|
Vinny Paz, formerly Vinny Pazienza (born Vincenzo Edward Pazienza; December 16, 1962), is an American former boxer and world champion in the lightweight, light middleweight and super middleweight weight classes. He was also the United States Boxing Association's light middleweight champion. He boxed under the nickname of "The Pazmanian Devil". ==Career== Vinny Pazienza built a reputation around the East Coast putting together an impressive streak of wins over fighters such as 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 Jr Welterweight division in 1988 against WBC World Champion Roger Mayweather, then on February 3, 1990 vs WBO Champion Hector "Macho" Camacho, and also in 1990 against WBA World Champion Loreto Garza. It was during this period of time Pazienza was having difficulty making weight for his fights. In fact after the Roger Mayweather fight, Pazienza collapsed in the dressing room after the fight. He was rushed to an Emergency Room in Las Vegas and nearly died from severe dehydration. After the loss to Garza, Pazienza decided it was time to move up to a more natural weight class. It has been said that his then Manager Lou Duva did not want Pazienza to move up in weight due to the Duva's having Champions in other weight classes. In 1991 Pazienza made the move to the Jr Middleweight division and in his first fight at this weight class won the USBA Championship against Ron Amundson in an impressive 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 then undefeated WBA World Jr. Middleweight champion Gilbert Dele with an 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 Jr. Middleweight World Championships. Pazienza was a huge underdog going into the fight and put on what many observers consider to be the finest performance of his career. Shortly after winning the Jr Middleweight World title, he was forced to vacate it when he was involved in a serious car accident in which Pazienza suffered a broken neck. The Doctors told him he may never walk again and certainly would never fight again. Pazienza had to wear a medical device called a "Halo" which consists of a circular metal brace screwed into the skull in four spots and is propped up with four metal rods. Pazienza had the Halo screwed to his skull for 3 months. While Pazienza's neck was broken he maintained a workout regime against Doctors orders. 13 months after suffering a broken neck Pazienza returned to the ring and beat future WBC World Jr. Middleweight champion Luis Santana via a 10-round decision. It is considered the greatest comeback in Boxing history. The rights to this story have been sold to Verdi Corrente Productions and is set to be turned into a feature film dubbed Bleed for This in 2015. American actor Miles Teller will portray Paz. After the Santana fight Pazienza then went on to defeat Brett Lally by a 6th round TKO and then TKO'D the former World Champion Lloyd Honeyghan in the 10th round. From there 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. He then went on to lose a World title bid against the IBF World Super Middleweight Champion Roy Jones Jr. in June 1995. In 1996 Pazienza inflicted 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 which he still goes by. 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 ever defeating Tocker Pudwill via 10 round unanimous decision. His record stands at 50-10, with 30 wins by knockout, and won 5 World Titles; the IBF Lightweight Championship, WBA Jr. Middleweight Championship, IBO Middleweight Championship, IBC Super Middleweight Championship and the WBU Super Middleweight Championship. He also won the USBA (United States Boxing Association) title. Outside of boxing, Paz was a guest star on Police Academy the Series, 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. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Vinny Paz」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|