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Zbikowski and Boxing (Merged)

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sears3820

sears3820

Sitting around in my underwear....
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SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP)

Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski, well known for his love of boxing, will fight his first professional bout June 10 at Madison Square Garden.

A news conference to announce the heavyweight fight is scheduled for Wednesday in New York City, his father, Ed Zbikowski, said Tuesday. No opponent has yet been named.

Zbikowski said the fight will not jeopardize his son's NCAA football eligibility.
"As long as he does no sponsorships or endorsements, he can do it," he said.

Notre Dame did not have a spring football practice session Tuesday and Tom Zbikowski was not available for comment. Coach Charlie Weis also was not available for comment.

Mike Karwoski, Notre Dame associate athletic director who oversees NCAA compliance, said Zbikowski can promote the fight, but can't promote any commercial products. He said Zbikowski is well aware of what he can and cannot say.

"He's in the loop. Coach Weis is in the loop," Karwoski said.

NCAA spokesman Kent Barrett said college athletes can be professionals in one sport and remain eligible to play another NCAA sport. John Elway and Drew Henson both played minor league baseball while retaining their football eligibility. Colorado football player Jeremy Bloom lost his eligibility in 2004 when he refused to give up his skiing endorsements.

Zbikowski, a third-team All-America last season, was fourth on the team in tackles last year with 71 and led the team with five interceptions. He also was 13th in the nation in punt returns, averaging 14 yards a return.
His father said Zbikowski, who has a 75-15 amateur record, is excited about fighting in New York.

"There are guys that are tremendous fighters that don't get the chance to fight at Madison Square Garden," Ed Zbikowski said.

The fight will be part of the undercard for a WBO junior welterweight title fight between Miguel Cotto (26-0, with 22 knockouts) and Paul Malignaggi (21-0, 5 KOs).

Ed Zbikowski said his son, who is 5-11, 202 pounds, knows he has more to lose than he has to win in the fight, since so many will be able to see it.
"But that's the thrill. That's the excitement," he said. "He loves a challenge."
 
AJHawkfan said:
God, i hope he gets his ass kicked. Nothing against the kid, just so we don't have to listen to it all next season.
Click to expand...

I hope he gets pounded so bad that he misses the football season. Of course he was one of the best players of the 9 returning starters they have on a bad defense so if he doesn't make it back they might put in a pup that is a better athlete.
 
Upvote 0
What you can get away with as an amateur versus what a pro team could demand of you as a responsible adult.

Imagine if you will that TO decided he was game for a few rounds against a tomato can in a pro fight, or Kellen Winslow to bring it closer to home. Their respective teams would howl bloody murder at the prospect of one of their highly paid athletes engaging in such a dangerous pursuit.

Now its wonderful that Zbikowski is talented in more than one sport. However, the lack of ability of a college to hold a star athlete to standards of out-of-season behavior in all respects except the lock-up or classroom raises some intriguing questions.

  • Is Zbikowski playing fair with ND by getting in the ring? (One bad beating and his prospects for this last season at ND go swiftly downhill).
  • If this were an amateur bout the safety in place would be much higher than for the proposed pro fight. Don't you agree that ND's athletic department has every right to be (privately) dismayed at this prospect?
  • How would we Buckeye faithful feel if say it had been Ted Ginn Jr going in for a pro fight in his weight class?
Personally, I think this is a dangerous move on Zbikowski's part, one he should reconsider. As fast as he has shown himself to be on the field he could make an NFL roster as a return guy next year. Then he would not be allowed this type of latitude, why not begin that discipline now?
 
Upvote 0
If it's free I would watch it and probably root for the kid. He is just the kind of player I love, tough, smart and blue collar. One of the few on the Domers that I could say that about. Wish he was a Buckeye.
 
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