On April 28, 1930, he made his professional boxing debut, losing to Mickey Nielson by a 4-round decision at the 104th regiment Armory, Baltimore.
Included among his victims were Ketchel two more times, the dangerous Buddy Knox (29-2 coming into their fight) and Dutch Weimer.
On April 21, 1937, Burman upset until then undefeated Gus Dorazio by a ten-round decision at the Naval Armory in Detroit, Michigan.
He then defeated 17-2 Eddie Blunt but lost to 14-1 Alberto Santiago Lovell at Gilmore Stadium in Los Angeles.
In 1939, he split two fights with Welshman Tommy Farr, winning the first in New York and losing the second one in London (Burman had previously fought internationally, in Mexico).
Joe Louis was the world Heavyweight champion and 44-1 when he was challenged by Burman, 73-17-1, on January 31, 1941, at the Madison Square Garden in New York City.
He later beat Al Hart (16-6 coming in) by second-round knockout, but lost to world Light-Heavyweight champions Melio Bettina and Joey Maxim, both by ten-round decisions.