Ross Puritty

Last updated
Ross Puritty
Born
Ross Puritty

(1966-12-18) December 18, 1966 (age 58)
NationalityAmerican
Other namesThe Boss
Statistics
Weight(s) Heavyweight
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Reach80 in (203 cm)
Stance Orthodox stance
Boxing record
Total fights54
Wins31
Wins by KO27
Losses20
Draws3

Ross Puritty (born December 18, 1966) is an American former professional boxer. A high-level journeyman and occasional heavyweight contender, Puritty is best remembered for his shocking upset of Wladimir Klitschko in 1998 that won him the World Boxing Council (WBC) International heavyweight title, as well as for fighting former World Boxing Organization (WBO) world heavyweight champion, Tommy Morrison, to a draw. He also holds fairly notable victories over former world title challengers Jorge Luis Gonzalez and Joe Hipp.

Contents

Professional boxing career

Purrity struggled in his early career, losing to Cleveland Woods by technical knockout after being knocked down twice in his second fight. Through his first six professional fights Puritty had compiled a mediocre record of 3–3, and after thirteen professional fights he was doing even worse, falling to 6–7. By this time Puritty was considered nothing more than a useful journeyman who could be used as a trial horse for other young heavyweights. But Puritty was learning the art and science of boxing, and with time and experience his results began to improve.

A July 1994 match against Tommy Morrison, 41–2 at the time, was a turning point in Puritty's career, as he was outlanded and tired out near the end of the fight, but the bout was scored a draw after ten rounds on the strength of Puritty's two knockdowns of Morrison. [1] Puritty then went on a tear, winning his next ten consecutive bouts, all by knockout. Puritty had made his name and was now considered a top-tier opponent, earning matches against Hasim Rahman and Michael Grant (both of whom beat him), and against Jorge Luis Gonzalez and Joe Hipp, both of whom Puritty beat. Following the win against Hipp, Puritty was matched against world title contenders Corrie Sanders, Larry Donald, and Chris Byrd, losing all three fights. Just when it appeared that his time as a contender was ending, Puritty upset the undefeated prospect Mark Hulstrom and the also undefeated future world champion Wladimir Klitschko in just 29 days in late 1998 on his way to a four fight win streak (he won the WBC international heavyweight title from Klitschko).

Since a draw with Frankie Swindell in January 2000, Puritty has compiled a pedestrian record of just 4–7–2, and his time appears to have passed. But overall Puritty has salvaged a respectable career as a high-level journeyman and sometime contender for the heavyweight crown, amassing a career record of 31 wins and 20 losses with 27 wins coming by knockout.

Puritty has been generally acknowledged as a fighter with an "iron chin" due to his tremendous ability to absorb punishment.

Ross Puritty now resides in Wichita, Kansas living with his wife Twila and their five children: Chandler, Tonique, Ross, DeAundre, and Maleak.[ citation needed ] He works as a salesperson at Lexus of Wichita. [2]

Puritty has taken under his wing amateur boxers such as national contender Jeffery Page from Andover, Kansas and numerous other amateurs in a team known as Wichita Hard Hitters. Also for a short period he coached the Golden Glove champion Charles Ellis through a short but explosive professional career.

Professional boxing record

54 fights31 wins20 losses
By knockout263
By decision417
By disqualification10
Draws3
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound(s),
time
DateAgeLocationNotes
54Win31–20–3Carl GathrightMD8Oct 27, 200740 years, 313 daysRiver Rock Casino, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
53Loss30–20–3 David Cadieux UD10Feb 10, 200740 years, 54 daysMontreal Casino, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
52Loss30–19–3 Eddie Chambers UD10May 17, 200538 years, 150 daysBlue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
51Loss30–18–3 Alexander Dimitrenko UD8Nov 6, 200437 years, 324 daysErdgas Arena, Riesa, Sachsen, Germany
50Win30–17–3Tommy ConnellyTKO4 (6), 3:00Jan 24, 200437 years, 37 daysFire Lake Casino, Shawnee, Oklahoma, U.S.
49Win29–17–3John DixonKO2 (6), 1:28Aug 2, 200336 years, 227 daysNorthern Lights Casino, Walker, Minnesota, U.S.
48Loss28–17–3 Attila Levin UD10Sep 8, 200235 years, 264 daysGreat Plains Coliseum, Lawton, Oklahoma, U.S.
47Loss28–16–3 Timo Hoffmann UD12Jun 1, 200235 years, 165 daysNuernberg Arena, Nürnberg, Bayern, GermanyFor IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title
46Loss28–15–3 Vitali Klitschko TKO11 (12), 1:16Dec 8, 200134 years, 355 daysKoenig Pilsener Arena, Oberhausen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, GermanyFor WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title
45Draw28–14–3Sedreck FieldsPTS10Sep 21, 200134 years, 277 daysSport Palace Yunusabad, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
44Win28–14–2Ronnie SmithTKO4 (8), 1:26Nov 4, 200033 years, 322 daysMusic Hall, Austin, Texas, U.S.
43Loss27–14–2 Eliecer Castillo UD10Aug 20, 200033 years, 246 daysCasino Queen, East Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S.
42Draw27–13–2Frankie SwindellSD10Jan 14, 200033 years, 27 daysDon Haskins Center, El Paso, Texas, U.S.
41Win27–13–1Louis MonacoPTS8Apr 22, 199932 years, 125 daysAdam’s Mark Hotel, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
40Win26–13–1Lorenzo BoydTKO3 (6)Mar 23, 199932 years, 97 daysKC Market Center, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
39Win25–13–1 Wladimir Klitschko TKO11 (12), 0:18 Dec 5, 1998 31 years, 352 daysSport Palace, Kiev, UkraineWon WBC Inter-Continental heavyweight title
38Win24–13–1Mark HulstromKO2 (6)Nov 6, 199831 years, 323 daysK.B. Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark
37Loss23–13–1 Chris Byrd UD10Jul 14, 199831 years, 208 daysCasino Magic, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, U.S.
36Loss23–12–1 Larry Donald UD10Apr 21, 199831 years, 124 daysPlayers Island Casino, Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S.
35Loss23–11–1 Corrie Sanders UD12Nov 15, 199730 years, 332 daysCarousel Casino, Hammanskraal, Gauteng, South AfricaFor vacant WBU heavyweight title
34Win23–10–1 Joe Hipp KO10 (10), 1:43Jun 15, 199730 years, 179 daysGrand Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.
33Win22–10–1Calvin JonesTKO5 (?)Apr 17, 199730 years, 120 daysAdam’s Mark Hotel, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
32Win21–10–1 Jorge Luis González TKO7 (10), 2:28Dec 5, 199629 years, 353 daysBrady Theater, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
31Win20–10–1Lionel JacksonKO1 (?)Sep 14, 199629 years, 271 daysMatte Sports Arena, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
30Win19–10–1Michael SealsTKO2 (?)Sep 3, 199629 years, 260 daysMemphis, Tennessee, U.S.
29Loss18–10–1 Michael Grant UD10Jul 21, 199629 years, 216 daysTeamster's Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
28Loss18–9–1 Hasim Rahman UD10Mar 26, 199629 years, 99 daysBlue Cross Arena, Rochester, New York, U.S.
27Win18–8–1Ron BrooksTKO1 (8)Mar 2, 199629 years, 75 daysCivic Center, Sanford, Connecticut, U.S.
26Win17–8–1Stan JonesKO3 (8)Sep 23, 199528 years, 279 daysKissimmee, Florida, U.S.
25Win16–8–1Andre SmileyTKO1 (8), 0:52Aug 26, 199528 years, 251 daysArgosy Riverboat, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
24Win15–8–1Cedric HarbaughDQ3 (?)Aug 22, 199528 years, 247 daysCivic Center, Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
23Win14–8–1Andre SmileyTKO1 (?)Aug 18, 199528 years, 243 daysCiudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico
22Win13–8–1Tom WilliamsTKO1 (?)Jul 25, 199528 years, 219 daysColumbia, South Carolina, U.S.
21Win12–8–1Lamar JohnsonTKO3 (6)Jul 18, 199528 years, 212 daysCivic Center, Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
20Win11–8–1Tyrone DixonKO1 (?)Jun 22, 199528 years, 186 daysVirginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
19Win10–8–1Max KeyTKO2 (?)Apr 26, 199528 years, 129 daysRaleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
18Win9–8–1Ron GulletteTKO4 (?)Feb 17, 199528 years, 61 daysRaleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
17Draw8–8–1 Tommy Morrison SD10Jul 28, 199427 years, 222 daysConvention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
16Loss8–8 Kirk Johnson UD6May 5, 199427 years, 138 daysOlympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
15Win8–7Derrick RoddyUD6Mar 27, 199427 years, 99 daysExpo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
14Win7–7Jason WilliamsUD4Mar 12, 199427 years, 84 daysMGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Vegas, U.S.
13Loss6–7 Brian Nielsen UD6 Mar 5, 1994 27 years, 77 daysOlympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
12Loss6–6Will HintonUD6Aug 5, 199326 years, 230 daysAladdin Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
11Win6–5Juan Ramon PerezKO4 (?)Apr 3, 199225 years, 107 daysCiudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico
10Win5–5Mike BardwellKO2 (?)Mar 25, 199225 years, 98 daysSports Arena, San Diego, California, U.S.
9Loss4–5King IpitanUD4Feb 25, 199225 years, 69 daysCountry Club, Reseda, California, U.S.
8Loss4–4 Derek Isaman UD4Feb 24, 199124 years, 68 daysBally's Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
7Win4–3Jose AvilaTKO1 (?), 0:32Feb 3, 199124 years, 47 daysEl Paso Convention Center, El Paso, Texas, U.S.
6Loss3–3John SargentUD6Jan 6, 199124 years, 19 daysCivic Center, Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S.
5Loss3–2 Aleksandr Miroshnichenko RTD6 (8)Oct 29, 199023 years, 315 daysKorakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
4Win3–1Troy TutwilerTKO3 (?)Jun 10, 199023 years, 174 daysSunland Park, New Mexico, U.S.
3Win2–1Sergio HernandezTKO1 (4)Jan 15, 199023 years, 28 daysSunland Park, New Mexico, U.S.
2Loss1–1Cleveland WoodsTKO1 (4), 2:31Jun 27, 198922 years, 191 daysShowboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
1Win1–0Sergio AraujoKO1 (4)May 29, 198922 years, 162 daysCounty Coliseum, El Paso, Texas, U.S.

References

  1. BOXING, Northwest Florida Daily, July 30, 1994, p. 44.
  2. "Meet Lexus of Wichita | Lexus Dealer near Goddard, KS". www.lexusofwichita.com. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
Preceded by WBC International Heavyweight Champion
December 5, 1998 – March 18, 2000
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Wladimir Klitschko