Frazier Zyglewicz

Zyglewicz

U.S. Navy Heavyweight Dave Ziggy Zyglewicz Had A Moment In The Sun

 

By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent

 

David ‘Ziggy’ Zyglewicz of Houston, Texas, learned to box in the United States Navy as an amateur from September 1961 to September 1964. Zyglewicz then turned professional, and won his professional debut by six round unanimous decision over James Oliver at the Sportatorium in Dallas, Texas, on April 16, 1965.

 

Zyglewicz opened his career with an astounding 24 consecutive wins, including ten and 12 round decisions over such names as Sonny Moore (Win 10), Billy Daniels (Win 10), Everett Copeland (Win 10), Bill McMurray (Win 10), Johnny Featherman (Win 10), and Max Martinez (Win 12). Zyglewicz also defeated Willie Besmanoff, who had fought Muhammad Ali, Archie Moore and Sonny Liston). Zyglewicz stopped Besmanoff, a 93 bout veteran, by stopping him in three rounds in August 1967, and ended Besmanoff’s career. Zyglewicz also knocked out Levi Forte in three rounds in Houston in June 1968, the Sam Levi Forte who went 10 rounds with George Foreman 18 months later in Miami Beach.

 

Zyglewicz was finally beaten by ten round decision by Sam Wyatt, who won every round in his final ring appearance, and caused Zyglewicz to get suspended by the California Athletic Commission. Zyglewicz, who fought only in Texas and New York, fought only in Texas and New York after losing the 10 rounder in California.

 

Zyglewicz then won his next four bouts, including a 10 round decision win over Bob Felstein in Houston. This qualified Zyglewicz to fight for the New York State Athletic Commission’s version of the World Heavyweight title in Houston against Smokin’ Joe Frazier, then the NYSAC World Heavyweight champion, on April 22, 1969.  The pro-Zyglewicz crowd cheered for Ziggy, but booed the still largely unknown Frazier. Odds were 10 to 1 by the bookies, 8 to 1 in Las Vegas, and 3 to 1 in Houston, all for Frazier. The three knockdown rule was waived, and the standing eight count was in effect.

 

Frazier knocked down Zyglewicz twice with left hooks, knocking Zyglewicz out at 1:36 of the first round of the scheduled 15 rounder. Zyglewicz made a critical mistake, standing in front of Frazier and slugging it out. The first knockdown was a flash knockdown in the first 15 seconds for a two count. The second knockdown a clear knockout of Zyglewicz for keeps. The bout represented an early showcase of the dangers of underestimating Frazier’s power left and right hooks, and repeatedly getting hit by them. It was this lethal damage done by Frazier’s hooks which decked Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden on March 8, 1971.

 

Heavyweight champion Joe Frazier versus Dave Ziggy Zyglewicz on YouTube 1969

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUoKtvtBFcY

 

Dave ‘Ziggy’ Zyglewicz had his moment in the sun. Zyglewicz retained the Texas State Heavyweight title in his next bout five months after the Frazier bout, stopping Willie Earls in two rounds. Zylgewicz won the Texas State title in 1965, and defended it six times. Zylgewicz retired in 1975, but made a brief comeback in 1982, scoring a second round knockout of 18-14 Clyde Mudgett to finish his career at 32-4 with 18 knockouts. Ziggy was never world champion, but for a brief shining moment, Zyglewicz had his moment in the sun, a moment in the spotlight forgotten in time by all but ring historians.

 

As they say in the song ‘Eye of The Tiger’ by Survivor, you trade your passion for glory. Somewhere out there, Dave Zylgewicz remembers his moment. He came out swinging, and went out swinging. After the first knockdown, Zylgewicz remembered nothing, fighting on instinct till he went. To go toe-to-toe with Smokin’ Joe Frazier in the center of the ring and go for broke in Frazier’s championship prime took guts. Unfortunately, Rocky Balboa Dave Zylgewicz wasn’t, but he had his chance and took it, with absolutely no regrets.e came to fight, went out swinging, and wentHe came out swinging, and went down swinging.

 

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