I hadn’t been on Facebook in a couple of years.

Then May 2025 came around, and for whatever reason—call it curiosity or divine timing—I logged back in. A few scrolls in, a video caught my eye. It wasn’t just the speed or the precision of the young boxer in the clip—it was the presence. The focus. The fire. His name: Malachi Ross. But those close to him just call him “Mali.”

I hit play. Then replay. Then I hit “message.”

That click became a conversation. That conversation became a connection. And now, that moment has become something more: a chapter in boxing’s next wave of history.

Out of curiosity, I opened MSN.com to see how boxing was being covered. There wasn’t even a tab for it—just one for UFC/MMA. In that moment, the urgency of this piece crystallized. Boxing isn’t just underrepresented. It’s under threat. And if the sport is to survive, it won’t be because of contracts or politics. It’ll be because of fighters like Mali—fighters with grit, vision, and roots

Born in Kansas City and raised in Grandview, Missouri, Malachi Ross didn’t start in a state-of-the-art gym. His first training ground was his own driveway. His father, Micah Ross, was his first coach—teaching fundamentals under streetlights and summer heat. Those driveway sessions were more than father-son bonding; they were blueprint moments. The type that define character before careers.

By eight, Mali was in real rings. By his teen years, he was feared for his footwork, speed, and focus. In 2023, he dominated the USA Boxing National Championship—winning every round, every fight, without compromise. No flash. Just facts. Now, as a 13-time national champion, Mali’s dominance isn't up for debate—it's being documented, and redefined.

But scroll through the images from his journey, and the essence of who Mali is comes alive.

LEGENDARY GOALS...

The photo above shows a young Malachi, glowing with pride, sitting on his dad’s lap with a championship belt across his chest. The next equally powerful photo—shows Mali side-by-side with boxing icon Terence “Bud” Crawford, the undisputed world champion across multiple weight classes and widely considered one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters of this era. In that moment, Mali wasn’t just meeting a legend—he was staring into a mirror of possibility.

That image says everything. Crawford represents what’s possible. Mali represents what’s next.

And today, that future is quickly becoming the present.

What’s kept him grounded? His faith. His family. His vision.

“I balance it with prayer and hard work,” he told us. “God keeps me grounded. My family keeps me focused.”

At the center of that family is Micah Ross—not only a coach, but a mentor, a barber, and a builder. Micah taught Mali the art of cutting hair when he was just a teen, continuing a legacy passed down from Malachi’s older brother, Ryone Winters, a former Division I football player at Wyoming who now runs his own barbershop.

“I got my first clippers at 13,” Mali recalls. “My pops handed them to me like, ‘Here you go.’ I was like, ‘What do I even do with these?’”

He figured it out. And today, he’s cutting hair for Team USA teammates during camp, using his hands not just to throw punches—but to shape identity, craft, and connection.

But that’s only part of the story. The same hands that box and barber also build wealth—and homes.

Malachi has been flipping houses with his father, learning real estate as a long-term game plan. And it’s not just talk. 

“I started a promotion company to promote myself in boxing. I want to use the proceeds to invest in real estate and other businesses,” he shared. “It’s not just about today—it’s about building something that lasts.”

This branding mentality shows up everywhere—from the now-iconic "MR" logo on his shirts and shorts, to the way his family rocks matching gear in and out of the ring. It’s cohesion. It’s clarity. It’s brand, purpose, and promise.

One of the most striking images in Malachi’s journey isn’t even in the ring—it’s backstage. Wearing “TEAM ROSS” on his back, braids tight, gloves wrapped, surrounded by his team, Mali prepares with a quiet fire. That moment—one foot in the ring, one foot in legacy—captures everything he’s fighting for.

But even champions face humbling moments.

“There was a guy I didn’t think was on my level,” Malachi admits. “I wasn’t in shape. He gave me a fight. I still won. But it reminded me—never take anything lightly.” That humility isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom.

Looking ahead, Malachi isn’t just thinking about medals. He’s thinking about movements.

“If I could build something for the youth,” he says, “it would be boxing or barber training. Even carpentry. Anything that gives them tools to build.”

Because Mali isn’t just building a résumé. He’s building a blueprint.

Ask him what success looks like, and he won’t hesitate.

“A relationship with God. Financial freedom. Being a world champion.”

And when it’s all said and done?

“I want to be remembered as a God-fearing man. A world champion. A leader. A good person who gave back to his community.”

That’s what makes this more than a sports story. It’s a spirit story.

In a world where boxing is often pushed aside for flashier content, fighters like Malachi Ross force the conversation back to the center. Not with noise. But with substance.

He’s a boxer. A barber. A builder. A believer.

So, while MSN may have forgotten boxing exists, NOVELCITY News didn’t. Because this story—Malachi’s story—isn’t just about fighting in the ring.

It’s about fighting for presence. For purpose. For the future.

And Malachi Ross—“Mali” to those who know what time it is—is doing all three.

Stay tuned to NCN for updates on upcoming fights, exclusive content, and sparring highlights—especially as we scout top-tier 154 lbs weight division boxing talent matchups in Los Angeles and across the country.  Who's ready?

Let’s connect: news@novelopers.com

Because this isn’t just a sport.

This is survival.

Malachi “Mali” Ross is leading the fight—and NOVELCITY News is telling the story.

Writers. Teams. Visionaries. Join the Movement.

We’re looking for contributors, brand collaborators, and editorial partners who believe that what’s happening in LA and cities around the world isn’t just a local story—it’s a global signal.

Let’s show the world how sports can regenerate cities, anchor equitable growth, and inspire generations.

Contact Us:

• Partnership & Sponsorship Inquiries → partnerships@novelopers.com
• Editorial & Writer Submissions → news@novelopers.com
• Speaker & Event Collaborations → newbusiness@novelopers.com

Note: By 2027, NCN will expand to 43 cities across the globe, activating a global storytelling network to map the new economic landscape and spotlight the cities building what’s next.

First stops: Los Angeles, Kansas City, Miami, New York, Washington DC, Denver, Houston, Seattle, Phoenix, Bay Area, New Orleans, Orlando, Boston, Austin, and

Las Vegas

Stay tuned. Subscribe. There’s a novel story in your city—and we’re here to tell it.

www.novelcitynews.com

#NovelCityNews #NCN43x27 #InnovationJournalism #NextEconomy

Los Angeles, CA | January 17, 2025 — On a day marked by urgency and unity, the Los Angeles Rams joined forces with the city’s 11 other professional sports teams for a landmark donation event at The Shops at Hollywood Park, rallying in response to the unprecedented wildfires that displaced thousands across Los Angeles.

What took place was more than a charitable drive. It was a blueprint for something bigger.

Over $3 million in goods were distributed through Fanatics, alongside vital resources—from mental health care and legal guidance to groceries, clothing, and school supplies—contributed by team partners like Uber, Cedars-Sinai, Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions, and Call Jacob. With Aaron Donald, Todd Gurley, and front office staff on-site, the Rams activated not just star power, but system power. Three city-wide venues—SoFi Stadium, Dodger Stadium, and BMO Stadium—served as hubs of hope.

It was a powerful testament to what happens when LA’s sports ecosystem aligns around purpose.

But that was just the start.

From Recovery to Regeneration: May 2025 and Beyond

Now, five months later, as Los Angeles begins to shift from emergency response to long-term renewal, the question isn't just how we rebuild—but who tells the story of how it's being rebuilt.

NOVELCITY News (NCN) is launching a new Sports & Entertainment Column to chronicle this exact moment—where teams, players, brands, and neighborhoods are forging the future together. With global events approaching, including FIFA 2026, the 2028 Olympics, and the city’s expanding sports infrastructure boom, now is the time to document the movement—not just the milestones.

This new column doesn’t just capture moments—it catalyzes them.

Introducing the NCN Sports & Entertainment Column

Where Sports Culture Meets System Design

Built from the ground up in Los Angeles, this column will track the evolution of sports as a force for regenerative impact, civic imagination, and cross-sector collaboration. Think of it as part pulse check, part blueprint, part megaphone for what the world needs to see in sports leadership today.

What We Cover:

• Sports teams innovating on disaster response, community health, and education access
• Players investing in cities, co-founding ventures, and shaping legacy initiatives
• How LA is becoming a model city for civic stadiums and impact arenas
• Novel partnerships that move from visibility to deep systems change
• The behind-the-scenes coalitions that will define LA's next era

This is not sideline reporting. This is storytelling as civic infrastructure.

Why NCN is Calling on LA's Teams and Partners

To the Rams, Dodgers, Sparks, Lakers, Clippers, Galaxy, LAFC and every franchise shaping the city’s future—we believe your role is bigger than game day.

You’re not just tenants in the LA story. You are architects of it.

By partnering with NCN, your organization becomes a central narrative anchor in:

• A global regenerative media campaign for Los Angeles leading into 2026 and 2028
• A trust-building platform that uplifts athlete-driven change, sponsor stewardship, and local legacy
• A media launchpad for your most powerful community moments, long after the headlines fade
• An open-source storytelling hub for regenerative economics in action

What Our Column Offers

• Monthly features on local-to-global impact from LA’s sports community
• Athlete legacy profiles with original interviews and archival storytelling
• Field reports from community-based activations, tech pilots, and public events
• Storytelling partnerships with CSR, partnership activation and marketing teams to shape how your story is told
• Alignment with our global journalism environments: innovation, education, ethics, economics, and more

Writers. Teams. Visionaries. Join the Movement.

We’re looking for contributors, brand collaborators, and editorial partners who believe that what’s happening in LA isn’t just a local story—it’s a global signal.

Let’s show the world how sports can regenerate cities, anchor equitable growth, and inspire generations.

Contact Us:

• Partnership & Sponsorship Inquiries → partnerships@novelopers.com
• Editorial & Writer Submissions → news@novelopers.com
• Speaker & Event Collaborations → newbusiness@novelopers.com

Note: By 2027, NCN will expand to 43 cities across the globe, activating a global storytelling network to map the new economic landscape and spotlight the cities building what’s next.

First stops: Los Angeles, Kansas City, Miami, New York, Washington DC, Denver, Houston, Seattle, Phoenix, Bay Area, New Orleans, Orlando, Boston, Austin, and

Las Vegas

Stay tuned. Subscribe. There’s a novel story in your city—and we’re here to tell it.

www.novelcitynews.com

#NovelCityNews #NCN43x27 #InnovationJournalism #NextEconomy

A bold new voice in global innovation media has officially launched: NOVELCITY NEWS (NCN). Born out of Kansas City’s rich legacy of entrepreneurial grit and visionary storytelling, NCN is a next-generation media platform focused on identifying, tracking, and celebrating the people, ventures, and cities shaping the future of business and society.

With the philosophy that “There’s a NOVELCITY in every city,” the platform takes a hyperlocal-to-global approach—connecting grassroots ecosystems with global capital, talent, and opportunity.

From deep-dive features on startup traction and corporate reinvention, to immersive reporting on urban transformation, legal innovation, and new approaches to wealth creation, NCN is not just reporting stories—it’s building the archive of the next economy.

Coming soon:

• Annual Lists & Rankings, including Top 100 Novel Professionals, Most Investable Ventures, and the NOVELCITY Index.

• High-impact editorial verticals like TRACTION, NEW 2 NOVELCITY, NOVEL PROFESSIONALS, and NOVEL VENTURES.

• Cross-sector intelligence from media, research, education, legal, and financial innovation perspectives.

And this is just the beginning. By 2027, NCN will expand to 43 cities across the globe, activating a global storytelling network to map the new economic landscape and spotlight the cities building what’s next.

📍First stops: Los Angeles, Kansas City, Miami, New York, Washington DC, Denver, Houston, Seattle, Phoenix, Bay Area, New Orleans, Orlando, Boston, Austin, and

Las Vegas

Stay tuned. Subscribe. There’s a novel story in your city—and we’re here to tell it.

🌐www.novelcitynews.com

#NovelCityNews #NCN43x27 #InnovationJournalism #NextEconomy