After Detroit Red Wing radio broadcaster Ken Kal finished the introductions of NPASHF inductee Andy Banachowski and Mary Ellen Verdeur, (the widow of Joe Verdeur), Czyz took over. “I like to talk but I work hard to back it up, I am proud of my Polish heritage. That is why I am here.” said Czyz.              

Smith a resident of Cincinnati has chronicled the boxing and living history of Czyz. He has become an award winning journalist for his boxing series. They have a fascinating   association. Czyz, is constantly front and center and Smith is in the background creating a narrative.  

Czyz, a native of Orange, New Jersey had an impressive 24-2, amateur record. In 1979, he was named to the U.S. National Team. He was scheduled to box in Poland for some Olympic exhibitions. Then he was involved in a serious auto crash. He couldn’t box while he healed. “I couldn’t train because my nose had to set for two months.” said Czyz.

An alternate went in his place. In March of 1980 LOT Airlines # 007, crashed on approach to Warsaw. Everyone with the U.S. National Team was killed. Czyz, home in New Jersey got a new appreciation for life and excelling.      

1980 was also the year President Jimmy Carter chose to boycott the Moscow Olympics. Czyz also turned down the Olympics and fought his first pro fight on April 24, 1980.

1980 was also the year NBC created the concept of “Tomorrow’s Champions.” Several talented former amateur stars had just turned pro, and were showcased on broadcast television. Among the stars being touted were Tony Ayala Jr., Johnny Bumphus, Davey Moore, Alex Ramos, and Tony Tucker.  

Ironically, the most well known member of “Tomorrow’s Champions” wasn’t initially chosen to be part of that elite group. Bobby Czyz, the articulate and multi-talented middleweight prospect was shunned and excluded by NBC.

Bobby didn’t become part of the NBC marketing plan until 1981 after he tallied an impressive string of wins that attracted the boxing media.

After NBC realized their error, Bobby’s natural marketability took hold. After defeating tough veteran Teddy Mann, in his eleventh pro fight, Czyz became a central figure of “Tomorrow’s Champions” on NBC. Additionally, he played a tremendous role in developing the boxing presentations on ESPN. 

In November 1982, his record was 20-0 (15 KOs). He was ranked in the top ten, and it seemed inevitable that he would land a title shot once he acquired professional maturity.  

In a gutsy and controversial management move, Bobby was matched with the tough, number three contender, Mustafa Hamsho. Hamsho was known for his strength and merciless resilience.

After losing to Hamsho, Czyz was criticized by the press. He was labeled as an artificial media creation. However, unbeknown to his corner he had broken his hand in the second round.

Bobby’s injury required surgery. A bone graft was taken from his hip, and his hand was in a cast for almost three months. The forced inactivity proved to be the least of his problems.

In June 1983, Bobby’s father, Robert Czyz, Sr., committed suicide. Bobby’s relationship with his father was complicated and ambivalent. The incident had a massive impact on the next chapter in his career.  

Nevertheless, Bobby resumed boxing at 162 pounds. Czyz put together an impressive eight bout winning streak. He split with his manager Lou Duvas and the ‘Bobby Czyz’ marketing machine took over.

During this period, Bobby fought some of the best bouts of his career, including a fantastic fourth round technical knockout of Tim Broady.

Despite Bobby’s success, he was left out of the championship loop at 168 pounds. Michigan based Murray Sutherland became the first super middleweight champion in March of 1984.

Ironically, weighing just over the super middleweight limit, Bobby dominated Sutherland in a ten round unanimous decision in July, 1985.

Over a year after defeating Sutherland, Bobby moved to the light heavyweight division and was granted a title shot against IBF light heavyweight champion Slobodan Kacar. Kacar was an Olympic Gold Medalist in the 1980 Moscow Games, and won the IBF title in December, 1985 with a 15 round decision over former WBA champion Eddie Mustafa.

Czyz destroyed and stopped Kacar to win the title on September 6, 1986. Czyz was now an official champion.

He successfully defended his portion of the light heavyweight title three times.

Unfortunately, another bad brake was waiting for the young boxer.  

Bobby had hoped to unify the division by facing Thomas Hearns in a super lightweight bout. Hearns had won the WBC light heavyweight title on a tenth round TKO over Dennis Andries on March 7, 1987. In another example of hard luck in landing the elusive mega-fight and pay day, Hearns went back to the middleweight division.  

Bobby Czyz was starting over.

In March 1990, Bobby fought as a cruiserweight for the first time, and won a 10 round decision over Uriah Grant. The bout is significant because Grant was a journeyman, but he was a dangerous knockout artist. Of Grant’s 17 wins at the time, 16 were by knockout. Grant hurt Czyz during the fight, but Bobby’s iron will passed the test against a big puncher, and he won a clear decision.

Shortly after the comeback win, he was offered a light heavyweight bout with 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist Andrew Maynard. Maynard was 12-0 at the time, and was managed by Sugar Ray Leonard. In an ironic turnabout, Bobby Czyz, once the darling of the media in the early 1980s, was considered a mere steppingstone for Leonard’s prospect. Czyz was a hardened pro with 40 professional fights under his belt, but was considered past his prime.

To add more difficulty, Czyz suffered a pinched nerve in his neck a few weeks before the fight. Nevertheless, Bobby still agreed to take the fight, but under the condition that it would have to be held over the 175 pound limit because he didn’t have enough time to recover and make the weight.

Weighing 177 to Maynard’s 176, Czyz gradually took charge of the bout in the early rounds, and staggered Maynard several times. In the seventh round, Czyz wanted to close the show. After a combination, Czyz landed a big right to Maynard’s chin, and the Olympian collapsed to the canvas. Maynard took a knee and seemed relatively clear headed, but his will to battle had been crushed. He took a ten count and Czyz jumped in triumph. “That had to be one of my best boxing moments.” said the articulate Czyz.

Still dancing in the ring after defeating Maynard, Czyz motioned to Sugar Ray Leonard who was sitting ringside and briefly discussed a match between the two. In 1988, Leonard stopped Donny LaLonde for the WBC light heavyweight championship and vacant WBC super middleweight title. 

In 1989, Leonard fought to a controversial draw with Thomas Hearns in their rematch for the WBO and WBC super middleweight title. Czyz hoped for a fight with either of them.  

Leonard ignored the overtures, as did Hearns.

In the months following his win over Maynard, Czyz was unable to secure a title shot in the light heavyweight division. Additionally, Thomas Hearns had defeated Michael Olajide at 168 pounds less than two months before Bobby’s win over Maynard. Most believed that Hearns vs Czyz was a natural match-up, but it never materialized.

Czyz was again on the sidelines after his biggest win in years, and was forced to move to the cruiserweight division to get a title shot.

In a twist, it was Hearns who landed a title shot in 1991 against WBA light heavyweight champ Virgil Hill. Hearns was not favored but he won a twelve round unanimous decision to win a portion of the light heavyweight crown for the second time.

Czyz won his second world title in a separate weight class with a beautiful boxing display against the bigger and stronger Robert Daniels on March 8, 1991 for the WBA cruiserweight title. Bobby successfully defended his title twice. He decisioned Bash Ali over twelve rounds five months later. In May of 1992, Czyz floored and dominated Donny LaLonde in another twelve round decision. A unification title fight appeared to be a likely possibility.

Near this time frame, Czyz started his broadcasting career doing ringside commentary for Showtime. Then fate gave him another curveball.  

Czyz was hit by a car, and sustained injuries that kept him out of action until 1994. He was forced to relinquish his title, and had to start all over again.

In February 1994, Bobby won a ten round decision over George O’Mara in a non-title bout. Six months later, Bobby challenged big punching Nigerian, David Izeqwire for the IBO cruiserweight championship. Izeqwire was less experienced than Czyz with a record of 15-0, but the Nigerian had knocked out 13 of his opponents. Izeqwire took control, and knocked Bobby down in the fourth round. Bobby was unable to answer the bell for the fifth round. Czyz announced his retirement after the fight.

Once again, the retirement didn’t last long.

Czyz continued color commentary for Showtime, but re-started his boxing career again.

He won his third title in as many weight classes on December 5, 1995 besting Robert Jackson.

In a controversial decision, Czyz moved up to heavyweight and lost to Evander Holyfield and on June 12, 1998 he had his last fight against Corrie Sanders. Said Czyz, “Right then I knew it was over. He hit me so hard and so often, I knew it was time to be done.”

“Tell Emanuel (Steward) and all the guys at Kronk, hello for me. Manny is still one of the best boxing coaches in the world. Yes, I said world.” continued Czyz. 

Most boxing experts agree that Thomas Hearns actually avoided Czyz at 175 pounds because of Czyz’s ability to take a punch and score knockouts.

The square prize fighter from New Jersey ended his career 44-8, with 28 KO’s.

Bobby Czyz is unique. He is not a politician and he tells it like he sees it. He always backed up his talk in the ring. 

Smith and Czyz are fortunate to have such a special relationship. They are both ambassadors for Boxing. Czyz is the ‘Champion’, front and center. Smith is the ‘Champion’ behind the scenes. They are both still persevering and punching away in their own styles.