The Story

     The Arizona Kid was born in Detroit on January 6, 1906.  His Polish immigrant parents, Joseph and Margaret Poniatowski, named him Severyn, but he was called Sammy.  Since he had 15 other siblings, joining the Navy was most likely not only a way to support himself, but a chance to see the world.  Sam enlisted on January 24, 1925, and was stationed on the U.S.S. Arizona.

     How he came to begin his boxing career in the Navy remains a mystery.  As a lightweight boxer for the Arizona, he was known as the "Battling Ski", weighing in at 135 pounds.  Newspaper articles report he was lightweight champion of the Arizona.
    
     The series of events that gave Sam both the most pride and one of the biggest disappointments of his life revolved around the 1928 Olympics (the ninth Olympiad) being held that year in Amsterdam, Holland.  The Arizona's selection board named Sam as one of the nominees to represent the Arizona and the United States in the lightweight boxing event at these Olympics.  He told of having his bags packed, ready to travel.  At the last minute, his commander told Sam he wouldn't be going after all.  The commander himself would be going in his place.    Reminiscing decades later, Sam would shake his head and say with disgust, "He was knocked out in the first round".  It is unknown whether this knockout occured at some kind of preliminary bout or at the Olympics themselves.

     Nevertheless, at the time Sam was hurt and angry.  That changed his plan to reinlist when the time came.  He left the Navy when his four years were up.  He was always proud of this Olympic nomination, but the disappointment of not knowing what he might have accomplished at that competition stayed with him, too.

     Sam's boxing career was not over yet, though.  He came back to Detroit and moved back in with his parents.  His brother-in-law, Alfred Groen, became his manager and his professional boxing career began.  During these years, he boxed in the welterweight class -- 145 pounds.  Sam took the ring name of "The Arizona Kid".  One of the Detroit boxing reporters playfully states, "The Kid takes this business of boxing very seriously.  He has his name emblazoned on his bathrobe, on the sweaters of his faithful handlers, on his very own water pail, and no one would be surprised to find it on his sponge."  Thi Kid's trunks were black silk with his name embroidered in gold lettering. 

     Another of the newspaper clippings states, "The Arizona Kid is being hailed one of the best boxers on the West Side of the city, a left hook being his best stock in trade."  At some point in his career, a break to his right hand had allowed him time to work to perfect his left hook during the recovery. 
    
     Professional boxing during the Great Depression was not lucrative, even for a good boxer.  Sam eventually left the ring, and like so many other men of that era, got a job in a factory.    During his entire Navy and professional career, he was never knocked out.

     He married Marcella Ringwelski on 05/10/1941.  They had three children--Jacob (Jack), Geraldine (Gerri) & Doris.  The Arizona Kid died April 10, 1978, of a cancerous brain tumor.

    ... In the clearing stands a boxer and a fighter by his trade, and he carries the reminders of every glove that layed him down,
        or cut him 'til he cried out in his anger and his shame, "I am leaving, I am leaving",
        But the fighter still remains... (Paul Simon)