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NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Former boxing champion Bobby Czyz Jr. is recovering from injuries sustained in a fiery car crash more than a month ago.
The 45-year-old Czyz was pulled unconscious from the back seat of a burning Mercedes in Millstone Township early April 13 after the car went off the road and struck a tree, according to Millstone Fire Chief James Carbin, who performed the rescue with help from a bystander who lives near the accident scene.
"When I pulled up, the engine compartment was fully involved and a fire was starting inside the passenger compartment," Carbin said Thursday.
Czyz was flown by helicopter to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune and admitted in critical condition, according to state police. Czyz was not the only person in the car, and it was not clear if he was driving. State police are still investigating the accident.
Czyz was moved from Jersey Shore to another health care facility, but a hospital spokeswoman, citing privacy regulations, would not say where. His current condition was not immediately available.
Czyz's driving has gotten him into trouble several times over the last decade. His license was suspended for a total of 20 years in 2003 after his fourth DWI conviction in a span of six years. The Courier News of Bridgewater reported at the time that he had been convicted of drunken driving in 1998, 1999 and 2000 but given a six-month license suspension each time.
Czyz, a New Jersey native, held the International Boxing Federation light heavyweight and World Boxing Association cruiserweight titles during an 18-year career and was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame in 1997.
He worked as a boxing commentator for the Showtime cable network for about 10 years until 2003, according to a network spokeswoman.
Czyz finished his career with a 44-8 record with 28 knockouts. He won the IBF title with a fifth-round TKO of Slobodan Kacar in Las Vegas in 1986 and defended the belt three times before losing on a ninth-round TKO against Charles Williams in 1987. He defeated Robert Daniels in Atlantic City in 1991 to win the WBA cruiserweight title.
He was stopped in his final two bouts, in the fifth round to Evander Holyfield at Madison Square Garden in 1996 and in two rounds to Corrie Sanders at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn., in 1998.
The 45-year-old Czyz was pulled unconscious from the back seat of a burning Mercedes in Millstone Township early April 13 after the car went off the road and struck a tree, according to Millstone Fire Chief James Carbin, who performed the rescue with help from a bystander who lives near the accident scene.
"When I pulled up, the engine compartment was fully involved and a fire was starting inside the passenger compartment," Carbin said Thursday.
Czyz was flown by helicopter to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune and admitted in critical condition, according to state police. Czyz was not the only person in the car, and it was not clear if he was driving. State police are still investigating the accident.
Czyz was moved from Jersey Shore to another health care facility, but a hospital spokeswoman, citing privacy regulations, would not say where. His current condition was not immediately available.
Czyz's driving has gotten him into trouble several times over the last decade. His license was suspended for a total of 20 years in 2003 after his fourth DWI conviction in a span of six years. The Courier News of Bridgewater reported at the time that he had been convicted of drunken driving in 1998, 1999 and 2000 but given a six-month license suspension each time.
Czyz, a New Jersey native, held the International Boxing Federation light heavyweight and World Boxing Association cruiserweight titles during an 18-year career and was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame in 1997.
He worked as a boxing commentator for the Showtime cable network for about 10 years until 2003, according to a network spokeswoman.
Czyz finished his career with a 44-8 record with 28 knockouts. He won the IBF title with a fifth-round TKO of Slobodan Kacar in Las Vegas in 1986 and defended the belt three times before losing on a ninth-round TKO against Charles Williams in 1987. He defeated Robert Daniels in Atlantic City in 1991 to win the WBA cruiserweight title.
He was stopped in his final two bouts, in the fifth round to Evander Holyfield at Madison Square Garden in 1996 and in two rounds to Corrie Sanders at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn., in 1998.
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