How good was Barney Ross

I don’t know about ratings and all that but he was one of the best boxers I’ve ever seen.
Such an opinion has been voiced by much smarter people than me across the years.
One thing one you read about Barney is a lot things he says on boxing refer to intellect and wilfulness. He was right.
“A champion chooses how he goes out” - Barney Ross

 

I rate him as the best boxing Barney (with an asterisk) ahead of Battling Levinsky (true name Barney Williams).

The asterisk is because Ross’ real name is Beryl Rosofsky.

I’d rank Ross, however, below Barney Fife and above Barney Rubble among all Barneys.

 

Hi Buddy.
In answer to your question, not sure, but I know a poster who can help and educate cue: @Greg Price99 .
stay safe ron, chat soon.

 

Barney Ross is comfortably sitting in the top 20 all time p4p fighters in the history of the sport. I hope that clears things up.

 

Hi Mike,

I hope you're well & that your health is better than the last time we discussed it.

As per post #39 on this thread, I rank Ross as the second greatest boxer of the 1930's, solely based on fights in that decade, with only the great Henry Armstrong ahead of him - https://www.boxingforum24.com/threa...nes-listed-at-the-top-of-page-1.693501/page-3.

Ross went 66-4-3 in the 30's and 47-2-1 after a couple of early defeats when he was green.

The only 2 x defeats suffered during his prime were to the bigger ATG Jimmy McLarnin, who he beat twice, and the top 4 p4p all time great, Henry Armstrong, in Barney's final fight.

In addition to 2 x victories over McLarnin, Ross also beat the ATG Tony Canzoneri x 2, Cerfino Garcia x 3, Billy Petrolle, Ray Miller, Battling Battalino, Joe Ghnouly, Chuck Woods x 2, Izzy Jannazzo, Al Manfredo x 2 & Jackie Burke.

Ross was 2-0 in LW world title fights and 4-2 in WW world title fights, despite never being more than a natural LW, or LWW at the very most, himself.

I rate Ross top 20 all time at LW & at WW based solely on fights contested in those divisions and top 20 p4p. His is an amazing record & by all accounts he was a great man, too.

 

Legend has it Ross once beat a challenger (Ceferino Garcia maybe) with only one hand. He had to use his right as a decoy because of injury. He worked his jab for 15 rounds occasionally fienting a righthand.
According to Ray Arcel it was one of the great displays of boxing class he ever saw. "Brain over braun"

 

If you have to ask that question...you belong on the General forum...

 

Hi Greg.
Firstly appreciate your concern over my health, a testament to your caring nature, and an excellent post as always, as the James Bond Song says " nobody does it better " honestly your contributions are invaluable, not just to the newer member, but even us oldies can learn a thing or two, the forum would be a poorer place without you, many thanks Greg.
stay safe buddy, chat soon.

 

I only rate Armstrong better in that time period. Ross was a legit ATG that would fit into any era and would always hold a belt.

 

There’d be dozens of threads & opinions on him if he’d fought in the 70’s or 80’s.

 

Yes, it was the Ceferino title defense. There used to be footage of it on YT, but the channel got deleted.

That fight would turn out to be Ross' last hurrah @ the world class level. Despite winning the fight, he took a terrific body beating from Garcia, & I've suspected that that may have set him up for the pummeling he received from Armstrong in his next title defense (& final career fight).

I would also argue that, after Greb, Ross went the farthest of any fighter in history w/ the least amount of power (keeping in mind that fighters like Ali, Mayweather, & Whitaker all showed some degree of explosiveness throughout their careers). Ross had pretty much everything else you could want from a fighter - fast hands & feet, great technical skill, could fight from inside & outside, a lion's heart, & a cast iron chin. He beat 2 fellow ATGs in McLarnin & Canzoneri & also beat other great/HoF-level competition like Battling Battalino & Billy Petrolle.

 

I would probably rate him 3rd best behind Armstrong & Louis, in that order.

 

Interesting, I'd never considered this perspective before.

I'd guess Pep had similar power to Ross, p4p, and I rank Willie higher than Barney. Otherwise, I find myself in agreement with you.

 

And where would you rank Barney the Dinosaur? imo, it's hard to see him as anything less than the GOAT of Barneys.