Mike Rossman

Mike Rossman
Rossman (right) with Chuck Wepner, 2012
Statistics
Real name	Michael Albert DePiano
Nickname(s)	The Jewish Bomber The Kosher Butcher
Rated at	Light Heavyweight
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Reach	73½ in
Nationality	American
Born	(1955-07-01) July 1, 1955 (age 61) Turnersville, New Jersey, U.S.
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	54
Wins	44
Wins by KO	27
Losses	7
Draws	3

Mike Rossman (born Michael Albert DePiano on July 1, 1955) is an American former professional boxer who was the WBA light heavyweight champion of the world. He is of Jewish–Italian origin, which led to his monikers "The Kosher Butcher" and "The Jewish Bomber".

Rossman was born in Turnersville, New Jersey. His birth name was Michael Albert DePiano; Rossman is his mother's maiden name, which he uses rather than that of his father as part of an appeasement agreement. Rossman's father was Italian, and his mother Jewish. He began boxing at 14 and turned pro on August 10, 1973.

Rossman fought Víctor Galíndez for the light heavyweight championship of the world on the undercard of an Ali–Spinks rematch in September 1978. Many thought Galindez would defeat him, but Rossman opened up cuts over Galindez's eyes and continued fighting until near the end of the 13th round, when the referee stopped the fight, and Rossman became world champion.

Rossman made one successful defense before his hometown Philadelphia fans in December of the same year, stopping Italian challenger Aldo Traversaro in the fifth round after opening a wound on Aldo's forehead with a left hook.

Later, after losing the title back to Galindez in 1979 (see below), his career declined as he lost several matches; he never again fought a title match. He fought into the early 1980s, and perhaps the biggest name he faced in post-championship status was the upstart Dwight Braxton (today known as Dwight Muhammad Qawi), who defeated him in seven rounds in May 1981.

In February 1979, Rossman participated in what is sometimes considered one of professional boxing's most embarrassing moments (at least in modern times). At a scheduled rematch between Rossman and Galindez, Rossman was left waiting in the ring as Galindez failed to appear: the challenger's camp was disputing the neutrality of the judges scoring the fight. After immediate attempts to remedy the situation failed, the fight was suspended, and rescheduled two months later in April 1979.