As far as I know he had no amateur background. Played college football, I think he was the best football player turned boxer. A big strong durable athletic guy, but lacking in skills which is understandable. Still it turned out he had a pretty good career beat Wladimir Klitschko, Joe Hipp, Jorge Luis Gonzalez. Knocked Tommy Morrison down twice and earned a draw. Faced lots of world class opponents and while he usually lost, it was usually by decision. Vitali stopped him on cuts and he was stopped by Cleveland Woods, in his second pro fight. Seems to be doing well these days, health intact, and training young fighters somewhere in the southern midwest. His career kind of reminds me of Mike Weaver a bit, the type of guy that you better not underestimate or get tired against. Final record 37-20-1, but despite the spotty record, a very good fighter, better than his record shows. Your thoughts?
Your post basically covers it. I don't have any additional stories or facts to add. The Vitali fight probably could have gone a little longer and ended a tad prematurely. He might have survived the distance. Purity went to the school of hard Knox. Was thrown to the wolves early and learned the trade through trial by fire. He was definitely viewed as a high risk and low reward opponent which is why I respect those who took him on. Very hard hitter and durable guy with a lot of heart. His record on paper does him no justice. Definitely not a bum by any means
Goldenhulk and Magoo both spot on. Ross was incredibly durable and strong, but somewhat limited. He's the poster boy for how punier athletes can beat a colossus through boxing skills. If he'd had better footwork and a bit of a jab, the rest of the heavies would have taken up knitting or professional lawn bowls. He's also the poster boy for how durability, size and determination can overcome a world class athlete and boxer like Wlad. If somebody suggested that: taking many punches from Wlad and causing him to gas, is a viable strategy to beat him, I would have said that they were trying to get somebody killed. Yet that's what The Boss did.
Agreed. He loaded up on his shots, though. Which makes me think that if he had a decent jab, he could use it to both up his output and use it to bring him into range for his big bombs.
I'll add something that might be interesting. Ross had one of the best chins. Both Klitschkos, Sanders, Rahman, Morrison, Kirk Johnson couldn't stop him (Vitali did in on cuts) But early in his career Ross was stopped in 1 round by Cleveland Woods, knocked down twice. It was his 2nd fight. Other than that, Ross suffered one more KD in his 54 bouts, against hard-hitting prospect Kirk Johnson who at that time was in great shape. Since then Puritty went 38 fights in a row without going down.
Pretty much every prospect from the era fought Purrity. He wasn't high risk at all. He was low risk , thats exactly why he has so many names on his record. He was known as a guy who barely threw punches and turned up to produce losing efforts.
The only low risk guy around here is you, Dino. They send the green posters to you so that they can beat up some on a commenter that is half dead to begin with, so that the noobs can get the hang of the quote system while slapping around a strictly useless poster. You can barely tell the truth and always produce losing efforts.
Puritty was slow, plodding, had no real skill or anything else being tough. He was also in poor shape most of the time. The fact that Wlad lost to him shows how overrated Wlad is. You can say Wlad was young, Wlad was a experienced amateur and had over 20 pro fights I believe. You could say Wlad got better. Well he hasn't. He just fights like a woman now.
Purrity was middling, he just got lucky facing one of the weakest titlists in history. sounds like a familiar story? too right for wlad. Sanders - did nothing till he faced wlad. Brewster, another middler, couldtn cut it at top level. Wlad was the common denominator everytime. Now that Vitali was a different story, cant see him getting stopped by such JM. Tough as nuts, was vits.
Awesome analysis about the Klitschkos by Herol, in this thread about Ross Puritty ^ Wow, everybody wanted to know what Herol thinks of Wladimir and how awful he thinks he is. This NEVER gets old. Fresh and new EVERY time we hear it
Purity was a very durable guy, who knew something about defense and tended to open up when the other guy was tired. Boxing at all levels needs more Ross Purrity types.
Despite the poor record, he had a run of around 20 fights in the middle of his career where he was winning most of the time and only taking loses to first rate opposition. I think he went like 17-2-1 during that time (don't feel like counting it out right now).
never gets old that you misinterepret it. The post both supports and denounces the K bros. so, never gets old that your sarky reply fails.