13-time national boxing champ graduates from Grandview High, has hairy decision to make about his career

By Ben McCarthy

On May 13, Grandview’s most celebrated amateur boxer, Malachi Ross, was handed his high school diploma. Having just turned 18, he must weigh his next steps beyond the halls of Grandview High School.

Malachi says that he doesn’t plan on making “that” major boxing career decision about going pro anytime soon. Instead Malachi has been consumed with the Team USA Youth Camp held April 28th to May 12th at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista, CA. Malachi’s father, and trainer, Micah, says his son is doing well at the prestigious camp for the nation’s best amateur boxers. It’s an invaluable opportunity for the younger Ross to train and hone his skills against the country’s best, just before he exits his high school academic career. So far, the road he’s traveled has been impressive. 

The 13-time national champion has accumulated a record of 110-10. He has won four USA National Championships, three Silver Glove National Championships, and three National Junior Olympics Championships. He has been named Outstanding Youth at the Kansas City People’s Choice Awards, Athlete of the Week on Spectrum Sports, and 2023 Best Male Boxer by Kansas City Golden Gloves.

The Telegraph caught up with Malachi and Micah in April at the Jose Moreno Jr. Boxing Club in Overland Park.  The two men sparred back and forth, sans protective headgear traditionally worn by amateur boxers. These two-hour sessions find Malachi ringing out his “sweatbelt” frequently with a considerable amount of water splashing onto the ring. During their training session, his father began boxing as a southpaw to mimic the approach a left-handed fighter might give his son in the ring. 

When the Telegraph last spoke with the younger Ross over two years ago, he was still fighting at the 145 lb. class. While earning a number one national ranking at that weight, he was still growing and finding his way. Now standing at 6’1,” Malachi says he feels comfortable at the 156 lb. class. 

“I’m actually trying to get down to 154, but that means more discipline,” Malachi said. “You have to stay away from the fried foods and the sweets, even bread.” 

This means that the champ may find himself out with graduating peers who snack on fast food orders while he keeps his appetite focused on other things. 

Say for instance, Olympic gold. 

He and his father have discussed and debated the prospect of him going professional, but there are still plans for him to work his way to the 2028 Olympics (planned for Los Angeles).  

“I still want to capture an Olympic gold medal,” Malachi said. “There’s also a chance I could turn pro next year.” 

Micah says his son is now effectively the number one ranked amateur boxer at his current 156 lb. (or 71 kg) weight class because of tournament victories he earned dating back to December. He mentions that he can envision his son fighting internationally this coming fall (the Youth World Championships will be held in Germany in October). But Malachi could also earn his stripes at Transformed Barber & Cosmetology Academy this year. 

Already graduated to pro elsewhere

“I feel like I’ve already cut half the school’s hair,” Malachi said. 

Much of his class knows of his skills with shears and clippers as they do his in-ring prowess. With the help of his father, Malachi has transformed the family basement into a makeshift studio for cutting classmates’ hair. He’s even set up a new Instagram page, separate from his boxing identity, to showcase his startup barbershop business. He cycles kids in and out, needing 20 to 30 minutes to work on most customers. 

He admits he gets as much as $30 to clean up and style guys’ hair. (His female clientele is growing too.) He is even willing to go mobile and take his talents around town. 

“They know they have to pay extra if they want me to come to them,” Malachi said. “I tend to pick and choose ‘clients’ that I want to work with.” 

Malachi is prepared to go to the academy for 9 months to become a licensed barber. A decision to dive into that world could come sometime this summer. For now, the champ is only focused on seeing his contemporaries (and perhaps a future nemesis or two) in San Diego. He knows many of their names and faces from studying their available fights online, but he’s excited to see many of their nuanced fighting styles up close for the first time. 

“I know I’ll miss home and friends a bit when I get out there, but there’s going to be a lot of new competition and new faces out there,” Ross said. “They do keep you busy, they put you through three workouts a day.”

No word on whether or not Ross is bringing shears and clippers along on the trip to pick up some new clients in the Golden State. 

Ross’s next local amateur bout occurs Friday, May 31st at the “Under the Bridge” Friday Fight Nights, sponsored by Leo Moreno Jr. Boxing Club. The fights occur under the I-35 bridge, off Southwest Blvd. and 2130 Jefferson St.