Providence, RI Civic Center 1987 World Lightweight Champion Vinny Pazienza (center) along with Chris Raucci (left) and Richard D. Biondi (right).
Special Profile-Vinny Paz
Born-December 16, 1962 Providence Rhode Island
Nickname-“Pazmanian Devil”
Bouts-60
Won-50
Lost-10
Ko-30
Cut Man-Ace Marotta
Manager-Bill Clayton
Promoter-Jimmy Burchfield
Trainers-Lou Duva and Kevin Rooney
*New England Golden Gloves Champion (1981)
*National AAU Champion (1981)
*IBF Lightweight Champion (1987-1988)
*USBA Junior Middleweight Champion (1991)
*WBA Junior Middleweight Champion (1991)
*Ring Magazine Comeback of the Year (1991)
*National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame (2002)
*Rochester Boxing Hall of Fame (2003)
*Special Courage Award (R.B.H.O.F) (2003)
*C.E.S Ring of Honor (2005)
Vinny Paz started to box at the tender age of six. During high school, Vinny lettered in football and baseball before going back to boxing after seeing Sylvester Stallone’s classic “Rocky.” As an amateur, Paz went 100-12 and he was voted as the “Most Outstanding Boxer” at the 1981 New England Golden Gloves Tournament. In that same year, Paz won the National AAU Championship. Vinny also participated in the nationally televised “United States versus the World Tournament.”
On May 26, 1983, Paz turned professional by knocking out Alfredo Rivera in Atlantic City. In his first year of competing, Paz won ten fights. On April 15, 1984, Vinny defeated Mike Golden while suffering from a double hernia. Later in that year, he traveled to Italy to defeat Bruno Simili. His second bout in Italy against Abdelkader Marbi was originally ruled a “no contest” due to a serious cut suffered by a head butt. Later, Marbi was credited with the controversial victory.
By the mid 1980’s Paz was making some noise in the lightweight division by defeating the likes of Jeff Bumphus, Melvin Paul, Joe Frazier Jr., Harry Arroyo, and Roberto Elizondo. On June 7, 1987, Paz won a close decision over Greg Haugen to capture the IBF Lightweight Title in Providence. Eight months later (2/6/88), Haugen defeated Vinny to re-capture the championship. In 1990, Paz easily defeated Haugen in their rubber match.
Training out of “Father and Son Gym” in Cranston, under the watchful eye of his father Angelo, Paz continued to be a huge draw. Despite losing to Roger Mayweather, Hector Camacho, and Loreto Garza in title fights. On July 2, 1991, Paz bested Ron Amundsen to capture the USBA Light Middleweight Title. This victory earned Vinny a crack at Gilbert Dele of France (10/1/91) for the WBA crown.
From the opening stanza this was Vinny’s night as he performed beautifully by knocking out Dele in the twelfth round. Four years after defeating Haugen, Vinny became a world champion again.
On November 12, 1991, Paz’s life almost came to a sudden end. Vinny and a friend named Kurt Reader (a boxing trainer) were involved in a serious car accident. Paz sustained two cracked vertebrae and he was hospitalized for three months. His neurosurgeon told him that his fighting days were finished. Without the knowledge or the approval of his doctor, Paz started to workout. Vinny proved that he was back by defeating future world champion Luis Santana (12/15/92) in his first bout after the accident.
For the entire decade of the 1990’s, the charismatic Paz remained popular. Utilizing his superior hand speed, a steel chin, and unbelievable stamina, Vinny captured minor world titles by defeating Dan Sherry (IBO Super Middleweight), Roberto Duran (IBC Super Middleweight), and Dana Rosenblatt (WBU Super Middleweight). Paz also lost in exciting title bouts to Roy Jones Jr. (6/24/95), Herol Graham (12/6/96), and Rosenblatt (11/5/99).
The last title fight of Paz’s storied career (3/1/02) was a defeat to Eric Lucas of Canada at Foxwoods Resort. In the history of ESPN boxing, this was the most watched broadcast. After the deaths of his parents Angelo and Louise, Paz took a long time away from the ring.
In hope of obtaining his fiftieth career victory, Paz fought former title contender (3/27/04) Tocker Pudwill. Initially, Vinny demonstrated “ring rust” as Pudwill captured the early rounds. By the mid point of the contest, Paz took control of the fight by attacking Pudwill’s mid section. Despite bleeding from a deep gash, Paz kept up the pressure and he dropped Pudwill twice. Immediately after winning in convincing style, Paz retired.
After boxing, Vinny has indicated that he would like to go into acting. Paz has already had minor roles in four motion pictures. Tommy Jon, a close friend of Vinny’s, wrote a book on his life. Paz has also expressed a desire to remain in New England.
Points of Interest
*Vinny’s mother would not attend his fights. Instead, she would pray for his safety.
*Paz’s first sparring partner was Greg Vartanian.
*Vinny defeated former world champions Greg Haugen, Roberto Duran, Lloyd Honeyghan, Harry Arroyo, Gilbert Dele, and Luis Santana.
*Paz was only knocked down three times in sixty professional bouts
and he was never counted out.
*Paz attended Roberto Duran’s fiftieth birthday celebration in
Panama. Duran was in attendance at Foxwoods when Vinny
defeated Pudwill.
*Paz had a six-figure job as a Special Events Host at Foxwoods.
*Vinny is very close to his promoter Jimmy Burchfield.
The extended profiles of twenty world champions including Primo Carnera, Tony DeMarco and Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini