Where do you rank Fritzie Zivic All time?

Possibly top 15. A less well rounded estimation would be 12 to 17.

 

depends on how much value you place on consistency. even though he went on a massive slide post title, his record is scattered with loses even in his prime. i always have trouble placing guys with spotty records like he, jimmy carter and old bones. judging on his best night, he beat armstrong. judging on the average night, he could lose to a lot of lessor fighters

 

Though I don't think he's as great a fighter, I think Zivic on his best night would beat Jimmy McLarnin. I would also pick him to beat Jose Napoles, Pipino Cuevas and Felix Trinidad.

 

Didn't Ray Robinson say he was his toughest opponent? If so, should he rate higher?

 

Robinson and Conn said he was the toughest, smartest guy they fought. If you look at his record, many of his losses had two things in common. First, they were in the other guys hometown, and, second, they were at the end of extended periods of fighting every 6-10 days. It seems like he would leave home, go on tour, so to speak, then take some time off.
The second Burley fight (Zivic won the first), he traveled to St. Louis (I think), and fought a 10 rounder about a week before. The promoters were irate and tried to stop it, but Zivic wanted the $4,600 payday. Also, he was inactive for at least a year, most of it hospitalized due to a serious illness. He wasn't supposed to be able to fight again, but did, for quite a long time.
He dropped a controversial split decision to Robinson, and the 2nd fight, I've read, was even closer until Robinson stopped him in the final round. He beat Burley, and LaMotta, and his 4 losses to LaMotta were all split decisions. Zivic would run DLH, Mosley, Mayweather and the like out of the ring. RING rated him in the top 10 into the 1970s and nobody better has come along since then.
One last point: I think Zivic would beat SRL, who wasn't much compared to SRR, but Hearns might be a problem, as he would be for anybody, due to his right hand. If he got past that, Zivic would beat him up.

 

Good post.
Some interesting information there. :good
I might have a deeper look into Zivic and boost him up the ratings. I've never had any doubt that when he was on form he was a top-flight great.
His willingness to fight (and beat) guys who were big middleweights and light-heavys impresses me.

 

If you're not a Zivic fan after reading this I'd be surprised. One of the funniest boxing articles I've ever read:


http://cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/zivic-dirty.pdf

 

That's required reading. :good

 

Loved that!

 

Zivic: "I loved fighting Jenkins. He had a neck like a rooster. Perfect for choking"

:rofl:rofl

 

AMONG the Best!

 

:rofl

 

I'm hoping "When Pittsburgh was a Fight Town" by Roy McHugh gets published soon. It's loaded with Zivic sayings and anecdotes. The guy was as good a raconteur as he was a fighter. If I could have a dream beer-n-BS session with any old time fighter it would probably be him. Top 3 easily.