From Fundamentals to Championships: Malachi Ross's Boxing Journey

Malachi Ross is one of Team USA rising stars in its amateur boxing program, specifically on the Youth High Performance team. As he stands on the brink of a promising boxing career, his journey began back at his home in Grandview, Mo. His father, Micah Ross, began teaching Malachi the boxing fundamentals while Malachi was approximately five years old. Malachi and his father regularly practiced on the driveway outside of their home. It was those driveway workouts that forged a bond between them and built the fundamentals of a fearless boxer with unlimited potential in Malachi.

By the age of eight, Malachi stepped into the ring to spar and competed for the first time. Soon after that, Malachi realized his own potential and quickly fell in love with the sport. In December of 2023, Malachi’s hard work paid off when he won the 2023 USA Boxing National Championships, earning a spot on Team USA’s Youth High Performance Team. Ross asserted his dominance throughout his national championship run and did not lose a single round on the way to the title. Looking ahead to the 2024 World Boxing U19 Championships, he will look to impose that same dominance and secure a gold medal in the process.

“I just am ready to represent Team USA in Colorado,” he states. “I want people to notice my skillset and be proud of how far I have come.”

With 13 USA Boxing national event titles under his belt, he is rapidly emerging as a rising star in the amateur boxing scene. Ross remains humble and grounded, and he is proud to represent his family.

As the youngest sibling, he looks up to his oldest brother, Ryone Winters, who demonstrated what it took to be successful in the sports world. Ryone played Division I football at Wyoming and helped show Malachi that hard work ultimately pays off.

Micah Ross would show the art of cutting hair to Ryone, who continued the craft throughout his college career. Ryone then passed that knowledge and craft to Malachi, who quickly picked up the art himself. Ryone now owns a barbershop and cuts hair for a living.  When Malachi turned 13, he received his first clippers.

“I remember I got my first set of clippers at the age of 13,” he recalls. “My pops gave me them and I was just like, what am I supposed to do with these?”

He explains that cutting hair is now a hobby he enjoys outside of boxing. He stated that he even has cut some of Team USA boxers’ hair in previous camps.  

Malachi now is days away from competing at the 2024 World Boxing U19 Championships, where he will look to win gold and bring it back to Grandview, Mo. Malachi Ross is not just aiming for glory in the ring. He is crafting a legacy that honors his roots while striving for new heights.

“I am ready to bring gold back to Missouri,” Malachi Ross states.