Mike Rossman
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Name: Mike Rossman
Alias: Jewish Bomber
Birth Name: Michael Albert De Piano
Hometown: Turnersville, New Jersey, USA
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 180cm
Reach: 187cm
Pro Boxer: Record
Amateur Boxer: Record
Managers: Jimmy DePiano, Andrew DePiano
Trainers: Slim Jim Robinson, Willie O'Neill, Jimmy Arthur
Cut Man: Eddie Aliano
Notes
- Mike Rossman was born Michael Albert DePiano. His father, Jimmy DePiano, was Italian, and his mother, Celia Rossman, was Jewish. He took his mother’s maiden name when he started boxing. "Mike Rossman. It's got a nice ring to it," his father, who was also his manger, told Sports Illustrated in 1978. "Everybody says we did it for the publicity, this Jewish Bomber thing. Well, we did it before his first amateur fight, and at that time we weren't even thinking of turning pro. Fighting was something Mike wanted to try, and he's been Mike Rossman from the day he threw his first punch." Rossman had a blue Star of David tattooed on the outside of his right calf and boxed with a Star of David on his trunks.
- After compiling a purported amateur record of 20-3, Rossman turned professional in 1973. He was only 17 years old — too young to box professionally — so he lied about his age and said he was 18.
- In a big upset, Rossman defeated Victor Galindez by a 13th-round TKO to win the WBA light heavyweight title at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on September 15, 1978. The fight was on the undercard of Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks II. There was a crowd of 63,350 at the Superdome, and an estimated television audience of 90 million watching live on ABC.
- Rossman successfully defended the WBA light heavyweight title once, defeating Aldo Traversaro by a sixth-round TKO at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 5, 1978.
- Rossman was scheduled to defend the WBA light heavyweight title in a rematch against Victor Galindez at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 24, 1979, but the fight was cancelled shortly before fight time because of a dispute over the judges. Galindez had asked that the WBA appoint two judges and one local judge, but the Nevada State Athletic Commission, maintaining it had the right to name all three judges, appointed officials from Nevada. Promoter Bob Arum negotiated with both sides in an attempt to put the fight on as scheduled, but he was unsuccessful. The commission refused to back down, and Galindez refused to fight. Rossman said he didn't know the fight was going to be cancelled until he was in the ring waiting for Galindez.
- Rossman and Gailndez finally had their rematch at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on April 14, 1979. Galindez regained the WBA light heavyweight title by a ninth-round RTD when Rossman was unable to come out for the 10th round.
- Rossman's brother, Andrew DePiano, became his manager in 1980. "I had to split 50-50 with my father," Rossman told the New York Times in 1981. "Now I get 100 percent, minus the 10 percent I give Andrew and what I pay my trainer and sparring partners."
- Rossman was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995.
External Links
- "Meet Their Son, The World Champion" By Pat Putnam, Sports Illustrated, December 18, 1978
- "Rossman-Galindez Bout Canceled After Dispute" Associated Press, February 25, 1979
- "Rossman, Once A Champion, Is Still Tolling In A fleabag Gym" By Michael Katz, The New York Times, May 31, 1981
- New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame: Mike Rossman
| Preceded by: Victor Emilio Galindez |
WBA Light Heavyweight Champion 1978 Sep 15 – 1979 Apr 14 |
Succeeded by: Victor Emilio Galindez |