{{short description|Israeli boxer (born 1982)}} {{Infobox boxer | name = Roman Greenberg<br>רומן גרינברג | nickname = "Lion from Zion" | image = | image_size = 200px | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|05|18}} | birth_place = Balti, Moldavian SSR, Soviet Union | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | residence = | nationality = {{flag|Israel}}i | height = {{convert|189|cm|in|abbr=on}} | weight = Heavyweight | weight_class = | reach = | style = Orthodox | total = 28 | wins = 27 | KO = 18 | losses = 1 }}
'''Roman Greenberg''' ({{langx|he|רומן גרינברג}}; born May 18, 1982) is an Israeli former heavyweight boxer based in the United Kingdom, with Moldovan origins<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://diez.md/2018/05/31/video-roman-greenberg-al-doilea-cel-mai-rapid-boxer-dupa-muhammad-ali-cine-este-moldoveanul-de-origine-evreiasca-care-devenit-faimos-toata-lumea/|title=(video) Roman Greenberg, "al doilea cel mai rapid boxer după Muhammad Ali". Cine este moldoveanul de origine evreiască care a devenit faimos în toată lumea - #diez|date=31 May 2018 |language=ro-RO|access-date=2019-12-27}}</ref> (his parents emigrated from Soviet Union when he was 6 years old), former International Boxing Organization's (IBO's) Intercontinental heavyweight champion, with a 27–1 record.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jewishboxing.blogspot.co.il/2013/05/roman-greenberg-wont-be-back-in-ring.html|title=Roman Greenberg Won't be Back in the Ring}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=77065&cat=boxer |title=Box rec |publisher=Box rec |date= |accessdate=April 13, 2010}}</ref> Greenberg has been nicknamed the "Lion from Zion."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lubowphotography.com/greenberg-simms-article.htm |title=Lion from Zion |publisher=Lubowphotography.com |accessdate=January 3, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120161704/http://www.lubowphotography.com/greenberg-simms-article.htm |archivedate=November 20, 2008 }}</ref>
==Biography== Greenberg was born on May 18, 1982, in Bălţi, 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. He won a silver medal at the 2000 Junior World Championships in Budapest.<ref name="J-Grit">{{cite web|url=http://www.j-grit.com/athletes-roman-greenberg.php|title=Roman Greenberg - Jewish Boxer|publisher=J-Grit.com|accessdate=28 June 2015}}</ref> Greenberg speaks four languages – Hebrew, Russian, German, and English.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.secondsout.com/usa-boxing-news/usa-boxing-news/the-haifa-connection-roman-greenberg-and-yuri-foreman |title=The Haifa Connection: Roman Greenberg and Yuri Foreman |publisher=Secondsout.com |date=February 20, 2004 |accessdate=January 3, 2011}}</ref> Greenberg's brother was the Junior Chess Champion of Israel in 2004. {{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} He is well known for his vocal support of the State of Israel. Greenberg wears a Star of David on his trunks.<ref name="J-Grit" /> He trains in Maidenhead, Berkshire, and has a home near Haifa.<ref name="thejc1">{{cite web|url=http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m16&SecId=16&AId=54843&ATypeId=1 |accessdate=February 19, 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927011108/http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m16&SecId=16&AId=54843&ATypeId=1 |archivedate=September 27, 2007 |title=The Jewish Chronicle }}</ref> His manager and trainer is Jim Evans.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.romangreenberg.tv/USA/news.cfm?ccs%3D229%26cs%3D21597 |title=Boxing - USA Headlines - USA Boxing News |accessdate=2008-05-31 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505074615/http://www.romangreenberg.tv/USA/news.cfm?ccs=229&cs=21597 |archivedate=2008-05-05 }}</ref>
==Boxing career== In 1999, Greenberg became the youngest person to win the Israeli national heavyweight title.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.celebritiesworldwide.com/Ones2watch.cfm?Year=2004&ContentID=278 |accessdate=February 19, 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821024435/http://www.celebritiesworldwide.com/Ones2watch.cfm?Year=2004&ContentID=278 |archivedate=August 21, 2007 |title=Roman Greenberg }}</ref> Greenberg won a silver medal 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.{{Citation needed|date= January 2018}}
{{quote box |width=39em | bgcolor= |align=right | quote= "Greenberg has the fastest hands for a heavyweight since Muhammad Ali."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.somethingisraeli.com/articles/333_roman_wins_again.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809221809/http://www.somethingisraeli.com/articles/333_roman_wins_again.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 9, 2007 |title=Sport |publisher=SomethingIsraeli |accessdate=April 13, 2010 }}</ref> |source= — Angelo Dundee}}
Greenberg made his pro debut in November 2001, after serving seven months in the Israeli Army.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxnews.com.ua/person.php?id=10522&lng=en |title=Roman Greenberg – Boxer – Boxing news |publisher=Boxnews.com.ua |date= |accessdate=April 13, 2010}}</ref> In 2003, he knocked out Lithuanian Mindaugas Kulikauskas in the 5th round.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.j-grit.com/athletes-roman-greenberg.php |title=Roman Greenberg – Jewish Boxer |publisher=J-Grit.com |date= |accessdate=April 13, 2010}}</ref> He won his first 27 professional bouts – 18 by K.O. – before he was beaten in 2008.
He won the IBO Intercontinental Championship by 6th round TKO against Alex Vassilev in March 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ringsidereport.com/rsr/news.php?readmore=1746 |accessdate=February 19, 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927202559/http://ringsidereport.com/rsr/news.php?readmore=1746 |archivedate=September 27, 2007 |title=Ringside Report "The Heart of Boxing" }}</ref> His 25th victory was a unanimous decision over Michael Simms (formerly 19–6–1; 13 KOs) at Madison Square Garden in March 2007. He won nine out of 10 rounds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/11/sports/NA-SPT-BOX-Garden-Fights.php |title=Search – Global Edition – The New York Times |publisher=International Herald Tribune |date=March 29, 2009 |accessdate=April 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=10198&more=1 |title=Ibragimov annihilates Mora at the MSG Theater |publisher=Eastsideboxing.com |date=March 10, 2007 |accessdate=April 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Abrams |first=Marc |url=http://15rounds.com/boxing/News/2007/03/ibragimov-031007.php |title=Boxing – Boxing News – Boxing Coverage |publisher=15rounds.com |date=March 11, 2007 |accessdate=April 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707055924/http://15rounds.com/boxing/News/2007/03/ibragimov-031007.php |archivedate=July 7, 2011 }}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.secondsout.com/UK/news.cfm?ccs=228&cs=22423 |title=SecondsOut Boxing News – UK Boxing News – Greenberg To Face Reed August 18 |publisher=Secondsout.com |date=July 24, 2007 |accessdate=April 13, 2010}}</ref>
Greenberg defeated Colin Kenna on points over eight rounds in London in October 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.secondsout.com/uk/lukl.cfm?ccs=471&cs=23135 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070815023552/http://www.secondsout.com/uk/lukl.cfm?ccs=471&cs=23135 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 15, 2007 |accessdate=November 4, 2007 | title=Welcome to nginx }}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britishboxing.net/news_2815-No-frights-as-Roman-conquers-Kenna.html |title=Latest Boxing News |publisher=BritishBoxing.net |accessdate=April 13, 2010 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718211742/http://www.britishboxing.net/news_2815-No-frights-as-Roman-conquers-Kenna.html |archivedate=July 18, 2011 }}</ref>
In December 2007 Greenberg underwent a hand operation to repair an injury to the second and third metacarpals of his right hand.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurosport.com/boxing/greenberg-to-undergo-hand-operation_sto1382485/story.shtml|title=Greenberg To Undergo Hand Operation|date=16 November 2007|publisher=Eurosport|accessdate=28 June 2015}}</ref>
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 53rd in the International Boxing Organization's heavyweight computerized rankings. Of those ahead of him, only two were younger than he is.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iboboxing.com/rankings/heavy.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604180202/http://www.iboboxing.com/rankings/heavy.html |archivedate=4 June 2009 |title=Heavyweight – Top 100 IBO Rankings – International Boxing Organization |publisher=Iboboxing.com |date= |accessdate=June 28, 2015}}</ref> Greenberg has not fought in the ring after his loss to Boswell.{{Citation needed|date= January 2018}}
{{quote box |width=30em | bgcolor= |align=right | quote="Through the Star of David, I represent Israel and myself. All through history, the Jews have always had to fight for their freedom and for their lives. When I come out wearing the Star of David, it shows the whole world that the Jews are still here and that they are successful."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.jpost.com/Sports/Roman-Greenberg-fights-for-title-bout | work=The Jerusalem Post | title=Roman Greenberg Fights For A Title Bout | date=15 July 2019}}</ref> |source= — Greenberg}}
==Jewish heritage== Greenberg was one of three top Jewish boxers in January 2009, the others being Dmitry Salita junior welterweight (29–0–1) and Yuri Foreman, the middleweight (30–1–2).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/177589661.html?dids=177589661:177589661&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+14%2C+2002&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=One+of+Many+Jewish+Boxers&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604040839/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/177589661.html?dids=177589661:177589661&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+14,+2002&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=One+of+Many+Jewish+Boxers&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |title=One of Many Jewish Boxers |newspaper=The Washington Post |date= September 14, 2002|accessdate=April 13, 2010}}</ref>
==See also== *Sport in Israel *List of select Jewish boxers
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== * {{Boxrec|id=77065}} *{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070208204445/http://www.britishboxing.net/boxers_45-Roman-Greenberg.html British Boxing bio]}} *{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929095526/http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=182&more=1 "Interview: Roman Greenberg"]}} *[http://www.raoulwallenberg.net/?en/press/3781.htm "Jewish Boxers are Back in the News"] *[http://www.amateur-boxing.strefa.pl/Championships/WorldJuniorChamps2000.html World juniors 2000] *{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080325093707/http://www.lubowphotography.com/boxing.htm Professional photographs of Roman Greenberg in action]}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Greenberg, Roman}} Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:Heavyweight boxers Category:Israeli expatriates in England Category:Israeli people of Moldovan-Jewish descent Category:Jewish boxers Category:Jewish Israeli sportspeople Category:Moldovan emigrants to Israel Category:Moldovan Jews Category:Soviet emigrants to Israel Category:Soviet Jews Category:Sportspeople from Bălți Category:World boxing champions Category:Israeli male boxers Category:21st-century Israeli sportsmen