Reggie Gross

Reginald "Reggie" Gross (1962 – October 16, 2025) was an American professional heavyweight boxer and convicted contract killer from Baltimore, Maryland.^[1] Active in the ring from 1982 to 1988, Gross compiled a professional record of 19 wins and 8 losses, with 14 knockouts, establishing himself as a promising contender in the heavyweight division.^[1] His most notable bout came on June 13, 1986, when he was knocked out in the first round by then-unbeaten Mike Tyson at Madison Square Garden in New York City.^[1] Trained by Mack Lewis, Gross fought international opponents and secured victories against regional contenders, but setbacks including losses to Henry Tillman and Frank Bruno hampered his rise.^[2]^[1] Following his boxing career, Gross became entangled in Baltimore's narcotics underworld as an enforcer for the Warren "Black" Boardley cocaine and heroin ring during a violent 1986 turf war.^[3] In June 1989, he pleaded guilty in federal court to three contract murders—those of Andre Coxson, Zachary Roach, and Rodney Young—committed with a .38-caliber pistol and a MAC-11 submachine gun, known collectively as the "Gold Street murders."^[3] The killings were ordered to eliminate rivals in the drug trade.^[3] That July, Gross was sentenced to three life terms in prison: two consecutive and one concurrent, making him eligible for parole after 20 years, though prosecutors anticipated he would remain incarcerated for life due to the brutality of the crimes, including Gross shooting one victim six times, with five in the back of the head as he attempted to flee.^[3] By 2001, while imprisoned, Gross claimed a drug-free, rehabilitated life behind bars focused on self-improvement and avoiding violence.^[2] He remained in federal custody until his death on October 16, 2025.

Early life and background

Childhood in Baltimore

Reginald R. Gross, known as Reggie Gross, was born in 1961 in Baltimore, Maryland, to a working-class family headed by his single mother after his father, Russell Allston, was stabbed to death just three days after Gross's birth.^[2] Raised in the challenging environment of West Baltimore during the 1960s and 1970s, Gross grew up amid widespread poverty, escalating crime, and the pervasive influence of drugs such as heroin, which afflicted many urban neighborhoods in the city at the time.^[2] These conditions, including exposure to addicts and violent street dynamics in housing projects, shaped a formative environment marked by instability and limited opportunities.^[2] Gross's early years were further complicated by his introduction to the criminal justice system as a juvenile. At the age of 13, he was arrested for purse snatching while in possession of a toy gun, an incident that led to several years in a group home for young offenders.^[2] This early brush with the law exemplified the minor thefts and street-level activities that were common in his surroundings and hinted at the deeper criminal associations that would emerge later in his life.^[2] Formal education proved elusive for Gross, who had limited schooling and ultimately dropped out of high school, later obtaining a high school equivalency certificate only while incarcerated.^[2] Amid these hardships, boxing emerged as a potential outlet from the street influences of his youth, providing one of the few structured paths available to him.^[2]

Entry into boxing

Reggie Gross began boxing in his late teens around 1979 while growing up in the challenging neighborhoods of Baltimore, where poverty and crime were prevalent.^[2] While in the group home, he learned the basics from another teen, and later, after taking part-time jobs, co-workers challenged him to train seriously, prompting him to join a local gym.^[2] He began formal training under legendary coach Mack Lewis at the Broadway and Eager gym in Baltimore, where he honed a powerful punching style that positioned him well for the heavyweight division.^[2] This early regimen emphasized raw power and aggression, drawing from Gross's natural athleticism and the gritty environment that demanded resilience, helping to channel his energy away from street troubles toward disciplined physical development.^[2] Gross's amateur career followed, earning him recognition within Baltimore's boxing community for his knockout power.^[2] Despite the demands of training, he balanced it with part-time jobs in construction and odd labor, viewing boxing not just as a hobby but as a vital means to transcend the poverty that defined his youth and avoid deeper involvement in crime.^[2]

Boxing career

Amateur achievements

Reggie Gross began his amateur boxing career in the late 1970s after initial training experiences at a group home in Baltimore, where he learned the basics from a teenager connected to Sugar Ray Leonard's circle.^[2] Under the guidance of renowned trainer Mack Lewis starting in 1979, Gross quickly developed into a promising light heavyweight boxer, achieving an amateur record of 19 wins and 3 losses.^[2]^[4] His rapid progress allowed him to turn professional just 11 months after beginning formal training with Lewis at age 19, showcasing his potential and aggressive fighting style in regional bouts.^[2]

Professional debut and record

Reggie Gross transitioned to professional boxing in 1982 after a successful amateur career that saw him compile a record of 19 wins and 3 losses.^[2] His entry into the paid ranks marked a shift from local Baltimore competitions to structured bouts under professional sanctioning bodies. Gross made his professional debut on January 7, 1982, at Steelworkers Hall in Baltimore, Maryland, defeating Bluford Spencer by fourth-round knockout in a scheduled four-round bout. This victory set the tone for his early career, where he quickly established himself as a knockout artist, securing 14 knockouts across his 19 professional wins.^[1] Throughout his professional tenure from 1982 to 1988, Gross amassed an overall record of 19 wins, 8 losses, and no draws, competing primarily as a heavyweight in the mid-Atlantic region.^[1] His fights often took place on undercards at venues such as the Baltimore Civic Center, Resorts International in Atlantic City, and other East Coast locations, reflecting his regional focus before his career was interrupted.^[1]

Notable fights

Gross's most notable professional fight occurred on June 13, 1986, when he faced the undefeated WBC heavyweight champion Mike Tyson at Madison Square Garden in New York City.^[5] Entering the bout with an 18-4 record, Gross was a significant underdog against the 21-0 Tyson, who was on a rapid ascent toward undisputed heavyweight dominance.^[5] The non-title matchup ended abruptly in the first round, with Tyson securing a technical knockout victory at 2:36 after knocking Gross down twice with powerful left hooks.^[5] Gross absorbed considerable punishment early, including a left hook that dazed him shortly after the bell, but he rose gamely after the first knockdown only to be floored again, prompting referee Johnny LoBianco to stop the contest.^[5] Gross protested the stoppage, arguing he was ready to continue.^[5] Despite the quick defeat, the fight marked the pinnacle of Gross's boxing career in terms of public visibility, as it pitted him against one of the sport's emerging superstars and drew widespread attention to his aggressive style.^[5] Post-fight, Gross reported no serious injuries and expressed determination to rebound, though the loss highlighted the chasm between him and elite heavyweights.^[2] Earlier in 1986, Gross secured an upset victory over previously undefeated prospect Bert Cooper by technical knockout in the eighth round on January 25.^[1] He also lost to Olympic gold medalist Henry Tillman by unanimous decision in March 1986. In August 1987, Gross was defeated by British heavyweight Frank Bruno by fifth-round knockout. His final professional bout was a second-round technical knockout loss to Donovan Ruddock in June 1988.^[1]

Criminal involvement

Association with drug trade

During his early professional boxing career in the 1980s, Reggie Gross became increasingly entangled in Baltimore's illicit drug underworld, supplementing his inconsistent fight earnings with ties to local narcotics operations. Growing up in a neighborhood rife with street culture, Gross was exposed to the pervasive influence of drug activity from a young age, which later drew him into associations with dealers amid financial strains following his transition from amateur to professional boxing.^[2] Gross's connections to the drug trade began around 1983, when a neighborhood acquaintance known as "Wimpy" introduced him to cocaine use and displayed substantial cash earnings from dealing, tempting him with the promise of quick money. Initially resistant, Gross eventually relented due to mounting financial pressures, including the loss of steady boxing paydays and the need to support his growing addiction, leading him to participate in street-level activities by mid-decade.^[2]^[6] By the mid-1980s, Gross had aligned with a violent West Baltimore drug gang led by Warren Boardley, which dominated the local heroin and cocaine trade in several neighborhoods. In this role, he functioned as an enforcer, leveraging his imposing 6-foot-3, 230-pound physique and boxing-honed reputation to collect debts, protect operations, and intimidate competitors on behalf of the organization.^[2]^[6]^[3] This immersion in the drug scene severely undermined Gross's athletic discipline, as his cocaine addiction—exacerbated by personal tragedies like the 1984 death of his young son—led to erratic training regimens, missed opportunities, and a noticeable decline in his fight preparation and performance. The dual demands of gang duties and substance use diverted his focus from the ring, contributing to his inability to capitalize on early promise despite notable bouts like his 1986 matchup against Mike Tyson.^[2]^[7]

Commissioned murders

Reggie Gross served as a hired hitman for a Baltimore drug gang led by Warren Boardley during the mid-1980s, carrying out executions amid intense turf wars over narcotics distribution.^[3] These conflicts escalated in neighborhoods like West Baltimore, where rival factions vied for control of lucrative heroin and cocaine markets, prompting Boardley to order killings to eliminate competitors and enforce debts.^[2] Gross, leveraging his physical prowess from boxing, targeted victims in street-level settings to resolve disputes efficiently on behalf of the organization.^[6] On September 12, 1986, Gross shot Andre Jerome Coxson, a 32-year-old street dealer and rival to the Boardley gang, multiple times in an execution-style killing in Baltimore.^[8] Coxson had been targeted due to outstanding drug debts and his opposition to Boardley's operations, with Gross using a handgun for the close-range attack that led to a related firearm violation charge.^[9] The killing was funded with a total of $25,000, of which Gross received $3,000, as part of the gang's strategy to maintain dominance in East Baltimore's drug trade.^[10] Eleven days later, on September 23, 1986, Gross carried out a second and third killing by ambushing Zachary Roach and Rodney Young, two mid-level narcotics dealers, on Gold Street in West Baltimore.^[10] The pair, affiliated with a competing faction, were sprayed with sub-machine gun fire in their vehicle during the early morning hours, a brazen act tied directly to the ongoing turf battles that threatened Boardley's control.^[2] These incidents exemplified Gross's role as an enforcer, where quick, violent interventions preserved the gang's territory amid rising violence in Baltimore's drug underworld.^[3]

Legal proceedings

Arrest and charges

On September 26, 1986, Reggie Gross was arrested by Baltimore City Police homicide detectives in connection with the execution-style murder of Andre Jerome Coxson, a 32-year-old rival drug dealer, who had been shot on September 12, 1986, on Fayette Street in West Baltimore, where he was shot once near a phone booth and then five more times in the head as he crawled away.^[2]^[11] The arrest followed tips from witnesses who identified Gross as the gunman and ballistic analysis that matched shell casings from the scene to a .38-caliber revolver recovered during the investigation and linked to Gross.^[8] Gross, then 25 years old, was apprehended amid a broader probe into escalating violence in Baltimore's West Side drug trade.^[2] Gross was initially charged in Baltimore City Circuit Court with first-degree murder, use of a handgun in the commission of a felony, and a separate 1985 burglary warrant, facing the possibility of the death penalty under Maryland's capital punishment statute for first-degree murder at the time.^[9] District Court Judge Gary Bass ordered him held without bond at the Baltimore City Jail pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for October 23, 1986, citing Gross as a flight risk and danger to the community.^[8] The investigation, led by Baltimore police, uncovered Gross's alleged role as an enforcer for the Boardley drug organization, a violent narcotics ring controlling distribution in the Upton and Madison Park neighborhoods, through eyewitness accounts and surveillance tying him to the crime scene.^[2] In 1987, as federal authorities joined the case through the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office, Gross faced additional charges in a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) indictment targeting the Boardley gang, accusing him of the September 23, 1986, machine-gun murders of mid-level dealers Zachary Roach and Rodney Young outside a Gold Street rowhouse—killings prosecutors described as contract hits to eliminate competition.^[6] The federal probe built on local evidence, incorporating informant testimony from within the organization and intercepted communications that implicated Gross in the coordinated hits, escalating the case from state to federal jurisdiction due to its ties to interstate drug trafficking.^[2]

Trial and plea

Gross's federal trial was scheduled for the summer of 1989 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland in Baltimore, where he faced overwhelming evidence linking him to the execution-style murders of three men amid a violent drug gang war.^[4] Represented by a public defender, he had been arrested in fall 1986 in connection with the killing of Andre Coxson and later charged with two additional murders.^[2] On June 5, 1989, just before the trial was set to commence, Gross abruptly changed his plea, entering a guilty plea to three counts of first-degree murder as part of a bargain that avoided capital punishment.^[6] In court, he admitted to serving as a hitman for the Warren Boardley-led drug organization, confessing to gunning down Coxson on September 12, 1986, and Roach and Young on September 23, 1986, on Gold Street in West Baltimore.^[2] The plea agreement reduced the potential capital murder charges to first-degree murder in exchange for his cooperation and detailed testimony on the killings, which prosecutors used to dismantle the Boardley ring.^[6] U.S. District Judge Paul V. Niemeyer accepted the plea following a review of Gross's competency, noting his lack of remorse but confirming his understanding of the proceedings.^[3]

Imprisonment and aftermath

Sentencing and prison assignment

On July 27, 1989, Reggie Gross was sentenced in federal court in Baltimore by U.S. District Judge Paul Niemeyer to three life imprisonment terms for his role in three drug-related murders, with two of the terms to run consecutively and the third concurrently.^[3]^[12] The judge described the killings as "brutal and sordid acts, malicious and premeditated, committed without any emotion," emphasizing Gross's involvement in an "extremely uncivilized enterprise" tied to a Baltimore narcotics ring.^[3] Niemeyer highlighted Gross's dramatic decline from a promising heavyweight boxing career, where he had fought notable opponents like Mike Tyson, to becoming a hired enforcer, noting that Gross had not fully accepted responsibility for the crimes despite his earlier guilty plea.^[3]^[12] The court rejected arguments for fully concurrent sentences, citing the premeditated nature of the 1986 shootings of Andre Coxson, Zachary Roach, and Rodney Young, which Gross carried out using a .38-caliber pistol and a MAC-11 submachine gun for $3,000 each.^[3] Following the sentencing, Gross was immediately transferred into federal custody and initially housed at the United States Penitentiary in Atlanta, a high-security facility.^[12] Under the federal sentencing guidelines in effect at the time, he became eligible for parole consideration after 20 years, in 2009; however, the consecutive life terms effectively ensured lifelong incarceration absent successful appeals or commutation.^[3]^[12]

Current status and appeals

Reggie Gross died on October 16, 2025, at the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri, while serving his sentence.^[13] While imprisoned, Gross participated in rehabilitative programs, such as anger management courses, and there have been no reported notable incidents or disciplinary actions.^[2]