Vinny Paz

For the Philadelphia hip-hop artist of the similar name, see Jedi Mind Tricks and Vinnie Paz.
Vinny Paz

Paz in 1994
Statistics
Real name Vincenzo Edward Pazienza
Nickname(s) The Pazmanian Devil
Rated at Lightweight
Light middleweight
Super middleweight
Height 5 ft 7 1⁄2 in (171 cm)
Reach 70 1⁄2 in (179 cm)
Nationality American
Born (1962-12-16) December 16, 1962
Cranston, Rhode Island, U.S.
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 60
Wins 50
Wins by KO 30
Losses 10

Vinny Paz (born Vincenzo Edward Pazienza; December 16, 1962), formerly Vinny Pazienza, is an American former professional boxer who held world titles at lightweight and light middleweight. The 2016 film Bleed for This is based on his comeback from a spinal injury.

Early life

His mother was Louise Pazienza (1927–2002), from Cranston, Rhode Island.[1]

Career

In the 1980s, Vinny Pazienza built a reputation along the East Coast by putting together an impressive streak of wins over fighters Melvin Paul (KO 2), Joe Frazier Jr. (TKO 7), Harry Arroyo (UD 10), Nelson Bolanos (TKO 6) and Roberto Elizondo (KO in 10). His first world title fight came on June 7, 1987, in Providence, RI, where he outpointed Greg Haugen over 15 rounds to become the IBF World Lightweight Champion. The pair would meet two more times: Haugen recovering the title in an immediate rematch, and Pazienza prevailing in a 10-round decision in their rubber match in 1990.

Pazienza failed in title tries in the junior welterweight division: in 1988 against WBC World Champion Roger Mayweather and, in 1990, versus both WBO Champion Hector "Macho" Camacho and WBA World Champion Loreto Garza. It was during this time period that Pazienza was having difficulty making weight for his fights. After the Roger Mayweather fight, Pazienza collapsed in the dressing room from near-fatal dehydration and was rushed to the hospital. After the loss to Garza, Pazienza decided to move up to a more natural weight class.

In 1991, Pazienza made the move to the junior middleweight division and in his first fight at this weight class he won the USBA Championship against Ron Amundsen in a 12-round decision. Pazienza looked faster, healthier and stronger. He then received a shot at the WBA World Title and was successful in defeating the WBA World Jr. Middleweight Champion Gilbert Dele with a 12th-round TKO win in Providence, RI. With this world title win, Pazienza became the second fighter in boxing history to win both the lightweight and junior middleweight world championships. Pazienza was considered the underdog going into the fight but delivered what many believe was the finest performance of his career.

Shortly after winning the junior middleweight world title, Pazienza was forced to relinquish the title due to a serious car accident in which his neck was broken. Doctors informed him he might never walk again and would certainly never fight again. Pazienza had to wear a medical device called a Halo, a circular metal brace screwed into the skull in four spots and propped up with four metal rods. Pazienza had the Halo screwed to his skull for 3 months, during which time he maintained a workout regime--disobeying the doctors' orders. Pazienza returned to the ring thirteen months after the accident and beat future WBC World Jr. Middleweight Champion Luis Santana via a 10-round decision. It is considered the greatest comeback in boxing history. Verdi Productions acquired the rights to this story, and in 2016 the feature film Bleed for This premiered, starring Miles Teller as Pazienza and Aaron Eckhart as Kevin Rooney with Martin Scorsese attached as an executive producer.

After the Santana fight, Pazienza then went on to defeat Brett Lally by a 6th-round TKO and then, in another TKO, beat the former world champion Lloyd Honeyghan in the 10th round. Pazienza went on to win the vacant IBO Middleweight World Title in 1993 with an 11th-round KO over Dan Sherry.

Pazienza also went on to beat Roberto Duran twice, both via decision, with the IBC Super Middleweight Title on the line both times. In June 1995, Roy Jones, Jr. vs. Vinny Pazienza, a fight billed as The Devil and Mr. Jones, resulted in a loss in the world title bid against IBF World Super Middleweight Champion Roy Jones, Jr. In 1996, Pazienza inflicted then-prospect Dana Rosenblatt's only loss (a knockout in 4 rounds) to win the vacant WBU Super Middleweight World Championship.

In early 2001, Pazienza legally changed his last name to Paz.

In 2002, Paz lost to WBC World Super Middleweight Champion Eric Lucas in what would be his last shot at a world title.

In 2004, Paz fought in his last fight, defeating Tocker Pudwill via 10-round unanimous decision. His record stands at 50-10, with 30 wins by knockout and five world titles (the IBF Lightweight Championship, WBA Jr. Middleweight Championship, IBO Super Middleweight Championship, IBC Super Middleweight Championship and the WBU Super Middleweight Championship). He also won the USBA title.

Outside of boxing, Paz was a guest star on the TV series Police Academy, a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, was featured on The Montell Williams Show, served as a guest security guard on an episode of The Jerry Springer Show, and refereed the Brawl for All fight at WrestleMania XV between Bart Gunn and Butterbean.[2]

Legal issues

Paz has been arrested on a variety of charges, including alcohol-related offenses, domestic violence, passing bad checks, and disorderly conduct.[3][4][5]

Professional boxing record

50 Wins (30 knockouts, 20 decisions), 10 Losses (3 knockouts, 7 decisions)
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Win 50-10 United States Tocker Pudwill UD 10 27/03/2004 Connecticut Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States 95-93, 95-93, 96-93.
Loss 49-10 Canada Eric Lucas UD 12 01/03/2002 Connecticut Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States WBC World Super Middleweight Title. 112-117, 111-117, 110-119.
Win 49-9 United States Levan Easley UD 10 07/12/2001 Connecticut Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States
Win 48-9 United States Tim Shocks UD 10 21/09/2001 Rhode Island Rhodes-on-the Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island, United States
Win 47-9 United States Pat Lawlor KO 2 27/07/2001 Rhode Island Rhodes-on-the Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island, United States
Loss 46-9 United States Aaron Davis TKO 8 09/02/2001 Connecticut Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States Referee stopped the bout at 1:48 of the eighth round.
Loss 46-8 United States Dana Rosenblatt SD 12 05/11/1999 Connecticut Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States IBO World Super Middleweight Title. 113-115, 113-114, 115-112.
Win 46-7 Mexico Esteban Cervantes SD 10 25/06/1999 Connecticut Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States 96-94, 97-93, 94-96.
Win 45-7 Uganda Joseph Kiwanuka UD 10 09/04/1999 Connecticut Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States 96-94, 97-93, 97-93.
Win 44-7 United States Undra White TKO 9 08/01/1999 Connecticut Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States Referee stopped the bout at 2:55 of the ninth round.
Win 43-7 United States Arthur Allen UD 10 06/11/1998 Connecticut Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States 96-94, 98-93, 97-93.
Win 42-7 United States Glenwood Brown MD 10 26/07/1998 Connecticut Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States 98-91, 96-93, 94-94.
Loss 41-7 United Kingdom Herol Graham UD 12 06/12/1997 England Wembley Arena, Wembley, London, United Kingdom WBC International Super Middleweight Title. 113-116, 113-118, 112-117.
Win 41-6 United States Dana Rosenblatt TKO 4 23/08/1996 New Jersey Bally's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States WBU World Super Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:13 of the fourth round.
Loss 40-6 United States Roy Jones, Jr. TKO 6 24/06/1995 New Jersey Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States IBF World Super Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:58 of the sixth round.
Win 40-5 Panama Roberto Duran UD 12 14/01/1995 New Jersey Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States IBC World Super Middleweight Title. 117-111, 116-112, 118-110.
Win 39-5 Panama Rafael Williams UD 10 08/11/1994 Connecticut Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States 96-94, 98-92, 96-94.
Win 38-5 Panama Roberto Duran UD 12 25/06/1994 Nevada MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States IBC World Super Middleweight Title. 117-113, 117-112, 117-112.
Win 37-5 Canada Jacques LeBlanc UD 10 05/04/1994 Connecticut Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States 100-90, 100-90, 100-89.
Win 36-5 Canada Dan Sherry KO 11 28/12/1993 Colorado Ritz Carlton, Aspen, Colorado, United States IBO World Super Middleweight Title.
Win 35-5 United States Robbie Sims UD 10 26/10/1993 Connecticut Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States 97-93, 98-93, 99-93.
Win 34-5 United Kingdom Lloyd Honeyghan TKO 10 26/06/1993 New Jersey Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Referee stopped the bout at 0:56 of the tenth round.
Win 33-5 United States "Irish" Brett Lally RTD 6 02/03/1993 Connecticut Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States Lally retired at 3:00 of the sixth round.
Win 32-5 Dominican Republic Luis Santana UD 10 15/12/1992 Connecticut Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States 100-90, 100-89, 100-88.
Win 31-5 Guadeloupe Gilbert Dele TKO 12 01/10/1991 Rhode Island Providence Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island, United States WBA World Light Middleweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:10 of the 12th round.
Win 30-5 United States Ron Amundsen UD 12 02/07/1991 Rhode Island Providence, Rhode Island, United States IBF USBA Light Middleweight Title. 118-111, 117-111, 118-110.
Loss 29-5 United States Loreto Garza DQ 11 01/12/1990 California Arco Arena, Sacramento, California, United States WBA World Light Middleweight Title. Garza disqualified at 2:59 of the 11th round.
Win 29-4 United States Greg Haugen UD 10 05/08/1990 New Jersey Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States 96-94, 97-93, 98-92.
Loss 28-4 Puerto Rico Hector 'Macho' Camacho UD 12 03/02/1990 New Jersey Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States WBO World Light Welterweight Title. 116-117, 112-115, 109-119.
Win 28-3 United States Eddie VanKirk TKO 5 27/11/1989 Rhode Island Providence Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Referee stopped the bout at 2:41 of the fifth round.
Win 27-3 United States Vinnie Burgese TKO 10 11/06/1989 New Jersey Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Referee stopped the bout at 1:05 of the tenth round.
Win 26-3 United States Jake Carollo TKO 2 14/04/1989 New Jersey Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Referee stopped the bout at 1:58 of the second round.
Loss 25-3 United States Roger Mayweather UD 12 07/11/1988 Nevada Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States WBC World Light Welterweight Title. 108-118, 110-117, 110-117.
Win 25-2 United States Rick Kaiser TKO 3 04/10/1988 Illinois Park West, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 24-2 United States Felix Dubray TKO 4 27/06/1988 Rhode Island Providence Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Loss 23-2 United States Greg Haugen UD 15 06/02/1988 New Jersey Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States IBF World Lightweight Title. 138-147, 140-145, 138-147.
Win 23-1 United States Greg Haugen UD 15 07/06/1987 Rhode Island Providence Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island, United States IBF World Lightweight Title. 144-141, 144-141, 144-141.
Win 22-1 United States Roberto Elizondo TKO 10 08/02/1987 Rhode Island Providence Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Referee stopped the bout at 2:56 of the tenth round.
Win 21-1 United States Roger Brown TKO 4 08/11/1986 Puerto Rico San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States
Win 20-1 Ecuador Nelson Bolanos TKO 6 18/09/1986 Rhode Island Providence Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island, United States Referee stopped the bout at 2:48 of the sixth round.
Win 19-1 United States Harry Arroyo UD 10 18/05/1986 Rhode Island Providence, Rhode Island, United States 49-41, 50-39, 49-38.
Win 18-1 United States Joe Frazier, Jr. TKO 7 05/02/1986 Rhode Island Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win 17-1 United States Melvin Paul TKO 2 26/11/1985 New Jersey Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 16-1 United States Jeff Bumpus UD 10 18/09/1985 New Jersey Harrah's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States 7-2, 7-3, 9-1.
Win 15-1 United States Antoine Lark TKO 6 27/03/1985 New Jersey Harrah's Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Referee stopped the bout at 2:46 of the sixth round.
Loss 14-1 France Abdelkader Marbi TKO 5 01/12/1984 Italy Palazzo Dello Sport, Milan, Italy
Win 14-0 Italy Bruno Simili TKO 3 17/11/1984 Italy Riva del Garda, Italy
Win 13-0 United States Rich McCain UD 8 29/08/1984 New Jersey Sands Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 12-0 United States Mike Golden PTS 8 15/04/1984 New Jersey Sands Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 11-0 United States David Bell TKO 4 26/02/1984 Texas Beaumont Civic Center, Beaumont, Texas, United States
Win 10-0 United States Jose Ortiz KO 6 14/12/1983 New Jersey Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, United States
Win 9-0 Cuba Emilio Diaz TKO 3 02/12/1983 Rhode Island Warwick, Rhode Island, United States
Win 8-0 United States Robert Stevenson KO 1 27/10/1983 New Jersey Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 7-0 United States Jim Zelinski TKO 2 24/09/1983 New Jersey Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey, United States
Win 6-0 United States Ricardo Moreno TKO 3 09/09/1983 Nevada Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 5-0 Rafael Alicia TKO 2 31/08/1983 New Jersey Sands Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Referee stopped the bout at 2:30 of the second round.
Win 4-0 United States Eddie Carberry TKO 2 16/08/1983 New Jersey Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 3-0 United States Patrick Dangerfield, Jr. KO 2 10/07/1983 New Jersey Caesars Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 2-0 United States Keith McCoy KO 3 30/06/1983 New Jersey Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 1-0 Puerto Rico Alfredo Rivera TKO 4 26/05/1983 New Jersey Sands Atlantic City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States

References

  1. ↑ Death Index accessed 12-26-2015
  2. ↑ "WWE News and Pro Wrestling Coverage Since 1987". PWTorch. Retrieved 2010-08-02.
  3. ↑ "Vinny Paz pleads no contest to disorderly conduct; assault charge dismissed", 11 Sep 2012,
  4. ↑ "Bad Boy Boxer: Paz picked up on warrant" "Hot Boxing News", 23 Feb 2003.
  5. ↑ "Vinny Paz Arrested for Domestic Abuse" Boxing Scene, 31 July 2007

External links

Preceded by
Greg Haugen		 IBF Lightweight Champion
7 June 1987 – 6 February 1988 		Succeeded by
Greg Haugen
Preceded by
Gilbert Dele		 WBA Light Middleweight Champion
1 October 1991– 1992
Vacated, due to injury 		Succeeded by
Julio César Vásquez
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