Ross “The Boss” Puritty: The Iron-Chinned Road Warrior Who Took Down a Future Champion

Ross “The Boss” Puritty: The Iron-Chinned Road Warrior Who Took Down a Future Champion

December 18, 1966 — Phoenix, Arizona. That’s when and where Ross Puritty was born. What followed was a boxing journey unlike most: not marked by spotless records or clean lines of ascent, but by grit, resilience, and a ruggedness that made him one of the most unforgettable journeymen of his era. Today, on his birthday, we celebrate a fighter whose career read like a heavyweight odyssey full of bruising battles, surprise triumphs, and the kind of toughness storytellers cherish. 

The Making of “The Boss”

Puritty didn’t arrive as a polished product. He turned professional relatively late (debuting at 22 years old on May 29, 1989), and with little to no amateur pedigree, facing immediate adversity and setbacks early in his career. Losses piled up, and by his 13th fight, his record stood at a discouraging 6–7. Rather than being discouraged, though, Puritty began chipping away at a craft that many fighters with more promising results never learned: first survival and then seizing opportunity. 

Fighters and fans alike soon learned what Puritty already knew in his gut: he could take a shot, absorb punishment, and when the moment arrived, deliver his own thunder. That durability would become his calling card. 

Turning Point: A Draw With Tommy Morrison

1994 marked a seismic moment in Puritty’s career. He was matched against former WBO heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison, a man brimming with knockout power and world title experience. Few gave Puritty a chance, yet after dropping Morrison in the sixth and then again in the tenth, it was enough to earn Puritty a majority draw against a man who previously owned a portion of the world heavyweight title. Fans took notice.

It was more than just a result on a scorecard. For the first time, Puritty showed he wasn’t merely a name on a young contender’s résumé; he was a legitimate challenger, a man capable of testing anyone in the heavyweight ranks.

Journeyman to Contender

Following his Morrison breakthrough, Puritty embarked on one of the most convincing stretches of his career: ten consecutive wins with none going the distance. That streak didn’t just boost his record, it boosted his reputation. Suddenly this rugged American was no longer a gatekeeper; he was dangerous. 

Notably, he collected wins over former title challengers like Joe Hipp and the towering Jorge Luis González, turning heads and carving out a reputation as a formidable opponent who could carry power and toughness in equal measure. 

The Upset Heard (Quietly) in Boxing

Then came December 5, 1998 — a date that would become the defining moment of Puritty’s career. In Kyiv, Ukraine, with little fanfare but everything to gain, Puritty faced a young, undefeated Wladimir Klitschko (24-0), the Olympic gold medalist who many expected to steamroll his rugged American foe. 

What happened next was the stuff of heavyweight lore.

Klitschko, powerful and technically gifted, appeared in control through much of the fight. But Puritty’s iron chin and resilience were evident. By the 10th round, the tide visibly shifted and then Puritty dropped Klitschko. In the 11th round, the fight was stopped in Puritty’s favor by TKO. The result was one of the most stunning upsets in heavyweight history, giving Puritty the WBC International Heavyweight title and handing Klitschko his first professional loss. 

In hindsight, with Klitschko becoming one of the division’s all-time greats, that victory carries even more weight. It was the moment a rugged journeyman didn’t just compete with elite fighters but beat one. 

The Road Warrior’s Odyssey

Even after his Klitschko shocker, Puritty’s career was a tapestry of peaks and valleys. He fought future champions and pound-for-pound talents, including Hasim Rahman, Chris Byrd, Larry Donald, Corrie Sanders, and even Vitali Klitschko; showing his willingness to meet any challenge head-on. His record of 31 wins (27 by knockout), 20 losses, and 3 draws over 54 fights stands as a mark of breadth and bravery in an unforgiving era of heavyweight boxing.

Puritty was stopped only three times in his entire career, a testament to his famously durable chin and refusal to quit. 

Legacy Beyond the Numbers

Puritty retired from the ring in the mid-2000s. Leaving behind more than stats, he left a legacy of fearless competition. In an era crowded with towering titans and future Hall of Famers, his name became synonymous with fighting spirit. He was often the underdog; but he was always a test, always a challenge, and always a story worth telling.

For fans of heavyweight boxing, Ross “The Boss” Puritty represents a necessity in the sport: the archetype of the journeyman who had his headline moments, the warrior who could withstand punishment and change the trajectory of a career.

Today, on his birthday, we don’t just honor his record; we honor the heart, grit, and scrappy tenacity that defined one of the most intriguing careers of the 1990s and early 2000s.

Lies, Darn Lies and Statistics
Subject: Ross “The Boss” Puritty

Of the better fighters Puritty fought: 8 out of his first 10 opponents had yet to taste defeat as a professional. 19 opponents came in without a loss (of which 4 were making their pro debut).

9 only had 1 loss. Another 5 had 2 losses each. The better opponents, better than a .500 record, had a combined record of 475 wins, 19 losses, and 3 draws coming into the match. That averages to a bit better than 16 wins against a bit more than half a loss.

Puritty will be best known for his win over future world champion Wladimir Klitschko and his draw with Tommy Morrison. On November 15, 1997, Puritty fought for a sliver of the heayweight world title vs Corrie Sanders. His decision losses to future world champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman.  Other men he shared the ring with were:  Larry Donald, Luis Gonzalez (W-KO), Michael Grant, Will Hinton, Joe Hipp (W-KO), Timo Hoffmann, Kirk Johnson, Brian Nielsen, and future champions Chris Byrd and Vitali Klitschko.

Happy Birthday, Ross “The Boss” Puritty, much respect.

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