Maxie Rosenbloom Slapsie Maxie

 

 

 

 

Few fighters stepped into the ring more often than Maxie Rosenbloom, who fought 299 times in sixteen years. Raised on the Lower East Side of New York, Rosenbloom left school after third grade and later served time in reform school. Reportedly, actor George Raft spotted the young Rosenbloom in a street brawl and advised him to become a boxer.Rosenbloom had an unusual style. He was a weak puncher and often slapped at his opponents with an open hand--earning him the nickname "Slapsie"--but he was a consummate defensive fighter and did whatever was necessary to avoid getting hit. He won the vast majority of his fights, although he only recorded nineteen knockouts in his entire professional career.

Rosenbloom turned pro at age nineteen and quickly became ranked as a contender, placing tenth in the 1925 annual rankings by THE RING. In 1927, Rosenbloom faced Jimmy Slattery--who had already beaten him twice--for the vacant NBA light heaveyweight title. Slattery again won the decision. Over the next couple years, Rosenbloom kept up a rigorous schedule, battling 46 times in 1928 and 1929.

In 1930, Rosenbloom again faced Slattery in a title fight. Rosenbloom took the decision in fifteen rounds and won the world light heaveyweight championship, as recognized by the New York State Athletic Commision. Most ring experts considered Rosenbloom the best light heaveyweight in the game, and he was acclaimed as the undisputed champion when he defeated Lou Scozza in July of 1932.

Rosenbloom held the title until 1934, when he lost a decision to Bob Olin, although many sports writers at ringside believed Rosenbloom had won. Along the way, Rosenbloom fought John Henry Lewis, winning three of there five matches. Rosenbloom had a reputation of fighting just about anyone who would get in the ring with him. He once asked for a match with Joe Louis. As the story goes, Louis was confident of winning but declined because he feared Rosenbloom would make him look bad.

A lively character, Rosenbloom didn't devote much time to training. Although he stayed away from alcohol, he enjoyed gambling, the company of women, and late night celebrations. Rosenbloom parlayed his colorful reputation into a successful acting and night club career, often portraying a punch-drunk fighter.

 

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RING RECORD: 210 wins - 38 losses - 26 draw - (299 total bouts)

 selected bouts

Sep 24	1923	Nick  Scanlon			New York				W 6

1925
Feb 13	1925	Yale    Okun			New York				D 6
Mar 3	1925	Hambone Kelly			New York				W 6
Jul 16	1925	Harry    Greb			Cleveland				ND-L 10
Aug 22	1925	Jimmy Slattery			Brooklyn				L 6

1926
Jan 1	1926	Jimmy Slattery			Buffalo					L 10
Jan 11	1926	Art Wiegand				Buffalo					L 6
Oct 15	1926	Tiger Flowers			Boston					WF 9

1927
Mar 17	1927	Young Stribling			Boston					L 10
Jun 21	1927	Leo    Lomski			New York				L 12
Jul 4	1927	Tiger Flowers			Chicago					D 10
Aug 30	1927	Jimmy Slattery			Hartford				L 10
Nov 9	1927	Tiger Flowers			Detroit					D 10

1928
Mar 5	1928	Cuban Bobby Brown		Pittsburgh				W 10
Jul 31	1928	Ted "Kid" Lewis			New York				WF 6
Aug 24	1928	Leo    Lomski			Long Branch				D 10
Nov 22	1928	Cuban Bobby Brown		Jersey City				W 10

1929
Nov 15	1929	Jim Braddock			New York				W 10

1930
Jun 25	1930	Jimmy Slattery			Buffalo					W 15
Oct 22	1930	Abie    Bain			New York				TKO 11

1931
Aug 5	1931	Jimmy Slattery			Brooklyn				W 15

1932
Jul 14	1932	Lou    Scozza			Buffalo					W 15
Nov 16	1932	John Henry Lewis		SanFrancisco			W 10

1933
Mar 10	1933	Adolf Heuser			New York				W 15
Mar 24	1933	Bob Godwin				New York				TKO 4
Jul 10	1933	John Henry Lewis		SanFrancisco			L 10
Jul 31	1933	John Henry Lewis		SanFrancisco			L 10
Nov 3	1933	Mickey Walker			New York				W 15

1934
Feb 5	1934	Joe Knight				Miami					D 15
May 8	1934	Mickey Walker			LosAngeles				L 10
Nov 16	1934	Bob Olin				New York				L 15

1935
Jul 17	1935	John Henry lewis		Oakland					W 10
Nov 29	1935	John Henry lewis		Chicago					W 10

1939
Jun 26	1939	Al      Ettore			Hollywood				KO 3						




Record courtesy of The Boxing Register. 
By James B. Roberts and Alexander G. Skutt

www.harrygreb.com