Fritzie Zivic (May 8, 1913, Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — May 16, 1984), born as Ferdinand Henry John Zivcich (Croatian: Živčić, known to boxing fans as Fritzie Zivic, “The Croat Comet”), was an American boxer. Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. ... The lightweight division is the 130 pounds (59 kilograms) to 135 pounds (61 kilograms) weight class in the sport of boxing. ... Croats (Croatian: Hrvati) are a south Slavic people mostly living in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (where theyre one of the constitutive nations). ... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ... Year 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Official language(s) English, Pennsylvania Dutch Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ... Year 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Nickname: Steel City, Iron City, City of Champions, City of Bridges, City of Colleges, P-Burgh, The Burgh Motto: Benigno Numine Location in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Allegheny County Founded 1758 Mayor Luke Ravenstahl (D) Area    - City 151. ... May 16 is the 136th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (137th in leap years). ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Professional boxing bout featuring Ricardo Domínguez (left) versus Rafael Ortíz Boxing, called pugilism (from Latin), prizefighting (when referring to professional boxing) or the sweet science[1] is a sport and martial art in which two participants of similar weight fight each other with their fists in a series...

Biography

His father was a Croatian immigrant; his mother Mary Kepele was Slovenian. As a young man, he followed the example of his elder brothers. These five brothers were known as the "Fighting Zivics". Referring to his youth in the Ninth Ward of Lawrenceville, Zivic later said, "You either had to fight or stay in the house. We went out."^[1] His brother Jack won the featherweight gold medal in the 1920 Olympics. (Redirected from 1920 Olympics) The Games of the VII Olympiad were held in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium. ...

He started with fighting professionally in October 1931 as a featherweight (at the age of 18). By 1936 he was ranked among the top 10 welterweights. In 1940 Zivic beat Sammy Angott to earn a shot at the welterweight title. He upset the great Henry Armstrong on October 4, 1940 in a 15-round decision at Madison Square Garden to take the welterweight title. He won the rematch with Armstrong in January 1941, but lost in his next defense, to Freddie Cochrane in 15 on July 29, 1941. His last fight was in January 1949 (at the age of 36). Sammy Angott (b. ... Henry Jackson Jr. ... October 4 is the 277th day of the year (278th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG, known colloquially simply as The Garden, has been the name of four arenas in New York City, United States. ... Freddie Red Cochrane, (born May 6, 1915 in Elizabeth, NJ and died January 1, 1993), was a professional boxer in the welterweight (147lb) division. ... July 29 is the 210th day (211th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 155 days remaining. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ...

Zivic became the best known when on October 4, 1940 he battered Henry “Hammering Hank” Armstrong at Madison Square Garden, taking the world welterweight title. He was a 4-to-1 underdog going into the fight. Fritzie held the title for the next eight months, when he lost a fight with Red Cochran after 15 rounds, on July 29, 1941 in Newark, NJ. October 4 is the 277th day of the year (278th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Henry Jackson Jr. ... Freddie Red Cochrane, (born May 6, 1915 in Elizabeth, NJ and died January 1, 1993), was a professional boxer in the welterweight (147lb) division. ... July 29 is the 210th day (211th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 155 days remaining. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... Nickname: The Brick City Map of Newark in Essex County Coordinates: County Essex Founded/Incorporated 1666/1836  - Mayor Cory Booker, term of office 2006–2010 Area [1]    - City 67. ...

According to Zivic's own account, the first bout with Armstrong was very dirty. Armstrong started out fighting that way: "Henry's givin' me the elbows and the shoulders and the top of the head, and I can give that stuff back pretty good, but I don't dare to or maybe they'll throw me out of the ring."^[2] By the seventh round, Zivic had had enough, and began responding in kind. The referee (still according to Zivic), then told the fighers, If you want to fight that way, it's okay with me. Armstrong had built up a good lead, but Zivic went to work, cutting both of Armstrong's eyes and opening a gash on his mouth. Zivic said "pardon me" several times while fouling his opponent. In the fifteenth and final round, Zivic hit Armstrong with a left hook-right cross combination. Armstrong went down as the bell ended the fight. Zivic won a unanimous decision.

He never challenged for a world title again, but from 1941 to 1946, he fought Sugar Ray Robinson, Lew Jenkins, Jake LaMotta, Beau Jack, Bob Montgomery, Tommy Bell, Billy Arnold and Freddie Archer. In all, he met seven future Hall of Famers and nine world champions. His career record with 158-64-9, with 80 knock outs. Sugar Ray Robinson, born Walker Smith Jr. ... Lew Jenkins (December 4, 1916 - October 30, 1981) was an American boxer and Lightweight Champion of the World. ... Giacobbe La Motta (born July 10, 1921), better known as Jake LaMotta, nicknamed The Bronx Bull and The Raging Bull, is a former boxer who was world middleweight champion and whose life has been as controversial outside the ring as it was inside it. ... Sidney Walker, better known as Beau Jack, (April 1, 1921-February 9, American lightweight boxer, he was a world champion twice. ... Bob Montgomery (February 10, 1919 - August 25, 1998) was an American boxer, fighting mainly in the 1940s. ...

Although his fighting tactics were very dirty (thumbing the opponents in the eye or punching in banned areas), he was also known for always apologizing for that to his opponent. "He had a body like a wire, a mind like a chess player, a quick wit and a splendid smile."^[3]

After ending his career, he had his own boxing school, and he became a boilermaker.

He died after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease in 1984. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993. The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta. ...

Quotes

• "You're boxing, you're not playing the piano."

Footnotes

1. ^ Margie Carlin, "The Three Faces of Lawrenceville," Pittsburgh Press, 17 October 1976, 28
2. ^ Red Smith, "The Nose", reprinted in W.C. Heinz's The Fireside Book of Boxing, Simon and Schuster.
3. ^ John Golightly, "Boxer Fritzie Zivic Dies at 71, Former World Welterweight King," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 18 May 1984, 8.

October 17 is the 290th day of the year (291st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... May 18 is the 138th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (139th in leap years). ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

• Timpav, CHAMP - Fritzie Zivcic - The life and time of the Croat Comet.

External links

• Cyberboxingzone
• Find A Grave
• International Boxing Hall of Fame
• Fight record, at BoxRec
• "Fritzie Zivic: Maligned & Revered" by Greg Smith can be found at the links below:
• http://www.hardcoreboxing.net/Smith1282006.htm
• http://www.hardcoreboxing.net/Smith1292006.htm