1. John A Zivic was an American boxer who competed in the featherweight class in the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp.
31 Facts About Jack Zivic
1. 2.
Jack Zivic was a serious contender for the world lightweight championship in 1924, but was defeated by reigning junior lightweight champion Jack Bernstein in an elimination tournament.
3.
Jack Zivic had a solid punch and was known for his left hook.
4.
Jack Zivic was born to a family of Croatian heritage, on June 23,1903 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was the second oldest of five boys.
5.
At 14, Jack quit school to work as an electrician's helper in a Pittsburgh mill for three dollars a day, an attractive sum in that era.
6.
Jack Zivic was an exceptional amateur, and like his brother Peter, trained with Jack Zivic Metz at the Willow Club on 46th Street in Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville section.
7.
Jack Zivic re-injured his right shoulder on April 3,1922 in a ninth round technical knockout against Eddie Crozier at the New York Athletic Club on April 3,1922.
8.
Jack Zivic defeated top rated contender Charley White in an upset on June 11,1923 in a ten round newspaper decision at Motor Square Garden in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
9.
Jack Zivic was credited with the first, second, fourth, fifth, seventh, and ninth, with White taking the remaining four rounds, though he had Jack Zivic in distress only in the eighth.
10.
Jack Zivic lost to the exceptional future world welterweight champion Joe Dundee on September 12,1923 in a twelve round points decision in Baltimore.
11.
The Baltimore Sun wrote that Dundee had a clear advantage in ten of the twelve rounds, though Jack Zivic performed well in the second and seventh.
12.
Jack Zivic lost again to Dundee on October 15,1926, in a ten round points decision at Madison Square Garden.
13.
Many of Jack Zivic's points were scored with body punches at close quarters and clinches in the sixth and seventh, though he rallied in the eighth.
14.
Jack Zivic decisively defeated accomplished Jewish boxer Joe Tiplitz in a ten round points decision at Pittsburgh's Motor Square Garden on November 12,1923.
15.
Jack Zivic was charged with four fouls during the bout, including a low blow in the fourth that required a two minute break to allow Jack Zivic to recover.
16.
Jack Zivic rocked Tiplitz with blows to the body and head in the second, making his best showing.
17.
The fourth through sixth saw Jack Zivic solving Barbarian's southpaw stance, and Jack Zivic dominated the tenth through twelfth so clearly that he clinched the decision.
18.
Jack Zivic was unable to penetrate the skilled defense of the former world junior lightweight champion.
19.
Jack Zivic had first been sent to the mat for a count of seven from a powerful left hook from Zivic.
20.
Jack Zivic defeated Willie Harmon, a serious contender for the world welterweight championship, on September 21,1925 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
21.
Harmon seemed to hold a comfortable lead in the first five rounds, though Jack Zivic pulled ahead in the sixth, seventh, and eighth.
22.
Jack Zivic lost to highly rated welterweight Sargeant Sammy Baker on July 2,1929 in a brutal ten round points decision at the Meyers Bowl at North Braddock, Pennsylvania.
23.
Jack Zivic took a vicious beating at the hands of Baker but remained on his feet throughout the bout.
24.
The Pittsburgh Press wrote that after a year away from the professional ring, Jack Zivic had no hitting power, his footwork was wobbly, his speed was lacking and his powerful hook was nowhere to be seen.
25.
Jack Zivic was down for a two count from a terrific right to the jaw in the second, took a beating to the body in the third, and was required to clinch frequently in the third, fourth, and fifth.
26.
Jack Zivic, who was clearly outmatched, swung wildly and clinched frequently.
27.
Jack Zivic lost much of his boxing investments in the 1929 stock market crash, but took a job with a local Pittsburgh area Post Office in 1934.
28.
Jack Zivic had a wife, Thelma Mesner Zivic, and a daughter and they resided in Westchester, Pennsylvania during much of their marriage prior to their financial difficulties.
29.
Jack Zivic lived briefly in Tampa, Florida during his early retirement.
30.
Jack Zivic originally began traveling to Delaware to spend time with his only daughter Jacqueline and her children.
31.
Jack Zivic suffered his first heart attack in 1968, and a second in 1969.