Roman Greenberg
Encyclopedia
Roman Greenberg is a British-based Israeli heavyweight boxer, currently International Boxing Organization
's (IBO's) Intercontinental heavyweight champion, with a 27–1 record. Greenberg has been nicknamed the "Lion from Zion."
, Moldova
. His family immigrated to Tel Aviv
, Israel, soon after his birth. He began boxing
at age 11 after a friend took him to a boxing club in Kiryat Bialik. His earliest boxing memory is of having his nose broken. In 2000 Greenberg won a silver medal at the Junior World Championships in Budapest, where he fought at 200 lb (90.7 kg). Today Greenberg is 6 in 3 in (1.91 m) and weighs roughly 230 pounds. At 15, in 1997 he won the silver medal
at the European junior boxing championships. Greenberg speaks four languages – Hebrew, Russian, German, and English. Greenberg's brother was the Junior Chess Champion of Israel in 2004. He is well known for his vocal support of the State of Israel. Greenberg wears a Star of David
on his trunks. He trains in Maidenhead
, Berkshire
, and has a home near Haifa
. His manager and trainer is Jim Evans.
at the Junior World Championships in 2000 in Budapest
where he beat Viktar Zuyev
14:8 but lost to Dzhamal Medzhydov (Ukr). He posted a 47–5 amateur record. Greenberg was knocked out only once, by an opponent 11 years his senior in a national amateur championship match, when he was only 15.
Greenberg made his pro debut in November 2001, after serving seven months in the Israeli Army. In his 2003 fight against Lithuania
n Mindaugas Kulikauskas, he was knocked down in the 2nd round for the first time in his career, only to come back and knock out his opponent in the 5th. He won his first 27 professional bouts – 18 by K.O. – before he was beaten in 2008.
Greenberg won the IBO Intercontinental Championship by 6th round TKO against Alex Vassilev in March 2006. His 25th victory was a unanimous decision over Michael Simms (formerly 19–6–1; 13 KOs) at Madison Square Garden
in March 2007, as he got the nod from the three judges, all by 99–91 scores as he won nine of the 10 rounds, controlling the action with his frequent jab, and much less frequent left hook.
Greenberg next defeated American veteran Damon "Dangerous" Reed at the South Town Exhibition Center in Salt Lake City, Utah
, on August 18, 2007. Reed, 43-11-(5), a former WBO title challenger, had won his last three fights and fought some of the leading heavyweight and cruiserweight contenders in the world since turning professional in April 1995. Greenberg put together some impressive and heavy three and four punch combinations. Reed grappled, kicked, pushed Greenberg to the canvas on numerous occasions, tried roughing him up on the inside with the elbows, spun Greenberg round full circle and punched on break, and at one point tried to choke Greenberg, and was docked points for his illegal moves. In the eighth round Greenberg floored Reed three times. The contest was stopped 43 seconds into the ninth, after he again sent Reed crashing to the canvas.
Greenberg out-pointed Southampton-based Irish-born Colin Kenna
over eight rounds in London in October 2007. He had Kenna in trouble in the sixth round with a good right hook, and on the floor in seventh from a straight right hand. The only time Greenberg "was in any trouble was when his stool collapsed under his sixteen and a half stone frame at the end of fifth round."
In December 2007 Greenberg underwent a hand operation. He had been hampered by an injury to the second and third metacarpals on the knuckles in his right hand for years, and was operated on successfully by hand surgeon David Evans in Windsor, Berkshire
.
Greenberg lost his first bout against heavyweight contender Cedric Boswell
(28–1; 22 KOs) in August 2008. He lost via TKO in the second round, after taking numerous punches from Boswell, who won for the 28th time in 29 fights, and is looking for a title bout opportunity. In June 2009, he was ranked 56th in the International Boxing Organization
's heavyweight computerized rankings. Of those ahead of him, only two were younger than he is.Greenberg hasn't fought in the ring after his loss to Boswell.
junior welterweight (29–0–1) and Yuri Foreman
, the middleweight
(30–1–2).
International Boxing Organization
The International Boxing Organization is a for-profit organization that sanctions professional boxing matches and awards world and subordinate championships.- Origins :...
's (IBO's) Intercontinental heavyweight champion, with a 27–1 record. Greenberg has been nicknamed the "Lion from Zion."
Biography
Greenberg was born on May 18, 1982 in BălţiBalti
Balti can refer to:* Balti language, a language spoken in Baltistan in Pakistan and Ladakh in Kashmir* Balti people, Muslims of Ladakhi/Tibetan origin from Baltistan in Pakistan and Ladakh in Kashmir...
, Moldova
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
. His family immigrated to Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, Israel, soon after his birth. He began boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
at age 11 after a friend took him to a boxing club in Kiryat Bialik. His earliest boxing memory is of having his nose broken. In 2000 Greenberg won a silver medal at the Junior World Championships in Budapest, where he fought at 200 lb (90.7 kg). Today Greenberg is 6 in 3 in (1.91 m) and weighs roughly 230 pounds. At 15, in 1997 he won the silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
at the European junior boxing championships. Greenberg speaks four languages – Hebrew, Russian, German, and English. Greenberg's brother was the Junior Chess Champion of Israel in 2004. He is well known for his vocal support of the State of Israel. Greenberg wears a Star of David
Star of David
The Star of David, known in Hebrew as the Shield of David or Magen David is a generally recognized symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism.Its shape is that of a hexagram, the compound of two equilateral triangles...
on his trunks. He trains in Maidenhead
Maidenhead
Maidenhead is a town and unparished area within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. It lies on the River Thames and is situated west of Charing Cross in London.-History:...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, and has a home near Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
. His manager and trainer is Jim Evans.
Boxing career
In 1999, Greenberg was the youngest-ever winner of the Israeli national heavyweight title. Greenberg won a silver medalSilver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
at the Junior World Championships in 2000 in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
where he beat Viktar Zuyev
Viktar Zuyev
Viktar Zuyev is a boxer from Belarus best known to win the heavyweight silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.-Career:The aggressive and hard punching southpaw won a silver medal at the Euro 2004....
14:8 but lost to Dzhamal Medzhydov (Ukr). He posted a 47–5 amateur record. Greenberg was knocked out only once, by an opponent 11 years his senior in a national amateur championship match, when he was only 15.
Greenberg made his pro debut in November 2001, after serving seven months in the Israeli Army. In his 2003 fight against Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n Mindaugas Kulikauskas, he was knocked down in the 2nd round for the first time in his career, only to come back and knock out his opponent in the 5th. He won his first 27 professional bouts – 18 by K.O. – before he was beaten in 2008.
Greenberg won the IBO Intercontinental Championship by 6th round TKO against Alex Vassilev in March 2006. His 25th victory was a unanimous decision over Michael Simms (formerly 19–6–1; 13 KOs) at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in March 2007, as he got the nod from the three judges, all by 99–91 scores as he won nine of the 10 rounds, controlling the action with his frequent jab, and much less frequent left hook.
Greenberg next defeated American veteran Damon "Dangerous" Reed at the South Town Exhibition Center in Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, on August 18, 2007. Reed, 43-11-(5), a former WBO title challenger, had won his last three fights and fought some of the leading heavyweight and cruiserweight contenders in the world since turning professional in April 1995. Greenberg put together some impressive and heavy three and four punch combinations. Reed grappled, kicked, pushed Greenberg to the canvas on numerous occasions, tried roughing him up on the inside with the elbows, spun Greenberg round full circle and punched on break, and at one point tried to choke Greenberg, and was docked points for his illegal moves. In the eighth round Greenberg floored Reed three times. The contest was stopped 43 seconds into the ninth, after he again sent Reed crashing to the canvas.
Greenberg out-pointed Southampton-based Irish-born Colin Kenna
Colin Kenna
Colin Kenna is an Irish boxer, formerly a holder of the BBofC Southern Area heavyweight title belt. Kenna currently resides in Southampton, England.-Career:...
over eight rounds in London in October 2007. He had Kenna in trouble in the sixth round with a good right hook, and on the floor in seventh from a straight right hand. The only time Greenberg "was in any trouble was when his stool collapsed under his sixteen and a half stone frame at the end of fifth round."
In December 2007 Greenberg underwent a hand operation. He had been hampered by an injury to the second and third metacarpals on the knuckles in his right hand for years, and was operated on successfully by hand surgeon David Evans in Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
.
Greenberg lost his first bout against heavyweight contender Cedric Boswell
Cedric Boswell
Cedric Boswell is a professional heavyweight boxer from the United States. He was touted as a future heavyweight contender early in his pro career, which began in 1994....
(28–1; 22 KOs) in August 2008. He lost via TKO in the second round, after taking numerous punches from Boswell, who won for the 28th time in 29 fights, and is looking for a title bout opportunity. In June 2009, he was ranked 56th in the International Boxing Organization
International Boxing Organization
The International Boxing Organization is a for-profit organization that sanctions professional boxing matches and awards world and subordinate championships.- Origins :...
's heavyweight computerized rankings. Of those ahead of him, only two were younger than he is.Greenberg hasn't fought in the ring after his loss to Boswell.
Boxing style
Greenberg uses an "orthodox" stance. He is best at moving his legs, creating angles, and confusing opponents. He has also been referred to as "cerebral," with "lightening [sic] fast reflexes" "incredibly quick hands, and a "solid jab and quickness of fist." He "has plenty of flashy moves and can escape from a corner and counter as well as anyone in the division." At the same time he has been described as steady and patient. He isn't a power puncher, but more of a technician, whose knockouts come from an accumulation of punches. He has a very European style, as he stands straight up and relies on his left hand to control distance and set up his combinations. Some experts maintain, however, that he is not a big enough puncher to bother the very best heavyweights. He has also been criticized for just doing enough to win rounds and adopting a safety first attitude, but has responded: "When it is time to take risks in a very big fight, like for the world title, then I will be happy to take the risks. But why should I take unnecessary risks in fights I'm clearly winning?" He has also been criticized for seeing to be "unwilling to maintain a high level of work," and being "guilty of dropping his hands and stepping back to admire his own work whenever he landed a flashy combination." He has also been criticized for not jumping on weakened opponents and lacking killer instinct. In November 2006 he sported a flabby mid-body for the first time in his professional career.Jewish heritage
Greenberg was one of three top Jewish boxers in January 2009, the others being Dmitry SalitaDmitry Salita
Dmitry Salita is a Ukrainian-born Jewish-American boxer from Brooklyn, New York in the welterweight division.He has a 33–1–1 record, with 16 KOs. He is , and his reach is 69".He is a practicing Orthodox Jew, and became so after he moved to Brooklyn...
junior welterweight (29–0–1) and Yuri Foreman
Yuri Foreman
Yuri Foreman is a Belarusian-born Israeli-American professional boxer. He is a former World Boxing Association super welterweight champion...
, the middleweight
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
(30–1–2).