Jack Roper vs Dave Zyglewicz

I remember reading an article on Dave that talked about him falling down an industrial smokestack or some sort of crazy work related accident. I'm sure that injury didn't help his boxing. That said, he had a bit of pop, at least on the lower level of competition which Roper surely was. I'm going with Ziggy.

 

Damon Runyon on Ropers approach to the ring against Louis " have you ever seen a ghost walking " nuff said.
stay safe guys.

 

Dave Zyg had a much better record while roper’s record was horrible. Then again Jack fought some bigger names and even scored a few decent upsets. Both guys could punch a bit. Guess this is a tossup

 

Here's an obit for Dave who passed earlier this year from a wicked combo of cancer, dementia and the Ro. He had a hard life with some definite tragedy. The article mentions in more detail the industrial accident, along with his son's death.

It's always good to remember the guys who are a blip in the sport to us but who were at it for years, and who usually came from the type of hard backgrounds that makes pugilism seem a viable career choice.

https://nyfights.com/news/rest-in-peace-dave-zyglewicz-aka-ziggy-who-fought-joe-frazier-in-69/

 

This is one I have been thinking about almost daily for years. How would Jack Roper fare against Dave Zyglewicz in their primes?

You have pointed out the central issue. Zyg has an impressive 32-4 record, but his best wins were over a slipping Billy Daniels, who might have had something but not much left, and was generally losing, and an end of the line Willi Besmanoff.

Roper did almost nothing until 1935, but then began winning some fairly impressive fights, with decisions over Abe Feldman, Hank Hankinson, and Junior Munsell, and KO's of Art Lasky, Eddie Mador, Sonny Walker, Patsy Perroni, Bob Nestell, and Gunnar Barlund.

So, despite his mediocre 66-43-10 record, I vote for Roper,

 

Could certainly happen. Neither guy was very good. In fact it really is a joke that either fought for the heavyweight title. But zyg’s record is literally that of a club fighter like Peter McNeely. While Roper was basically a journeyman at least he had the experience of going to battle a few times with some respectable fighters in both victory and defeat. I guess he was sort of like the Jesse Ferguson of his day

 

Roper on the "lower level of competition"??? Surely ye Seamus jests!