Frankie Petrolle

|KO

|2 (10)

|Sep 15, 1932

|align=left|

|40

|Win

|36–2–2

|align=left| Ray Miller

|UD

|10

|Aug 26, 1932

|align=left|

|39

|Win

|35–2–2

|align=left| Henry Perlick

|TKO

|3 (8)

|Jul 28, 1932

|align=left|

|38

|Win

|34–2–2

|align=left| Dick Sisk

|TKO

|6 (8)

|May 20, 1932

|align=left|

|37

|Win

|33–2–2

|align=left| Frankie Hughes

|PTS

|10

|Apr 5, 1932

|align=left|

|36

|Win

|32–2–2

|align=left| Nick Ellenwood

|PTS

|10

|Mar 2, 1932

|align=left|

|35

|Win

|31–2–2

|align=left| Billy Gladstone

|PTS

|Feb 18, 1932

|align=left|

|34

|Win

|30–2–2

|align=left| Micky O'Neill

|PTS

|Feb 8, 1932

|align=left|

|33

|Win

|29–2–2

|align=left| Jimmy Lundy

|PTS

|Nov 18, 1931

|align=left|

|32

|Win

|28–2–2

|align=left| Young Terry

|PTS

|Nov 13, 1931

|align=left|

|31

|Win

|27–2–2

|align=left| Lou Jallos

|PTS

|Nov 4, 1931

|align=left|

|30

|Win

|26–2–2

|align=left| Glen Gamp

|PTS

|10

|Oct 2, 1931

|align=left|

|29

|Win

|25–2–2

|align=left| Jimmy Alvarado

|PTS

|Jul 30, 1931

|align=left|

|28

|Win

|24–2–2

|align=left| Babe Ruth

|TKO

|4 (10)

|Jul 15, 1931

|align=left|

|27

|Win

|23–2–2

|align=left| Billy Shaw

|PTS

|May 13, 1931

|align=left|

|26

|Win

|22–2–2

|align=left| Jackie Dugan

|KO

|2 (8)

|May 1, 1931

|align=left|

|25

|Win

|21–2–2

|align=left| Lud Abella

|TKO

|2 (6)

|Apr 24, 1931

|align=left|

|24

|Win

|20–2–2

|align=left| Midget Mike O'Dowd

|PTS

|Apr 8, 1931

|align=left|

|23

|Loss

|19–2–2

|align=left| Roger Bernard

|PTS

|Mar 27, 1931

|align=left|

|22

|Win

|19–1–2

|align=left| Jackie Davis

|PTS

|Mar 20, 1931

|align=left|

|21

|Win

|18–1–2

|align=left| Young Terry

|UD

|10

|Feb 20, 1931

|align=left|

|20

|Win

|17–1–2

|align=left| Henry Falegano

|PTS

|Jan 14, 1931

|align=left|

|19

|Draw

|16–1–2

|align=left| Harry Dublinsky

|PTS

|Nov 21, 1930

|align=left|

|18

|Win

|16–1–1

|align=left| Petey Mack

|KO

|1 (8)

|Nov 6, 1930

|align=left|

|17

|Win

|15–1–1

|align=left| Sammy Binder

|KO

|2 (6)

|Oct 14, 1930

|align=left|

|16

|Draw

|14–1–1

|align=left| Young Terry

|PTS

|Sep 19, 1930

|align=left|

|15

|Win

|14–1

|align=left| Luis Perez

|KO

|1 (6)

|Aug 2, 1930

|align=left|

|14

|Win

|13–1

|align=left| Eddie Koppy

|PTS

|Jul 1, 1930

|align=left|

|13

|Win

|12–1

|align=left| Mickey Genaro

|PTS

|Apr 25, 1930

|align=left|

|12

|Loss

|11–1

|align=left| Carlos Garcia

|PTS

|Apr 21, 1930

|align=left|

|11

|Win

|11–0

|align=left| Eddie Bojack

|TKO

|2 (4)

|Apr 8, 1930

|align=left|

|10

|Win

|10–0

|align=left| Jackie Davis

|NWS

|Mar 3, 1930

|align=left|

|Win

|9–0

|align=left| Jiro Kumagai

|PTS

|Feb 24, 1930

|align=left|

|Win

|8–0

|align=left| Johnny Andrews

|PTS

|Jan 24, 1930

|align=left|

|Win

|7–0

|align=left| Louis New

|PTS

|Jan 10, 1930

|align=left|

|Win

|6–0

|align=left| Al DeRose

|PTS

|Dec 5, 1929

|align=left|

|Win

|5–0

|align=left| Joey Barth

|PTS

|Nov 29, 1929

|align=left|

|Win

|4–0

|align=left| Virgil Tobin

|KO

|2 (4)

|Oct 21, 1929

|align=left|

|Win

|3–0

|align=left| Joe Borola

|PTS

|Oct 12, 1929

|align=left|

|Win

|2–0

|align=left| Joe Borola

|PTS

|Sep 14, 1929

|align=left|

|Win

|1–0

|align=left| Ramon Lugo

|PTS

|Aug 31, 1929

|align=left|

Titles in boxing

Major world titles

NYSAC lightweight champion (135 lbs)
NBA (WBA) lightweight champion (135 lbs)
World light welterweight champion (140 lbs)
NYSAC welterweight champion (147 lbs) (2×)
NBA (WBA) welterweight champion (147 lbs) (2×)

Early life

Boxing career

World War II

Drug addiction and recovery

Later life and death

Awards and honors

Halls of Fame

Boxing awards

Military awards

Official record

Unofficial record

Titles in boxing

Major world titles

The Ring magazine titles

Lineal titles

Undisputed titles

See also

Notes and references

Notes

References

Further reading

External links