On This Day: Tyrone Everett: The Mean Machine Remembered

By Peter Silkov

Tyrone Everett is one of boxing’s great ‘might have beens.’ He was a supremely talented southpaw boxer, with mercurial defensive skills along with excellent speed, and a dangerous punch.  Yet, because of a few cruel twists of fate, Everett was never able to fully explore his outstanding talent.  Born on April 18, 1953, in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, Tyrone turned professional in 1971, and quickly rose up the ratings to become a top contender at junior lightweight.

In his most famous fight on November 30, 1976, Everett challenged Alfredo Escalera for the WBC world Junior-Lightweight title. After 15 rounds, Tyrone seemed to have done more than enough to win the championship, only for the decision to go to Escalera, despite the fight taking place in Everett’s home town of Philadelphia. The verdict was highly unpopular with most observers, and regarded as one of the worst decisions of that era.  This fight was the only ‘defeat’ that Everett suffered in his professional career.

Everett was lined up to meet Escalera in a rematch for the world title when he was shot dead by his girlfriend on May 26, 1977, after she found him in the company of a transvestite.  Tyrone Everett was just 24 years old.  His final record was 36(20koes)-1.

Tyrone had two younger brothers, Mike and Eddie, who were both successful boxers.  Since his murder, Everett’s brothers present ‘The Everett Brothers Award’ every year to an outstanding Philadelphia amateur boxer.

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Leo Houck: The Lancaster Thunderbolt

Leo Houck stood 5’ feet 8“, and was a extremely strong and durable fighter, who fought many of the greats of the ring during his 22 year boxing career.  Houck was born Leo Florian Hauck (also went by Houck), on November 4, 1888, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Leo Houck’s ring career spanned 1904 to 1926. During that time, he had an estimated 207 contests and fought in every division from flyweight to heavyweight.  He was at his peak at middleweight, and fought for the World middleweight and light-heavyweight titles.  In 1913, Houck fought a 6-round, no-decision contest with George Chip, who was recognized as the World middleweight champion in America, and entered the fight under the middleweight weight limit.  The no-decision rule of the time meant that after 6 rounds, no decision would be given, and Chip would retain his title.  Houck’s only way of winning the title from Chip was to knock him out.  In the end, the fight went the full 6 rounds, and Chip retained his title. 

Some months later the two men fought again, this time over 12 rounds and once more the fight went the distance, with spectators feeling that Houck had ‘won’ the fight, but once more the no-decision rule was in effect. In December 1918, Houck fought Battling Levinsky, the reigning World light-heavyweight champion, again in a no- decision match, which he could only win the title by scoring a knockout.  The fight went the full 6 rounds, with Houck being judged the loser by most ringside witnesses.

During his career, Houck fought outstanding fighters such as Harry Lewis, Young Otto, Frank Klaus, Battling Levinsky, George Chip, Jack Dillon, Billy Papke, Eddie Mcgoorty, Mike Gibbons, Fay Keiser, Willie Meehan, Johnny Wilson, Clay Turner, Jeff Smith, Gun Boat Smith, Harry Greb, Al McCoy, and Gene Tunney.

Houck retired in 1926, after winning his final 11 fights.  His final record was  57(21koes)-10-5 his record in no decision fights was 88-27-21.

Leo Houck died on January 21, 1950, aged 61.

Copyright © 2016 The Boxing Glove, Inc. Peter Silkov Art. All Rights Reserved. Peter Silkov contributes to www.theboxingglove.com

Remembering Fritzie Zivic

By Peter Silkov

Fritzie Zivic May 8, 1913 - May 16, 1984

Fritzie Zivic was one of the roughest and toughest fighters ever to lace on a glove. Despite his reputation as an often 'dirty' fighter, Zivic was a skilled boxer who knew all the tricks of the trade, and made a lot of them up himself.
Zivic was one of five boxing brothers and turned professional in 1932 at 19 years old. After a unremarkable start to his career, Fritzie started making strides in the late 1930s, gaining the reputation as a rough and tough cutie who could give anyone trouble. Over the course of his career, Zivic fought just about all the top fighters from lightweight to middleweight, including Eddie Booker, Sugar Ray Robinson, Jake Lamotta, Charley Burley, Kid Azteca, Sammy Angott, Lew Jenkins, Beau Jack, Bob Montgomery and Henry Armstrong... amongst others. In an era where many of the top white contenders tended to avoid the majority of the outstanding coloured fighters, Zivic fought everyone and anyone, regardless of race or reputation. Without a doubt Zivic’s greatest moment as a fighter was when he won the World Welterweight championship from the great Henry Armstrong, on October 4, 1940; out-pointing 'Hammerin Hank' in what was a huge upset at the time. Some months later, Zivic repeated his victory over Armstrong, defending his title and becoming the first man to stop Armstrong. Zivic lost his world title to the clever Freddie Cochrane, when he was out-pointed on July 29, 1941. After losing his world title, Zivic continued to fight at the top level for the next 8 years, always a test and a tough match for anyone, right up till his retirement in 1949. Fritzi retired with a final record of 158(82koes)-65-9 Fritzi was of the old school, fighting often and against anyone, asking for no quarter and giving none either. His career is a testament to when fighters fought and boxing thrived in clubs and arenas everywhere.

Copyright © 2014 The Boxing Glove, Inc. Peter Silkov Art. All Rights Reserved. Peter Silkov contributes to www.theboxingglove.com and www.theboxingtribune.com