Philly Boxing History

JANUARY 05, 1945

ZIVIC SNAPS BILLY ARNOLD'S UNBEATEN STREAK AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

In 1945, eighteen year old high school senior, Billy Arnold was zooming up the welterweight ranks and boasting a ring record of 30-0-1 (28 KOs) when he faced former Welterweight Champion Fritzie Zivic at Madison Square Garden in New York. To say that Zivic was a seasoned vet would be an understatement. This bout with Arnold was his 185th! Yet Billy Arnold was the 3-1 favorite going in - that's how highly regarded the young sensation was. He was even expected by many to score a KO. 

16,923 fans crowded the Garden and watched the youngster take the fight directly to Zivic. Newspaper reports said that Arnold was dominant in many of the eight rounds, using his hard pressing, hard punching style, and bountiful energy to punish the old pro. Arnold looked sharp enough for many to believe he won the bout, but Zivic fought smart and seemed to confuse Arnold at times. In the end, the decision was a majority nod for Fritzie Zivic, leaving the unbeaten streak of the streaking young prospect from South Philly snapped.

The controversial upset victory was the last big win for Zivic, who went 16-21-3 in the final chapter of his illustrious career. Arnold moved on from this bout with his rating and reputation still intact. However, he would run into Rocky Graziano his next time out, in a fight that would cost him his ranking and much of his boxing future. Arnold's overall career record ended at 42-9-1 (35 KO).

  1942 - Bob Montgomery KO8 Mayon Padlo at Arena in West Philly

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