Mike Rossman-How good was he ?

[Caractacus]

I had heard that he was 'pretty good".
(Maybe he could have been better, but pretty good nethertheless)

[Caractacus]

[Expug]

Henry Sims who was a sparring partner of mine lost to him in Rossmans last fight. Henry was a good fighter, so he must’ve been very good.
But, more specifically, he was a good technician, solid boxer puncher and of course he caught lightning in a bottle stopping Galindez. He turned pro too young at 17 and I think he got burned out fairly early. Beat some good guys, but I think he caught Victor on the right night.

[Caractacus]

How did you score their second fight ?
( before the fight was stopped)

[Expug]

Don’t remember it real well except Rossman busted his wrist or something.
I think Galindez was putting it on him though.

[Petu v.d. Pajm]

Henry Sims who was a sparring partner of mine lost to him in Rossmans last fight. Henry was a good fighter, so he must’ve been very good.
But, more specifically, he was a good technician, solid boxer puncher and of course he caught lightning in a bottle stopping Galindez. He turned pro too young at 17 and I think he got burned out fairly early. Beat some good guys, but I think he caught Victor on the right night.

a good technician maybe in a sense of having very proper base technique. But also darn mechanical. While he had a solid wallop in his right hand, he just wouldn't let it go without first finding the range with the (rather average) jab of his.

It is simultaneously comical and sorrowful to watch Rossman getting beaten up by Qawi. Qawi keeps slipping under Rossman's jab and with jab not landing at all, the "dangerous" right hand stays put. He hardly even tries to throw it out over whole 7 rounds.

Rossman was tough, hit respectably hard and had reasonably solid technique. But he didn't have variety, creativity nor much ability to adjust.

[elmersalsa]

Mike Rossman was good enough to beat champion Victor Galindez for the WBA World Light-heavyweight Championship.

I saw that fight live on the night of September 15, 1978 on the undercard of Muhammad Ali vs Leon Spinks II super fight in New Orleans Super Dome.

And of course, that was the night that got me following boxing like a religious servant.

That night also fought:
Jorge Lujan vs Albert Davila for Lujan's WBA World Bantamweight strap.

Danny "Little Red" Lopez vs Juan Domingo Malvarez for Lopez's WBC World Featherweight crown.

Rossman vs Galindez

And of course, the main fight of the evening when The Greatest, wins the WBA and Real Heavyweight World Crown for the third time against champion Spinks.

What a night! What an undercard! They don't make those undercards anymore.

[Ambling Alp II]

I watched Rossman win it that night as well. Remember Little Red Lopez winning and of course Ali beating Spinks. (I don't think Davila-Malvarez was on TV. At least I don't remember it)

I had been watching boxing for a couple of years by then. Rossman looked good in this fight. He just kept nailing Galindez round after round.
In the rematch, I missed the beginning. Rossman did not look nearly as good from what I saw. Hard to rate him career wise.

[elmersalsa]

I watched Rossman win it that night as well. Remember Little Red Lopez winning and of course Ali beating Spinks. (I don't think Davila-Malvarez was on TV. At least I don't remember it)

I had been watching boxing for a couple of years by then. Rossman looked good in this fight. He just kept nailing Galindez round after round.
In the rematch, I missed the beginning. Rossman did not look nearly as good from what I saw. Hard to rate him career wise.

It was a great night of boxing. The first boxing super card since 1938 Carnival of Champions 40 years earlier.

Danny "Little Red" Lopez got up from the canvas in the first round to get up in the second round and stopped challenger Juan Domingo Malvarez of Argentina. It was a brutal knockout.

[goose 5]

Lujan-Davila wasn't televised but I saw it years later when I bought it off a video dealer. IMO, it was the best fight on the card, but a bad decision.

[Caractacus]

Can you imagine over-night back in 1978 becoming a Champion ?
Dude probably went straight to a Disco for the "Victory" party.
(and from that point, it just have had to have went all "down-hill" too)
probably was introduced to 'nose-candy" and sh*t like that.

[Ambling Alp II]

Lujan-Davila wasn't televised but I saw it years later when I bought it off a video dealer. IMO, it was the best fight on the card, but a bad decision.

Didn't think it was televised. I guess there were 3 title fights scheduled for 15 rounds so there is only so much time TV time available to set aside for in advance. Quite a night.

[Joson]

In terms of actual fighting ability, I always rated Rossman anywhere between 8th and 18th for his era. Although he was ranked in the worldwide top-10 for three years, he was always more of a top-20 talent as opposed to a bonafide top-10 guy.

My evaluation isn't a put down of Rossman. He fought during an incredibly competitive time in the 175 lbs weight class, which was second only to the welterweights for depth of talent during the late '70s and early '80s.

Rossman's weaknesses were that he was rather mechanical and flatfooted, had only average/above average handspeed, and a leaky defense. Mike was easy to hit with right leads.

The upside is that Rossman packed a heavy clout, had a respectable left jab, was an excellent combination puncher, had a solid chin and was scrappy infighter.

[Joson]

How did you score their second fight ?
( before the fight was stopped)

I scored it 6-2-1 for Galindez after nine rounds. IMO Mike took the first and third rounds, and the second was even. Galindez won every round from the fourth onward.

[Ambling Alp II]

Disappointing performance by Rossman after he looked so good in the first fight. A lot people were surprised by how well he did against Galindez in that first fight. From what I saw in the rematch, he didn't seem nearly as motivated for whatever reason.