Ross, Barney (1909-1967), an American boxer, held three different world championships. Ross held the lightweight, junior welterweight, and welterweight titles at various times from 1933 to 1938. Ross was born into an Orthodox Jewish family, and his success as a boxer made him a hero to many American Jews.
Ross won the lightweight and junior welterweight titles in 1933, defeating defending champion Tony Canzoneri in a 10-round decision. Ross fought Jimmy McLarnin three times for the welterweight title, winning the first match in 1934, losing the second the same year, and winning the third in 1935. Ross had given up both the junior welterweight and lightweight championships by the end of 1935. He held the welterweight title until he was defeated by Henry Armstrong in a 15-round decision in 1938. Ross retired after that bout with a career record of 74 victories, 4 defeats, 3 draws, and 1 no decision.
Ross’s fame extended beyond his boxing career. He enlisted in the United States Marines in 1942 during World War II and became a war hero in the battle of Guadalcanal that year. He received a Silver Star and a battlefield promotion but was seriously wounded. Ross became addicted to morphine given to him to ease the pain of his injuries. His life inspired two motion pictures, Body and Soul (1947) and Monkey on My Back (1957).
Ross was born on Dec. 23, 1909, in New York City. His real name was Barnet Dov-Ber Rasofsky. He was also called Barnet or Beryl David Rasofsky. His family moved to Chicago when Ross was an infant. After Ross’s father was murdered during a robbery in 1923, the family broke up. Ross and one brother lived with a cousin, while the other children lived in an orphanage. Ross dropped out of high school and became involved with gangsters for a time. He eventually turned to boxing and fought his first bout as an amateur in 1926. Ross won the Intercity Golden Gloves featherweight championship in 1929 and then turned professional.
Ross wrote an autobiography, No Man Stands Alone: The True Story of Barney Ross (1957). He died on Jan. 17, 1967.
