Favorite Jewish boxers?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Blofeld, Oct 16, 2023.


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  1. Blofeld

    Blofeld Active Member Full Member

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    I thought with the current terrible situation in the middle east it maybe nice to discuss our favorite fighters of Jewish heritage? This is of course not to discuss the complex tragedy that is happening but shine a light of the rich history of Jewish fighters.

    I will start with Barney Ross, not only a brilliant fighter but a war hero!
     
    Blofeld, Oct 16, 2023
    Blofeld, Oct 16, 2023
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  2. Blaxx

    Blaxx Active Member Full Member

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    Benny Leonard.
    One of the greatest to ever do it.
     
    Blaxx, Oct 16, 2023
    Blaxx, Oct 16, 2023
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  3. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Ross for sure. He is the poster boy for overcoming, love that guy.
     
    salsanchezfan, Oct 16, 2023
    salsanchezfan, Oct 16, 2023
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  4. ikrasevic

    ikrasevic Our pope is the Holy Spirit Full Member

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    Max Baer.
     
    ikrasevic, Oct 16, 2023
    ikrasevic, Oct 16, 2023
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  5. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Debatable.
     
    mcvey, Oct 16, 2023
    mcvey, Oct 16, 2023
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  6. ikrasevic

    ikrasevic Our pope is the Holy Spirit Full Member

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    What do you mean?
    That's the only Jewish boxer I can think of. Of course, I also know his own brother, but I think Max is a better boxer.
    I'm not very familiar with the subject, but I remember Max wearing shorts with the Star of David in the ring.
     
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2023
    ikrasevic, Oct 16, 2023
    ikrasevic, Oct 16, 2023
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  7. KernowWarrior

    KernowWarrior Bob Fitzsimmons much bigger brother. Full Member

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    Despite Max Schmeling not being a Jew he deserves a mention based on the reason the thread is written.

    Max saved the lives of two Jewish children by hiding them in his Berlin apartment during Kristallnacht, if he had been caught then Max would not have seen another birthday shall we say.
    Plus Schmeling refused to sack his Jewish manager Joe Jacobs despite the Reich insisting, again this had its risks.
     
    KernowWarrior, Oct 16, 2023
    KernowWarrior, Oct 16, 2023
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  8. kingfisher3

    kingfisher3 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Ross.

    shoutout Harry Haft, i only know the basic version of his story but it's pretty amazing.
     
    kingfisher3, Oct 16, 2023
    kingfisher3, Oct 16, 2023
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  9. kaapa2

    kaapa2 Photo believed to be Col. W.E. Kurtz... Full Member

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    Definitely going with Barney Ross. His fights with Jimmy Mclarnin were great to watch, even though there's only so much footage of them. (Or at least as far I know.)
     
    kaapa2, Oct 16, 2023
    kaapa2, Oct 16, 2023
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  10. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Ted Kid Lewis
     
    Clinton, Oct 16, 2023
    Clinton, Oct 16, 2023
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  11. Gui Dosnera

    Gui Dosnera Member Full Member

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    For me is Benny Leonard.
    But there are so, so many Jewish Legendary fighters in World Boxing History that I have nothing but respect for those who consider fighters such as Ted Kid Lewis, Barney Ross, Abe Attell, Maxie Rosenbloom or Jack Kid Berg the best ever.
     
    Gui Dosnera, Oct 16, 2023
    Gui Dosnera, Oct 16, 2023
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  12. Blofeld

    Blofeld Active Member Full Member

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    True, there is some discussion about Max's ethnic background, here are some contrasting quotes I found.

    "Legendary Jewish boxing trainer Ray Arcel had his own take on the authenticity of Baer’s Jewishness. “I saw him in the shower,” Arcel reputedly said. “He wasn’t.”

    "There continues to be some debate over whether Max Baer was Jewish. His father was a non-practicing Jew and his mother was a Catholic of Scot-Irish descent. Max was raised Catholic; however, he proclaimed himself a Jew. Baer said he wore a Magen David on his trunks to show his pride, but some people believed this was done for publicity alone."

    "
    Whether or not one takes Baer’s declared Jewishness as a publicity stunt or a desire to fight for something meaningful has been up for debate for six decades. A practicing Jew he certainly wasn’t. But Baer’s willingness to stand up for something he believed in should be admired and applauded. It might be something of an irony that Max Baer, the only heavyweight champion of the modern era to wear a Star of David on his trunks, is not considered by most Jews to be Jewish. Yet Baer and his family would have been considered Jewish enough under the Nazi regime and the oppressive laws that Hitler introduced, and would also have been entitled to immigrate to Israel under the Jewish state’s Right of Return Law."
     
    Blofeld, Oct 16, 2023
    Blofeld, Oct 16, 2023
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  13. Blofeld

    Blofeld Active Member Full Member

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    Good pick, also know as Gershon Mendeloff, which was probably a bit less catchy!
     
    Blofeld, Oct 16, 2023
    Blofeld, Oct 16, 2023
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  14. ron davis

    ron davis Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Davey Day and Ted Kid Lewis. Davey Day was Ross' policeman from 1934 - 1938 you had to beat Davey to get a title match with Ross. Ambers, Montanez, Canzoneri 3rd fight and Armstrong the featherweight Champ and many others wouldn't fight Mr.Day to get a crack at Barney's Title. Armstrong wasn't even rated in the Lightweight rankings. Barney and Davey were stablemates. Mike Jacobs was the boxing Tsar of NY and you had to sign with him to get a fight. He had Joe Louis and Armstrong wrapped up in 5 year contracts, along with 100 others. Pian and Winch, Eddie Meade and Uncle Mike decided to let Armstrong fight Ross for the Wel. Title. Telling Davey it's good for the stable with a gate of $150,000 plus.
     
    ron davis, Oct 16, 2023
    ron davis, Oct 16, 2023
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  15. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Benny Leonard and Barney Ross are the 2 greatest in history, imo.
     
    Greg Price99, Oct 16, 2023
    Greg Price99, Oct 16, 2023
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