Charlie Phil Rosenberg Explained

Charley Rosenberg
Realname:Charles Green
Weight:Bantamweight
champion
Nationality: American
Birth Date:1902 8, mf=yes
Birth Place:New York, New York
Death Place:New York, New York
Style:Orthodox
Total:70
(With newspaper decisions)
Wins:40
Ko:7
Losses:20
Draws:10

Charley Phil Rosenberg (Charles Green; August 15, 1902 – March 12, 1976) was an American boxer. He was the World Bantamweight Champion from 1925 to 1927.[1] His trainers were the legendary Ray Arcel, and Whitey Bimstein, and his manager was Harry Segal.[2] [3] [4] [5]

Early life

Charlie Rosenberg was born in New York City's Lower East Side on August 15, 1902, as Charles Green. He came from a large family of nine siblings. Before he was born, his father died in an accident while working as a laborer at a clothing factory. His widowed mother Rachel, struggling to provide for the family, was forced to place three of his siblings in a Hebrew Orphan Asylum. When Charley was only five, his mother decided to move the family from the Lower East Side to Harlem, a more ethnically mixed section that still contained many Jews. Charley grew up poor and struggling in a neighborhood where children from different races and religions often competed in the streets to get by. Rosenberg was working as an errand boy for a millinery shop when co-worker Phil Rosenberg had to pull out of a scheduled match.

He won his bout substituting for Phil Rosenberg, and subsequently took his name as his ring moniker. He retained his real first name of Charlie.[6] [7]

Early boxing career

Rosenberg began fighting as a bantamweight in 1921, and lost most of his fights through May 1922.

Charlie's manager Harry Segal, frustrated with Charlie's poor record in his early fights, may have intentionally overmatched him with Olympic Flyweight Champion Frankie Genaro around that time. Although losing the twelve round points decision at the Commonwealth Sporting Club against Genaro on May 23, 1922, the close fight could have gone either way, and Charlie's manager was impressed with his young boxer's ability to learn. Rosenberg had picked up pointers on bobbing, ducking, and effectively using his left, from Jewish boxing great Benny Valgar, while training at his gym. He would meet Genaro again on October 21, 1922, in another close twelve round bout. Rosenberg would become known for his speed, hard hitting ability, and cleverness in the ring.[8]

After his first bout with Genaro, Rosenberg defeated important prospects Sammy Butts and Henry Catena. He won a twelve round decision against the up and coming local bantamweight Butts in a semi-final bout at New York's Commonwealth Sporting Club on July 8, 1922.[5] On October 30, 1923, he defeated the prolific Black boxer Danny Edwards, in a ten round points decision at New York's Pioneer Sporting Club. Edwards would fight top talent in his long career, including several champions, but he had a three inch height disadvantage against Rosenberg. The talented Black boxer had a lead in the first five rounds, but Rosenberg performed well enough in the final five to take the decision. In the sixth, Rosenberg battered Edwards with both hands to the face and body and nearly staggered him at the round's end with a right. Edwards showed experience and ring generalship to complete the final four rounds still on his feet as he tired.[9] [10]

He defeated Harry London on November 22, 1923, in a twelve round points decision at the Commonwealth Sporting Club at 120 pounds. He then lost to talented future Bantamweight Champion Bud Taylor on October 19, 1923, in Madison Square Garden. In their twelve round October decision, Rosenberg finished strong in the last two rounds when he caught Taylor with solid right hooks to the chin, though Taylor connected often, with a solid blow in the last round, and clearly won the first two rounds. Many in the crowd were disappointed in the ruling for Taylor, though he may have lost his advantage from an injured right hand in the fifth.[11] [12]

Bouts with Eddie Martin, 1923–24

Rosenberg and "Cannonball" Eddie Martin, 1925 Bantamweight Champion of the World, met three times, twice in six round decisions and once in a draw. On November 29, 1923, and January 28, 1924, Martin defeated Rosenberg, in close decisions on points, both times in New York's Madison Square Garden. In their third meeting, a fast and furious affair on April 29, 1924, Rosenberg gave Martin a closer battle which ended in a ten round draw. Martin seemed to take the first four rounds, but in the next four Rosenberg slipped many of Martin's blows, and raked his opponent with well placed left jabs that may have dazed Martin at times. The match was again at Madison Square Garden and enthralled the 8,000 fans.[13] [14]

Rosenberg defeated Irish boxer Johnny Curtin, one of his top bantamweight competitors, on October 10, 1924, in an important ten round points decision before a crowd at Madison Square Garden. In his career, Curtin would box most of the great bantamweights of his era.[15]

Rosenberg won a ten round decision from Black boxer Wilbur Cohen on November 15, 1924, in New York. Cohen fought the best fighters of his generation, including many champions, but their fight at Harlem's Commonwealth Sporting Club, brought limited publicity, likely because it was an early interracial bout.[16]

Bantamweight champion

Charlie won nine fights in a row in 1924, three by knockouts, and earned a title shot. He defeated Eddie Martin on March 20, 1925, to win the world bantamweight crown. The bout was a fifteen round unanimous decision that took place in Madison Square Garden. Ray Arcel, his skilled handler, had prepared him well for the bout, and though Rosenberg had lost thirty-seven pounds in only two months of training, many ringside believed he gained momentum and strength in the final rounds.[7] In the sweeping victory, the Lincoln Evening Journal wrote "Rosenberg had a clean margin in eleven of the fifteen rounds, and three were even." Martin appeared to have held a slight lead only in the early rounds.[17] The Palm Beach Post noted that Rosenberg won using a "tantalizing left jab and a right uppercut, outboxing Martin at every turn and at the latter part of the match, holding his own in a furious toe-to-toe skirmish."[18] [19] Rosenberg had had trouble making weight for the bout, and needed to lose twenty pounds during his training. According to his trainer Ray Arcell, this had been a difficult process, though a successful one.[20]

Rosenberg was described by Time magazine as:

wan as if he had spent his life loitering with La Belle Dame Sans Merci beside her autumnal lake, her birdless woods; his face was drawn, his body lean almost to emaciation. He was a young Jew, the challenger.... For 13 rounds, the sturdy champion took a dreadful drubbing.... At the end of the 15th round, the referee lifted the hand of the challenger, Charley ("Phil") Rosenberg, thus giving him the title of the champion.[21]

Bantam title defense, 1925

His most important title defense was against Eddie Shea on July 23, 1925, at New York's Velodrome. Rosenberg retained the New York Athletic Commission's World Bantamweight Title in a fourth round TKO. Shea had the advantage until the third round, when Rosenberg began pounding Shea with blows to the midsection. In the fourth, Rosenberg floored Shea with a straight right, but somehow Shea managed to rise. Rosenberg then followed with a feinted left followed by a hard right which ended the fight. The blows looked authentic ringside, but the boxing commissioner Jim Farley considered the bout "suspicious" and banned both boxers from fighting in New York for life, though Rosenberg's ban was later lifted. Vast betting on the bout was one of the reasons for the suspicions of the commissioner.[8]

On May 21, 1926, Rosenberg defeated the reigning Canadian Bantamweight champion Bobby Eber in Toronto, Canada in a non-title 5th round knockout. Rosenberg was four pounds above the 118 pound weight limit, and would often have trouble making weight. Rosenberg floored the Canadian shortly after Eber had prevented his corner from ending the bout.[5]

Fighting slightly over the top of bantamweight range, Rosenberg easily defeated former World bantamweight contender Benny Schwartz on January 3, 1927, in a twelve round decision in Baltimore.[22] At least one local paper felt Schwartz had fought well against the reigning champion and noted that Rosenberg was well over the bantamweight range and would have a difficult time against Bushy Graham.[23]

Loss of Bantam Title, 1927

Rosenberg lost the World Bantamweight Title to Bushy Graham on February 4, 1927, in a fifteen round decision at Madison Square Garden. He was only a slight favorite in early betting. Though he won the fight, he forfeited the title because he had exceeded the weight restriction for bantams by around 4 pounds. Both boxers and managers were punished for a secret agreement regarding whether they intended to make weight and how they would split the winnings. Rosenberg's manager Harry Segal, had his license revoked in New York. Rosenberg denied he had a secret arrangement with Graham, but both were suspended for a year.[24] [7]

Rosenberg won a few more matches fighting as a featherweight before his retirement in January 1929. His wins included opponents Harry Scott, Georgie Mack, and the ex-champion Johnny Dundee. In his close ten round win by decision over Dundee on January 4, 1929, before 13,000 in Madison Square Garden, Rosenberg was down from a stiff right to the face in the fifth, though Dundee's two falls to the mat in the fourth and eighth may have been slips. Rosenberg fought at 132, and complained of fatigue at the end of the bout, though he fought several rounds delivering stinging rights to Dundee's jaw, and gave a flurry of blows to the older Dundee in the last ten seconds of most rounds. It was a close bout, and several ringside felt the combatants, who were certainly not the feature bout, were well past their prime.[25]

Life after boxing

In the early 1930s, Rosenberg served a jail term as a result of racketeering in the poultry industry in the Bronx.

In the late 1930s, Charley became an insurance salesman and stayed in the field for the next thirty years.[7] In his later years, he managed several restaurants. Rosenberg died on March 12, 1976, at Jewish Memorial Hospital in New York City. He was survived by wife Elsie, a brother and two sisters.[26]

Rosenberg's professional record in 65 bouts: won 33 (7 KOs), drew 8, lost 17, 7 no-decisions.

Professional boxing record

All information in this section is derived from BoxRec,[27] unless otherwise stated.

Official record

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
70Win33–18–9 Georgie MackPTS8Feb 11, 1929
69Loss32–18–9 Billy KowalikDQ5 (8)Feb 8, 1929
68Win32–17–9 Johnny DundeePTS10Jan 4, 1929
67Win31–17–9 Harry ScottPTS6Mar 10, 1928
66Win30–17–9 Bushy GrahamPTS15Feb 4, 1927
65Win29–17–9 Benny SchwartzPTS12Jan 3, 1927
64Win28–17–9 Joey SangorNWS10Dec 20, 1926
63Win28–17–9 Georgie MackNWS10Nov 29, 1926
62Draw28–17–9 Pete SarmientoPTS10Aug 27, 1926
61Draw28–17–8 Joey SangorPTS10Aug 13, 1926
60Win28–17–7 Midget SmithDQ5 (10)Jul 30, 1926
59Loss27–17–7 Willie AmesNWS10May 27, 1926
58Win27–17–7 Bobby EberKO5 (10)May 21, 1926
57Win26–17–7 George ButchNWS12Apr 30, 1926
56Win26–17–7 George ButchNWS10Mar 2, 1926
55Loss26–17–7 Doc SnellDQ6 (10)Dec 30, 1925
54Loss26–16–7 California Joe LynchPTS10Dec 2, 1925
53Win26–15–7 Eddie SheaKO4 (15)Jul 23, 1925
52Loss25–15–7 Pete SarmientoNWS10Jul 8, 1925
51Win25–15–7 Al PettingillTKO2 (10)Jun 1, 1925
50Win24–15–7 Herbie SchaefferNWS10May 29, 1925
49Draw24–15–7 Harold SmithNWS10May 22, 1925
48Win24–15–7 Harry GordonNWS10May 11, 1925
47Win24–15–7 Clarence RosenNWS12Apr 27, 1925
46Win24–15–7Eddie MartinUD15Mar 20, 1925
45Win23–15–7Nat PincusTKO11 (12)Mar 5, 1925
44Win22–15–7Harry GordonPTS10Feb 21, 1925
43Win21–15–7Buck JosephsPTS10Feb 10, 1925
42Win20–15–7Wilbur CohenPTS10Nov 15, 1924
41Win19–15–7Joe SouzaTKO10 (10)Oct 20, 1924
40Win18–15–7Johnny CurtinPTS10Oct 10, 1924
39Win17–15–7Lewis GaylorKO8 (10)Sep 27, 1924
38Win16–15–7Midget Mike MoranPTS12Aug 23, 1924
37Win15–15–7Joe SouzaPTS12Aug 15, 1924
36Win14–15–7Sonny SmithPTS12Jun 3, 1924
35Draw13–15–7Eddie MartinPTS10Apr 29, 1924
34Win13–15–6Lewis GaylorPTS6Mar 18, 1924
33Loss12–15–6Eddie MartinPTS6Jan 28, 1924
32Win12–14–6KO LeonardPTS6Dec 25, 1923
31Loss11–14–6Eddie MartinPTS6Nov 29, 1923
30Win11–13–6Billy PimpusTKO4 (6)Nov 5, 1923
29Win10–13–6Danny EdwardsPTS10Oct 30, 1923
28Loss9–13–6Bud TaylorPTS12Oct 19, 1923
27Win9–12–6Harry LondonPTS12Sep 22, 1923
26Loss8–12–6Carl DuanePTS12Jul 18, 1923
25Draw8–11–6Billy RyckoffPTS12Jun 30, 1923
24Draw8–11–5Carl DuanePTS6Jun 9, 1923
23Win8–11–4Manny WexlerPTS10Apr 9, 1923
22Loss7–11–4Willie DarcyPTS12Feb 26, 1923
21Draw7–10–4Sammy CohenPTS6Feb 16, 1923
20Loss7–10–3Willie DarcyPTS12Jan 15, 1923
19Loss7–9–3Jack RosePTS6Jan 5, 1923
18Win7–8–3Johnny ImhousePTS10Dec 26, 1922
17Loss6–8–3Curly WilshurPTS6Dec 22, 1922
16Loss6–7–3Frankie GenaroPTS12Oct 21, 1922
15Draw6–6–3Willie DarcyPTS4Oct 12, 1922
14Win6–6–2Henny CatenaPTS12Sep 23, 1922
13Loss5–6–2Murray LaytonDQ2 (6)Sep 11, 1922
12Win5–5–2Willie DarcyPTS10Sep 2, 1922
11Win4–5–2Mickey NelsonPTS10Jul 21, 1922
10Win3–5–2Sammy ButtsPTS12Jul 8, 1922
9Loss2–5–2Frankie GenaroPTS12May 23, 1922
8Loss2–4–2Bobby BolinPTS12May 13, 1922
7Win2–3–2George VanderbiltPTS8May 2, 1922
6Draw1–3–2Al TiernanPTS6Apr 15, 1922
5Loss1–3–1Bobby BolinPTS6Feb 28, 1922
4Loss1–2–1Al DiamondPTS8Feb 6, 1922
3Draw1–1–1Harry MartinPTS4Nov 15, 1921
2Loss1–1Charles BenyoPTS4Oct 29, 1921
1Win1–0Frankie EvansPTS6Aug 15, 1921

Unofficial record

Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
70Win40–20–10Georgie MackPTS8Feb 11, 1929
69Loss39–20–10Billy KowalikDQ5 (8)Feb 8, 1929
68Win39–19–10Johnny DundeePTS10Jan 4, 1929
67Win38–19–10Harry ScottPTS6Mar 10, 1928
66Win37–19–10Bushy GrahamPTS15Feb 4, 1927
65Win36–19–10Benny SchwartzPTS12Jan 3, 1927
64Win35–19–10Joey SangorNWS10Dec 20, 1926
63Win34–19–10Georgie MackNWS10Nov 29, 1926
62Draw33–19–10Pete SarmientoPTS10Aug 27, 1926
61Draw33–19–9Joey SangorPTS10Aug 13, 1926
60Win33–19–8Midget SmithDQ5 (10)Jul 30, 1926
59Loss32–19–8Willie AmesNWS10May 27, 1926
58Win32–18–8Bobby EberKO5 (10)May 21, 1926
57Win31–18–8George ButchNWS12Apr 30, 1926
56Win30–18–8George ButchNWS10Mar 2, 1926
55Loss29–18–8Doc SnellDQ6 (10)Dec 30, 1925
54Loss29–17–8California Joe LynchPTS10Dec 2, 1925
53Win29–16–8Eddie SheaKO4 (15)Jul 23, 1925
52Loss28–16–8Pete SarmientoNWS10Jul 8, 1925
51Win28–15–8Al PettingillTKO2 (10)Jun 1, 1925
50Win27–15–8Herbie SchaefferNWS10May 29, 1925
49Draw26–15–8Harold SmithNWS10May 22, 1925
48Win26–15–7Harry GordonNWS10May 11, 1925
47Win25–15–7Clarence RosenNWS12Apr 27, 1925
46Win24–15–7Eddie MartinUD15Mar 20, 1925
45Win23–15–7Nat PincusTKO11 (12)Mar 5, 1925
44Win22–15–7Harry GordonPTS10Feb 21, 1925
43Win21–15–7Buck JosephsPTS10Feb 10, 1925
42Win20–15–7Wilbur CohenPTS10Nov 15, 1924
41Win19–15–7Joe SouzaTKO10 (10)Oct 20, 1924
40Win18–15–7Johnny CurtinPTS10Oct 10, 1924
39Win17–15–7Lewis GaylorKO8 (10)Sep 27, 1924
38Win16–15–7Midget Mike MoranPTS12Aug 23, 1924
37Win15–15–7Joe SouzaPTS12Aug 15, 1924
36Win14–15–7Sonny SmithPTS12Jun 3, 1924
35Draw13–15–7Eddie MartinPTS10Apr 29, 1924
34Win13–15–6Lewis GaylorPTS6Mar 18, 1924
33Loss12–15–6Eddie MartinPTS6Jan 28, 1924
32Win12–14–6KO LeonardPTS6Dec 25, 1923
31Loss11–14–6Eddie MartinPTS6Nov 29, 1923
30Win11–13–6Billy PimpusTKO4 (6)Nov 5, 1923
29Win10–13–6Danny EdwardsPTS10Oct 30, 1923
28Loss9–13–6Bud TaylorPTS12Oct 19, 1923
27Win9–12–6Harry LondonPTS12Sep 22, 1923
26Loss8–12–6Carl DuanePTS12Jul 18, 1923
25Draw8–11–6Billy RyckoffPTS12Jun 30, 1923
24Draw8–11–5Carl DuanePTS6Jun 9, 1923
23Win8–11–4Manny WexlerPTS10Apr 9, 1923
22Loss7–11–4Willie DarcyPTS12Feb 26, 1923
21Draw7–10–4Sammy CohenPTS6Feb 16, 1923
20Loss7–10–3Willie DarcyPTS12Jan 15, 1923
19Loss7–9–3Jack RosePTS6Jan 5, 1923
18Win7–8–3Johnny ImhousePTS10Dec 26, 1922
17Loss6–8–3Curly WilshurPTS6Dec 22, 1922
16Loss6–7–3Frankie GenaroPTS12Oct 21, 1922
15Draw6–6–3Willie DarcyPTS4Oct 12, 1922
14Win6–6–2Henny CatenaPTS12Sep 23, 1922
13Loss5–6–2Murray LaytonDQ2 (6)Sep 11, 1922
12Win5–5–2Willie DarcyPTS10Sep 2, 1922
11Win4–5–2Mickey NelsonPTS10Jul 21, 1922
10Win3–5–2Sammy ButtsPTS12Jul 8, 1922
9Loss2–5–2Frankie GenaroPTS12May 23, 1922
8Loss2–4–2Bobby BolinPTS12May 13, 1922
7Win2–3–2George VanderbiltPTS8May 2, 1922
6Draw1–3–2Al TiernanPTS6Apr 15, 1922
5Loss1–3–1Bobby BolinPTS6Feb 28, 1922
4Loss1–2–1Al DiamondPTS8Feb 6, 1922
3Draw1–1–1Harry MartinPTS4Nov 15, 1921
2Loss1–1Charles BenyoPTS4Oct 29, 1921
1Win1–0Frankie EvansPTS6Aug 15, 1921

Hall of Fame

Rosenberg was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.[28]

See also

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Lineal Bantamweight Champions. Cyber Boxing Zone.
  2. Dewy, Donald (2012) Ray Arcel: A Boxing Biography, p. 31, McFarland and Company, Inc., Jefferson, North Carolina
  3. Web site: Eddie Martin Bio. BoxRec. 3 June 2016.
  4. Web site: BoxRec. Charlie Phil Rosenberg Boxing Record. 7 July 2019.
  5. Web site: Cyber Boxing Zone. Charlie Phil Rosenberg. BoxRec. 7 July 2019.
  6. Blady, Ken, The Jewish Boxers' Hall of Fame, (1988), Shapolsky Publishers, Inc, New York, Pgs. 219-221
  7. Silver, Mike, Stars in the Ring, Jewish Champions, (2016) Rowman and Littlefield, Guilford, Connecticut, pgs. 247-8
  8. Blady, Ken, The Jewish Boxers' Hall of Fame, (1988), Shapolsky Publishers, Inc, New York, Pgs. 185-188
  9. "Charley Rosenberg Wins Over Danny Edwards", The Standard Union, Brooklyn, New York, pg. 15, 31 October 1923
  10. "Rosenberg Easily Outpoints Edwards", Times Union, Brooklyn, New York, pg. 14, 31 October 1923
  11. "Taylor Wins Semi-Final", Time Union, Brooklyn, New York, pg. 12, 20 October 1923
  12. Injured right hand in "World's Bantamweight Title Changes Hands", The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, New York, pg. 11, 20 October 1923
  13. Rosenberg raked Martin with left jabs in "Two Fighters Help Fund", Press and Sun Bulletin, Bighampton, New York, pg. 21, 30 April 1924
  14. "Eddie Martin To Defend Title in Bout with Rival", Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, pg. 33, 20 March 1925
  15. ""Curtin All Ready for Bout with Rosenberg", Daily News, New York City, pg. 27, 9 October 1924
  16. "Phil Rosenberg Defeats Cohen", Daily News, New York, New York, pg. 23, 17 November 1924
  17. "Rosenberg is too Much for Martin", Lincoln Evening Journal, Lincoln, Nebraska, pg. 8, 21 March 1925
  18. "Phil Rosenberg Dethrones Eddie Martin", The Palm Beach Post, Palm Beach, Florida, pg. 9,21 March 1925
  19. Web site: Rosenberg, Charley Phil. Jews In Sports. 24 August 2015.
  20. Dewy, Donald (2012) Ray Arcel: A Boxing Biography, p. 33, McFarland and Company, Inc., Jefferson, North Carolina
  21. https://web.archive.org/web/20070930142244/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,720100,00.html Time Magazine article
  22. "Bantam King Wins Scrap", The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, pg. 10, 4 January 1927
  23. "Fans Divided in Opinion as to Rosenberg's Capabilities", The Evening Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, pg. 26, 4 January 1927
  24. "Secret Agreement on Fight Bars Two", Ironwood Daily Globe, Ironwood, Michigan, Pg. 7, 12 February 1927
  25. "Rosenberg Beats Dundee", Times Union, Brooklyn, New York, pg. 26, 5 January 1929
  26. "Ex-boxing Champ Dead at Age 71", The Central New Jersey Home News, New Brunswick, New Jersey, pg. 17, 15 March 1976
  27. Web site: Please login.
  28. http://www.jewishsports.net/BioPages/CharlieRosenberg.htm Charlie Rosenberg

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