Help Identifying Boxer Picture Found in Bugsy Siegel-Meyer Lansky Hideout

Hi Everyone,

Previous poster years ago but I still occasionally check this forum. I'm currently writing a non-fiction book about a Jewish organized crime family active in the 1920s and 30s. Through my research I came across some crime scene photos of a social club/hideout used by Ben Siegel and Meyer Lansky's gang that was bombed in November 1932 on orders from Waxey Gordon.

There were several portraits on the walls that survived the bombing but this one caught my attention. I blew it up to try and identify the boxer. I'm thinking it's Barney Ross but am unsure. Thought I'd run it by you guys to see if anyone had any other guesses. Appreciate any help!

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That's kind of unfocused. Maybe Klompton could help you ... if anyone can.

 

Thanks! Unfortunately, that's the best I could get it with the photo being so old.

 

Looks like a young Jackie Kid Berg.

 

Might be Ruby Goldstein. He was wildly popular Jewish boxer from New York at the time. "The Jewel of the Ghetto."

The head of the fighter actually resembles Meyer Lansky. Someone may have put Lansky's head on a boxer's body and given it to him as a gift. Looks like the writing on the photo says Lansky.

Doesn't look like Barney Ross to me.

 

I concur. It looks a lot like most of the pictures I've seen of Goldstein.

 

Not sure, am sure its not Ross, Berg, and legs to shaped to be Goldstien, his were slimmer, cant be but reminds me of a young Basilio !!

 

Maybe berg

 

Very helpful, thank you! This wasn't an "official" social club and the gang ties didn't become publicly known until Siegel killed the bomber a few weeks later. But I can still do the contenders search and see if anything comes up.

Berg was my first thought at as well, especially due to the hairline. Reason I started thinking Ross is because when I google images, Ross tends to hold his right hand higher in publicity shots like we see below. Plus he had mob ties so he may have been more respected in those circles.

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Didn't even consider that! From what I've been researching Siegel could be a bit of prankster so I could see him doing something like this as a gift. I'll also look up some more pictures of Goldstein, thank you.

 

I can see the resemblance but that's clearly Katie Taylor

 

Ruby Goldstein or Sid Terris.

But also: could be anyone.

 

I am pretty certain that I can count out coming across a better and/or funnier comment than this one for at least the next few days. Thanks man, I needed this laugh

 

Benny Leonard, Al Singer (?).

 

Kinda looks like Al Singer to me. But I wouldn't bet anything more than a plug nickel on it.