Fight:240146

The Zivic-Tracey bout ended in much confusion, and the referee was severely critisized. In first round, Tracey "tore in throwing all caution to the winds and in Zivic he found a boy who liked to mix, and who had a left mitt that carried bone crushing power." Some called the first round even. In the 2nd, Zivic started by "heeling" Tracey, and following up this foul with a punch. He was warned but committed the same foul again, and once when in a clinch "in which Tracey's arms were locked he wrestle the latter loose almost throwing him to the mat and also repeated the fouling tactics by again "heeling" Tracey, receiving nothing more than a warning from the referee". Thereafter Zivic landed a terrific left hook to Tracey's jaw, flooring Bobby, who took a 9-count. Another left hook to Tracey's jaw, and he took another 9 count, and when he regained his feet, he was shoved to the floor. Tracey was resting on one knee, when Zivic let fly a right to Tracey's jaw. At this point, the ref stopped the fight, and ruled that Tracey was unable to continue. Tracey's corner yelled that he was fouled, to no avail. One inspector stated that he thought Tracey was fouled. Thereupon there was a big uproar, causing the police to rush into the ring. Referee Walton then ruled that he disqualified Tracey in accordance with Section 6, Article 9 of the boxing laws laid down by the commission, which he claims that a man must be disqualified for purposely going down without being hit. Most observers criticized the ref for not saying anything about the foul committed by Zivic when he wound up and delivered a right to Tracey's jaw when he was resting on one knee. One argument was that the fight was over in his opinion, and that no foul could be committed. That would have been OK, if he had counted out Tracey, but he failed to do so. The newspaper reports thought that the fight should have been allowed to go on, as Tracey looked as if he could continue. "Tracey was unhurt and full of fight at the finish, insisting on continuing".

Unidentified Scranton Newspaper from Tracy's scrapbook. Bob Caico