Steve Zouski (born August 14, 1954, in Brockton, Massachusetts) is a former American professional heavyweight boxer who fought Mike Tyson in 1986 and George Foreman in 1987.
Steve Zouski | |
|---|---|
| Born | Steve Zouski August 14, 1954 Brockton, Massachusetts, United States |
| Nationality |  American |
| Occupation | Boxer |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Reach | 74″ |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 49 |
| Wins | 33 |
| Wins by KO | 15 |
| Losses | 18 |
Early life
editSteve Zouski was born on August 14, 1954, in Brockton, Massachusetts, United States.
Amateur career
editZouski achieved an amateur record of 27 wins and 5 losses.[1]
Boxing career
editZouski, an orthodox fighter, made his professional boxing debut in Boston in 1978. His early boxing career saw numerous bouts in the New England region. At the age of 26 and with a 15 (10 KOs)-1 record, Zouski took on undefeated Marvis Frazier (son of Joe Frazier) on May 11, 1981, at Madison Square Garden.[2] During the fight, Zouski hit Frazier with two solid hooks and a right to the jaw in the first round, a hard straight right in the third, and a right uppercut and hook in the fourth. At 2:13 of the sixth round, following referee intervention, Zouski was stopped by the 20-year-old Frazier, who had his father Joe in his corner.[3]
In 1983 in Chicago, Zouski notably fought all ten rounds with Lee Roy Murphy, who was 18-0 and became IBF Cruiserweight Champion shortly after.[4]
In 1986, Zouski, who had 25 wins (14 KOs) - 9 losses, was scheduled for a ten-round bout with a 19 year old Mike Tyson at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.[4] Zouski weighed in at 210 pounds. Despite never being knocked down in previous fights, Zouski was defeated by knockout. At 2:49 of the third round on March 10, 1986, a series of uppercuts sent the 31 year old to the canvas. Tyson had sustained a cut on his ear earlier from a fall at a pigeon coop, and Zouski managed to hit the injured area a few times during the first two rounds.[5] His punches caused Tyson's left ear to swell to three times its normal size after their fight.[6] "Zouski is a game guy," said Tyson. "However, this was my worst performance ever. Mentally, I was not prepared."[7]
Following his fight against Tyson, Zouski stepped into the ring with South African heavyweight Johnny du Plooy.[8]
On March 3, 1987, Zouski faced a 267-pound George Foreman in Sacramento, California, during Foreman's comeback after ten years out of the ring.[9] Zouski was stopped by Foreman via a technical knockout at 2:47 of the fourth round.[10]
He rematched Mighty Mike Evans in a ten-round heavyweight bout in February 1988 at the Heights Banquet Hall in Chicago Heights. Zouski opened a cut on Evan's nose in the seventh round, while his left eye nearly closed by the end of the ninth. In the tenth round, a flurry knocked Zouski down for an eight-count, leading to his loss by decision. Evans commented afterward, "He (Zouski) is a tough fighter and he surprised me tonight."[11] The following month, he went up against James Pritchard in Melrose Park, Illinois.
Zouski, at 34, took on undefeated Tommy Morrison in June 1989 at the Atlantic City Convention Center, suffering a knockdown in the fourth round and losing by unanimous decision. In November 1990, he lost a unanimous decision against South African fighter Corrie Sanders, who was 8–0, at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi.
His last fight was in 1991, ending his career with 33 wins and 18 losses as a professional.[1]
Zouski transitioned to a career as an engineer with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, where he worked for more than 20 years. In 2006, he relocated to New Port Richey, Florida, to be near his family.[1]
External links
edit- Boxing record for Steve Zouski from BoxRec (registration required)
References
edit- ^ a b c Sentinel, J. (2024, November 15). This Wisconsin boxer fought Mike Tyson in 1986. He says Jake Paul better be ready to take a punch. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved from https://www.jsonline.com
- ^ Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 1981-05-28.
- ^ "The Wikipedia Library". wikipedialibrary.wmflabs.org. Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ a b McNeil, W. (2014). The Rise of Mike Tyson, Heavyweight. United States: McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers.
- ^ Tyson, M., Sloman, L., Sloman, P. (2013). Undisputed Truth: Subtitle TK. United States: Penguin Group US.
- ^ Wiley, R. (2000). Serenity: A Boxing Memoir. United Kingdom: University of Nebraska Press.
- ^ Gutteridge, R., Giller, N. (1987). Mike Tyson: For Whom the Bell Tolls. United Kingdom: W.H. Allen.
- ^ Who's who of Southern Africa. (1995). South Africa: Argus Printing & Publishing Company.
- ^ McCoyd, E. (1997). To Live and Dream: The Incredible Story of George Foreman. United States: New Street Publishing.
- ^ Fitzgerald, M., Ehrmann, P. (2004). The Ageless Warrior: The Life of Boxing Legend Archie Moore. United States: Sports Pub..
- ^ "The Wikipedia Library". wikipedialibrary.wmflabs.org. Retrieved 2024-11-28.