'Smokin Joe' Frazier vs. Dave 'Ziggy' Zyglewicz

[Rover]

Here we go,,,,

Thursday Night - April 18, 1968

The Olympic - Main Event

#9 WBA - Dave 'The Animal' Zyglewicz ~ 24-0-0 (12 KO's) ~ Age; 24 ~ Height; 5' 10" ~ Weight; 183 lbs.
vs.
(NR) - Sam 'Whiskey' Wyatt ~ 18-7-2 (7 KO's) ~ Age; 27 ~ Height; 6' 0" ~ Weight; 189 lbs.

Fight Promoter, Enrique Cesena 'padded' Sam Wyatt's (6-7-2) record with '12' additional wins, to make
the bout look like a good match-up for the The Olympic fans and local Television broadcast.

Dave 'The Animal' Zyglewicz was somehow ranked #9 WBA - without ever fighting anybody but preliminary
type opponents. This was 'Ziggy's first 'semi' major bout, and The Olympic had planned to match-up him
up again in May 1968 if he looked good.

Well, things didn't go so well from the 'Get-Go'. Sam Wyatt started pounding 'Ziggy' from the out-set, and
by Round 3 the undefeated #9 WBA-ranked Heavyweight was getting beat up pretty bad.

To his credit, 'Ziggy' hung in there, as Sam Wyatt kept 'rat-a-tatting' Dave's face with the standard and
simple left-right one-two. By Round 6, 'Ziggy' had no idea of how to defend himself, other than to duck
and grab Sam Wyatt by the waist like a football player.

Thankfully - Sam Wyatt had no punch, as he had 'never' scored a legitimate knockout in his entire career.
With a groggy Zyglewicz in front of him in Rounds 7 thru 10, Sam backed off and just pecked-and-poked
on a fighter who was spent.

Sam Wyatt was awarded a wide-points 10-Round Decision.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After the bout, the California State Boxing Commission informed Perry Payne (Zyglewicz' Manager) that his fighter
would not be allowed to participate in a California Main Event ever again, as he had no idea of how to defend himself.
He would have to engage in several Preliminary Bouts first to prove himself.

Also, Fight Promoter - Enrique Cesena was 'suspended' for deliberately deceiving the public and State Boxing
Commission for fabricating Sam Wyatt's record.

Sam Wyatt never fought again. And his Manager stated the he knew of only the '15-bouts (6-7-2 Record)
on his fighter's record, as was not aware of the Fight Promoter falsifying his record on the Site Poster
and Newspaper Advertisement.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... k7AVesBoCQ

Sounds like one of the most undeserving challengers ever.

[Rover]

Yea, but the WBA said he wad good.........

I think Sam Wyatt was laughing so hard after the bout,,,,,,,,,he died.

But the WBA ranked him at #9 anyway........

Where was he ranked after he lost that fight?

[Rover]

Also, did the WBA rate ole Sam?

[Rover]

More on the 'Polish Battler'

Seems as soon as Dave Zyglewicz finished his stint in the Navy in 1964, he answered an advertisement
in Ring Magazine.

Houston Oil Man, Hugh Benbow was looking for a young Heavyweight that he could develop
'build up' into a possible Title Challenger. Dave saw the 'ad' and headed to Houston.

Though his nickname was 'Ziggy', the local boxing press called him 'The Animal', because of his rugged
style and raw power that resembled a Wild Boar. But, a few called him an 'unskilled' brick-layer who just
happens to know how to fight a 'little', with enough skill to get by 'Class C' fighters.

In his previous bout before facing Sam 'Whiskey' Wyatt, Dave had both of his eyebrows sliced apart,
that required '41-Stitches'. Many called that bout the worst 'blood-bath' that they had ever seen, with
blood spurting everywhere, splattering all that were seated at ringside in a 'gory affair'.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... TrQ8XTavDw

Yuck.

[yancey]

Hey, Ziggy was on a 4 match win streak going into the Frazier.

He finished his career with a 32-4 record, that ain't too terrible.

It is said that the quick loss to Frazier haunted Ziggy for years.

If he was a complete bum then he would probably have just laughed off the loss to Frazier.

[Rover]

Hey, Ziggy was on a 4 match win streak going into the Frazier.

He finished his career with a 32-4 record, that ain't too terrible.

Quality, not quantity.

[yancey]

Hey, Ziggy was on a 4 match win streak going into the Frazier.

He finished his career with a 32-4 record, that ain't too terrible.

Quality, not quantity.

Better than having a career losing record.

Check out some of the 100% pure tomato cans with career losing records that certain other champs fought.

Ziggy, you da man!

[Rover]

Hey, Ziggy was on a 4 match win streak going into the Frazier.

He finished his career with a 32-4 record, that ain't too terrible.

Quality, not quantity.

Better than having a career losing record.

Check out some of the 100% pure tomato cans with career losing records that certain other champs fought.

Ziggy, you da man!

Garbage=garbage.
Again, quality, not quantity. Anyone suspended because he was so bad was pure garbage.

[Rover]

Ziggy,,,,,,,

In all those early bouts he took some 'flush punches' and never went down....

His sparring sparring partners,,,,,,,
* Karl 'Snowflake' Zurheide (From; Fond Du Luoc, Wisconsin)
* John 'Black Fist' Phillips
* Ed 'Two Blinks' Rominski

I get the feeling Dave Zyglewicz could have been in one of those Clint Eastwood movies.

Philo Bedoe vs. Ziggy Zyglewicz

Now that's a bare-fist fight in the Southwest that I'd pay to see.

Not much quality sparring there.

[Rover]

April 27, 1969

'MADISON SQUARE GARDEN NEVER WORRIED ABOUT JOE FRAZIER'S OPPONENT'

Harry Markson, publicist for Madison Square Garden who is promoting the Heavyweight
Championshp Bout between Joe Frazier and #2 Challenger - Jerry Quarry in June 1969
said he was never worried about Joe having trouble with unknown Dave Zyglewicz.

Harry Markson, 'We had a few of our people watching Zyglewicz in sparring sessions,
and the report was that he may present some trouble for Joe in the 1st-Round.
We were told that he had a hard right hand, but after a good Round of sparring he
had nothing left other than arm punches.'

Harland Hart who covered the Championship Bout in Houston for Ring Magazine remarked,
'Ziggy ain't bad, but he ain't good either. His Manager (Perry Payne) did the right thing,
and took this bout even though his fighter was over-matched. At least he will get some
recognition, and that may help him get some decent money bouts, even if he is a novelty
act. If he's guided correctly, he can score big time in the Southern Circuit and maybe put
another run of '24' straight victories on his ledger, and be right back in line for Championship Bout.'

No more 24 bout runs for Dave.

[Dart340]

I will say this for Zyglewicz:
At age 38, after the industrial accident that burned up his lungs, he fought Clyde Mudgett in a final "comeback" fight and knocked him out clean.
I saw Mudgett regularly around this time spar at the Indy PAL and he was a tough, durable, fighter with legit skills.
I'm impressed that Zyglewicz took him at this point in his life. He couldn't have been a complete bum. Mudgett wasn't one.

[Rover]

Tuesday Night - November 21, 1967

Sam Houston Coliseum - Houston, Texas
(Promoter; Earl Gilliam)

Dave 'The Animal' Zyglewicz ~ 22-0-0 (12 KO's)
vs.
Bill 'Fred' McMurray ~ 23-17-2 (9 KO's)

"BLOODY AND GORY BATTLE AT THE COLISEUM, THE WORST EVER SEEN'

Popular and 'undefeated' Houston Heavyweight - Dave Zyglewicz and 'journeyman' Bill McMurray
engaged in a bloody and gory 10-Round bout here last night.

Bith fighters were cut badly over both eyes, and the crimson flowed freely in one of the worst
'blood-baths' ever seen in boxing history. Each time one of the fighters landed a punch, blood
splattered across the ring and spayed those seated at Ringside.

The 5' 10" 24 year-old Zyglewicz (191 lbs.) was the more effective aggressor early on, but the
taller 6' 4" McMurray was able to reach his shorter opponent with slashing punches in Round 4
that opened 'bad cuts' over both the the Texan's eyes.

McMurray (212 lbs.) was able to take control from there, and continued to slash away at the shorter
Zyglewicz in Rounds 5 and 6 to even the bout up.

With blood flowing down his face, Zyglewicz was able to reach the California Heavyweight (Truck
Driver by trade) with several right hands in Round 7 that opened cuts over both eyes of the visiting foe.

In Rounds 7, 8 and 9 - each time a punch was landed, a spray of blood filled the air above both fighters.

Entering Round 10, the bout looked to be 'all square' on the cards. Zyglewicz came out a bit stronger, and
stunned McMurray with a 'two' good right hands that him on 'wobbly legs'. The Houston Fighter attacked
like an 'Animal' and threw every punch imaginable to put McMurray down as the ring canvas was drenched
in each fighter's blood. McMurray managed to stay on his feet until the 'Final Bell'.

Scorecards;
* Referee - Earl Keel.........96-94
* Judge - Ernie Taylor.......96-94
* Judge - Jimmy Webb......96-94

The 'three' officials based their Decision on that, Dave Zyglewicz was more aggressive - and he landed the better
punches in the last 2-Rounds with the bout on the line.

This victory 'cemented' a #10 WBA Heavyeight Ranking for Dave 'The Animal' Zyglewicz.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... KQI5XVCEag

Beating a 23-17-2 fighter "cemented" a #10 ranking?

[Rover]

Mr. R.

The 'word was out', you could buy a #10 WBA ranking from them for $5000 in 1967.

The 'so-called' World Boxing Association was being run from the Home Office of Louisville, Kentucky Banker
Mr. Bob Evans. They had very little funds, so they 'sold' rankings.

The 'available' rankings could be bought.

To be listed with the WBA....$1000
Top 20..............................$2500
Top 15..............................$3000
#10..................................$5000

Jay Edson (Phoenix) was the Executive Secretary. He was also, the 'House Referee'.

Former President - Anthony Maceroni (Providence, Rhode Island), the most corrupt state in America.

For Laughs, Joe Frazier was ranked #9 in October 1967 - one notch above Dave Zyglewicz.

The WBA, was also called 'World Bought Acknowledgement'

Bob Evans, the sausage guy?

[Rover]

Bob Evans,,,,,,,,,

I don't think he was into 'Weiners',,,,,,,,,,,,Not that there is anything wrong with it.......

He was the Treasurer for the WBA in 1964,,,,,,,,,and without his knowledge funds disappeared.....

I only asked because my mother's favorite sausage was Bob Evans.

[jj5000]

Ziggy's fight with Johnny Featherman may have been some brawl. Featherman had a reputation as one of the toughest street fighters in boxing.

[Rover]

Tuesday Night - March 19, 1968

Sam Houston Coliseum - Houston, Texas

Attendance; 5000

#10 - Dave Zyglewicz ` 23-0-0 (12 KO's) - Height; 5' 10" - Weight; 190 lbs.
vs.
'NR' - Johnny Featherman - 27-9-1 (15 KO's) - Height; 6' 0' - Weight; 186 lbs.

'ZIGGY DEFEATS ARIZONA BOXER'

Dave 'Ziggy' Zyglewicz, the #10 World-ranked Heavyweight won a 10-Round Unanimous Decision
over Arizona Heavyweight - Johnny Featherman.

The visiting Arizonan, did his best work in the opening Round, as he stung the 24 year-old Texas Heavyweight
Champion with a blistering combination. But, instead of fighting from the outside where he had good luck,
the 28 year-old Arizona Heavyweight decided to fight in-close.

The shorter Texan came back strong in Rounds 2 and 3 with heavy body punches, as the two brawlers
slugged it out. In Round 4, Featherman was able to again land a hard combination, and both fighters
went toe-to-toe in a 'wild exchange'.

But in Round 5, Zyglewicz took command, and landed an assortment of right-crosses, hooks and
upper-cuts that shook Featherman. By Round 6, Zyglewicz was coiling up, to unload hard uppercuts
which split the bridge of the nose of the Featherman.

The Texan continued to pound away in Rounds 7, 8 and 9 - and 'gashed' both eyes of Featherman who
was now bleeding with a steady-flow.

Both fighters went toe-to-toe in Round 10, to the delight of the 5000 fans who attended the bruising bout.

Scorecards;
* 97-92
* 98-92
* 98-92

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... XTYkChc4cA

[Rover]

Dave Zyglewicz was tearing up the Southern Circuit,,,,,,,

Supposedly Cus D'amato had something to do with putting the syndicate together who financed Ziggy's campaign.

Philosophy, 'It is better to be undefeated beating up 'stiffs', than getting beat up by good fighters and ending up
with scrambled brains.'

[Rover]

Tuesday Night - June 25, 1968

Sam Houston Coliseum - Houston, Texas

Attendance; {4500)

'ZIGGY RETURNS TO THE WIN COLUMN, BATTERS SUPER-FLY FORTE'

Dave 'Ziggy' Zyglewicz returned to Houston, to pound out a brutal 3rd-Round knockout
over Florida Heavyweight - Levi 'Super-Fly' Forte, and improved his record to 25-1-0
by scoring his '13th' knockout.

Zyglewicz (191 lbs.) pounded the (194 lbs.) Forte with right hand bombs in Round 3,
dropping the 6' 1" visitor 'twice'. Forte got up each time, but was met by another
right hook which finished him at 2:02 of Round 3. Levi Forte a Florida 'trial-horse'
saw his record drop to 20-18-2.

Dave Zyglewicz a popular and charismatic Texan with a local cult following, was soundly
beaten in his last bout, on April 25 in Los Angeles, when he was battered by Sam Wyatt.
After witnessing that bout, many of the Texas Sportswriters wrote that 'Ziggy' was exposed
and finished as a future Title threat.

But, Dave proved that he still has power in his punch, which makes him a threat in a weak
Heavyweight Division.

Dave Zyglewicz, 'I know I was disappointing in my last fight, but nobody can stay undefeated
forever. Everybody loses, unless you're Rocky Marciano. I learned alot in my last fight, and
that is, you can't take anybody for granted once you get in the ring. I relaxed for an instant,
and I got caught by a good punch in the 1st-Round. I went the distance but I had no idea
of where I was for the whole 10-Rounds.'

Levi Forte, 'Dave hits as hard as anybody out there. If he gets inside your arms, he can be
dangerous with those short power punches. That's what happened to me.'

Note; On December 16, 1969 - Levi Forte took George Foreman 10-Rounds.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... KT38UMszQg

A heavy nicknamed super fly?

[Rover]

Wasn't there a wrestler named 'Superfly' Jimmy Snooka........

Levi 'Super-Fly' Forte came along before the talented musical artist......'Superfly' Curtis Mayfield....

You know, Dave 'The Animal' Zyglewicz was getting alot of 'Press' in Texas.........

Geeez,,,,,,,,,,just imagine if he upset 'Smokin Joe'...............'Ziggy' vs. 'Ali'

I know pretty much nothing about wrestling.:)

[Rover]

May 1968

Ring Magazine

Harland Hart,

'ZIGGY STRIKES OUT'

Texas Heavyweight - Dave 'Ziggy' Zyglewicz was battered and beaten at The Olympic Auditorium
in Los Angeles the other night. The Olympic put 'Ziggy' on as the Main Event and Olympic Television
broadcast. What the spectators at the Olympic and Televsion boxing viewers saw, can only be explained
as an 'old-fashioned beating'.

Some fringe Heavyweight by the name of Sam Wyatt who goes by the nickname of 'Whiskey', rocked
'Ziggy with the first punch he threw, and then continued to batter the muscular brick-layer for pretty
much every moment of the 10-Round Heavyweight bout.

On wonders how 'Ziggy' made it into the #10 WBA Heavyweight, without every facing a capable opponent,
except for maybe 'journeyman Heavyweight' Bill McMurray. Those in the know, call 'Ziggy' a fabricated
contender, in the 'realm' of Lamar Clark - a mid-west circus act from 1958 thru 1961.

Hugh Benbow and Perry Payne from Houston, Texas would be wise to get this Texas-Toughie some
good boxing trainers, if they want to take him to the next level. Otherwise, 'Ziggy' will continue to
'strike-out' like he did last week.

Nothing new with padded (through softies) records.

[Rover]

Tuesday Night - July 16, 1968

Sam Houston Coliseum

Houston AP

'ZIGGY STOPS FOE'

Dave 'Ziggy' Zyglewicz, scored a TKO 4 over Willie 'The Invader' Johnson by pounding the
visiting Florida Heavyweight with a series of left hooks and right uppercuts forcing
Referee- Jimmy Webb to call a halt to the bout at 2:38 of Round 4.

'Ziggy' (188 lbs.) stunned Johnson (190 Lbs.) with a hard right-hand midway through Round 4,
and then went wild with a non-stop attack until the Referee stopped the bout with Johnson
defenseless.

'Ziggy' improves to 26-1-0 and registered his 14th Knockout. Willie Johnson who is also
a sparring partner for WBA Heavyweight Champion - Jimmy Ellis, drops to 23-12-2.

Perry Payne; 'I think we're about 'two-fights' away from Challenging Jimmy Ellis.

Dave Zyglewicz, 'I want the WBA Title by the end of the year.'

Willie 'The Invader' Johnson. 'The kid can punch, but Jimmy would tear him apart.'

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... Vk1F1yZplQ

Johnson must've been one crap pro.

[Rover]

Willie 'The Invader' Johnson,

Real record,,,,,,,,,16-27-2 {8 KO's} before he faced 'Ziggy'.

Fight Promoter Earl Gilliams' 'record modification'......... DD

He was listed as the #2 Ranked Florida Heavyweight. Part of Chris Dundee's 'circus fighters'......

Who was the #1 Florida heavyweight?

[Rover]

Florida Heavyweight Champion,,,,,,,,The famous 'Gould's Terror'..........Al Jones

Here's a good one...

September 24, 1968

'ZIGGY TO MEET PRETTY BOY'

25 year-old Dave Zyglewicz looks for his 27th victory in '28-Bouts' when he takes on
Bob 'Pretty Boy' Felstein of Toronto, Canada. 'Pretty Boy' claims to be the 'Jewish
World Heavyweight Champion'.

The 28 year-old Felstein is a 6' 1" 200 lb. 'slugger' with a record of 15-4-2 {8 KO's},
and is ranked as the #5 Canadian Heavyweight.

When asked for a comment, Promoter Earl Gilliam said this would be the for the
'Polish vs. Jewish Heavyweight Championship'.

Bob 'Pretty Boy' Felstein, 'I am the best fighter that 'Ziggy' has ever faced. If he can get
by me, then he deserves an opportunity for the World Championship. If I win, then I
want that chance.'

"Get Your Tickets at the Sam Houston Coliseum Box Office'

[Rover]

Got to take a peak at the fight review........

You could have some fun with those headlines,

A Polish Heavyweight from New York, but based in Texas.
A former sailor and full-time brick-layer, and part-time butcher
who goes by the name of 'The Animal' and 'Ziggy'.

A Jewish Heavyweight from Toronto, Canada who goes by the
name of 'Pretty Boy', and is the Jewish Heavyweight Champion,
and dresses up in Black Tie and Tails.

AH,,,,,,,,the good old days..... DD

Who needs Don King for marketing a bout....

What other Jewish heavies were even around?

[yancey]

I will say this for Zyglewicz:
At age 38, after the industrial accident that burned up his lungs, he fought Clyde Mudgett in a final "comeback" fight and knocked him out clean.
I saw Mudgett regularly around this time spar at the Indy PAL and he was a tough, durable, fighter with legit skills.
I'm impressed that Zyglewicz took him at this point in his life. He couldn't have been a complete bum. Mudgett wasn't one.

You are right, Zyglewicz was not as helpless as some others make him out to be.