Ross Puritty boxer
- bouts
- 54
- won
- 31
- lost
- 20
- draw
- 3
- Status
- inactive
- Division
- heavyweight
- Debut
- 1989-05-29
- Height
- 6′ 3″/191cm
- Reach
- 80″/203cm
- Age
- -
- Born
- 1966-12-18
- Death
- -
- Nationality
- USA
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 WBC international Heavyweight title, as well as for fighting former World Boxing Organization's 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.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. 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.
Date | Opponent | Last Opponents' Results | Place | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2007-10-27 | Carl Gathright | WLLLL | River Rock Casino, Richmond | WIN Majority decision |
2007-02-10 | David Cadieux | WWWWWW | Montreal Casino, Montreal | LOST Unanimous decision |
2005-05-17 | Eddie Chambers | WWWWWW | Blue Horizon, Philadelphia | LOST Unanimous decision |
2004-11-06 | Alexander Dimitrenko | WWWWWW | Erdgas Arena, Riesa | LOST Unanimous decision |
2004-01-24 | Tommy Connelly | WWWWWL | Fire Lake Casino, Shawnee | WIN Technical knockout |
2003-08-02 | John Dixon | LLLLLL | Northern Lights Casino, Walker | WIN KO |
2002-09-08 | Attila Levin | WWWWWW | Great Plains Coliseum, Lawton | LOST Unanimous decision |
2002-06-01 | Timo Hoffmann | WLLWWW | Nuernberg Arena, Nuremberg (Nürnberg) | LOST Unanimous decision |
2001-12-08 | Vitali Klitschko | WWWLWW | Koenig Pilsener Arena, Oberhausen | LOST Technical knockout |
2001-09-21 | Sedreck Fields | LWWLWL | Sport Palace Yunusabad, Tashkent | DRAW Points |
2000-11-04 | Ronnie Smith | LLLLLL | Music Hall, Austin | WIN Technical knockout |
2000-08-20 | Elieser Castillo | LWWWDW | Casino Queen, East Saint Louis | LOST Unanimous decision |
2000-01-14 | Frankie Swindell | WLWWWL | Don Haskins Center, El Paso | DRAW Split-decision |
1999-04-22 | Louis Monaco | LLLLLD | Adam’s Mark Hotel, Tulsa | WIN Points |
1999-03-23 | Lorenzo Boyd | LLWWL | KC Market Center, Kansas City | WIN Technical knockout |
1998-12-05 | Wladimir Klitschko | WWWWWW | Sport Palace, Kiev | WIN Technical knockout |
1998-11-06 | Mark Hulstrom | WWWWWW | K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen | WIN KO |
1998-07-14 | Chris Byrd | WWWWWW | Casino Magic, Bay Saint Louis | LOST Unanimous decision |
1998-04-21 | Larry Donald | WWWWWW | Players Island Casino, Lake Charles | LOST Unanimous decision |
1997-11-15 | Corrie Sanders | WWWWWW | Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal | LOST Unanimous decision |
1997-06-15 | Joe Hipp | WWWWWW | Grand Casino, Biloxi | WIN KO |
1997-04-17 | Calvin Jones | LLWWLL | Adam’s Mark Hotel, Tulsa | WIN Technical knockout |
1996-12-05 | Jorge Luis Gonzalez | WWWLWL | Brady Theater, Tulsa | WIN Technical knockout |
1996-09-14 | Lionel Jackson | L | Matte Sports Arena, Tulsa | WIN KO |
1996-09-03 | Michael Seals | debut | Memphis | WIN Technical knockout |
1996-07-21 | Michael Grant | WWWWWW | Teamster's Hall, Baltimore | LOST Unanimous decision |
1996-03-26 | Hasim Rahman | WWWWWW | Blue Cross Arena, Rochester | LOST Unanimous decision |
1996-03-02 | Ron Brooks | L | Civic Center, Sanford | WIN Technical knockout |
1995-09-23 | Stan Jones | WWLWW | Kissimmee | WIN KO |
1995-08-26 | Andre Smiley | LLLLLL | Argosy Riverboat, Kansas City | WIN Technical knockout |
1995-08-22 | Cedric Harbaugh | debut | Civic Center, Raleigh | WIN Technical knockout |
1995-08-18 | Andre Smiley | LLLLLL | Ciudad Juarez | WIN Technical knockout |
1995-07-25 | Tom Williams | WLLL | Columbia | WIN Technical knockout |
1995-07-18 | Lamar Johnson | LL | Raleigh | WIN Technical knockout |
1995-06-22 | Tyrone Dixon | LLL | Virginia Beach | WIN KO |
1995-04-26 | Max Key | LLLLLL | Raleigh | WIN Technical knockout |
1995-02-17 | Ron Gullette | WLLLLL | Raleigh | WIN Technical knockout |
1994-07-28 | Tommy Morrison | WWLWWW | Convention Center, Atlantic City | DRAW Split-decision |
1994-05-05 | Kirk Johnson | WWWWWW | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles | LOST Unanimous decision |
1994-03-27 | Derrick Roddy | WWWWWL | Expo Square Pavilion, Tulsa | WIN Unanimous decision |
1994-03-12 | Jason Williams | L | MGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas | WIN Unanimous decision |
1994-03-05 | Brian Nielsen | WWWWWW | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles | LOST Points |
1993-08-05 | Will Hinton | WWWWWL | Aladdin Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas | LOST Unanimous decision |
1992-04-03 | Juan Ramon Perez | LDLLLL | Ciudad Juarez | WIN KO |
1992-03-25 | Mike Bardwell | LLLWLW | Sports Arena, San Diego | WIN KO |
1992-02-25 | King Ipitan | WW | Country Club, Reseda | LOST Points |
1991-02-24 | Derek Isaman | WWWW | Bally's Las Vegas, Las Vegas | LOST Unanimous decision |
1991-02-03 | Jose Avila | LDLL | El Paso Convention Center, El Paso | WIN Technical knockout |
1991-01-06 | John Sargent | WWWWWW | Civic Center, Bismarck | LOST Unanimous decision |
1990-10-29 | Alexander Miroshnichenko | WW | Korakuen Hall | LOST Corner retirement |
1990-06-10 | Troy Tutwiler | debut | County Coliseum, El Paso | WIN Technical knockout |
1990-01-15 | Sergio Hernandez | debut | Sunland Park | WIN Technical knockout |
1989-06-27 | Cleveland Woods | WWW | Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas | LOST Technical knockout |
1989-05-29 | Sergio Araujo | debut | County Coliseum, El Paso | WIN KO |