Rehab To Redemption: How Vinny Paz beat paralysis and became a boxing world champion
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Vinny Paz during his days of recovering
Vinny Paz is among the few human beings who tested the very limits of the human body and came out of it a champion. Born Vinny Pazienza, the Rhode Islan native was a massive star in his own right, having captured the IBF Lightweight title and the WBA world jr. middleweight championship.
He was only the second man in history to have accomplished that feat and it alone would have given him a career worthy enough to be remembered in boxing circles for decades to come. Even prior to this Vinny had challenged for the yet WBC, WBA and WBO junior middleweight titles against big names like Roger Mayweather and Hector Camacho. However, it was not the end of his story just yet.
During his time as an active two-division champion, Vinny met with a horrible car accident in Warwick, Rhode Island. Vinny was in the passenger seat of a car going almost 60 kmph, and collided head-on with a car coming in their direction. The wreck was so severe that the car had to be sawed in half to assist Vinny out of it.
Vinny Paz and his incredible 13-month recovery from a life-threatening accident
He suffered multiple fractures in his neck vertebrae and the injuries would force him to relinquish his titles, along with the junior Middleweight Championship which he was set to defend in 3 months’ time. The doctors had informed Vinny that he may never be able to walk ever again and would have to live his life with a Halo, with screws all over his neck to assist in his recovery.
Needless to say, the doctors also informed him that he would never be able to fight again, a decision most of his family and team came to terms with but not Vinny. His recovery is the focus of the movie, Bleed For This, in which Miles Teller plays Paz on his road from rehab to redemption. The filming of the movie had taken immense guidance from Paz himself.
In less than 13 months, Vinny Paz was not only walking but was back in full fighting shape and he was not ready to let go of this second chance at life. In his return, he faced a defeated future world Champion Luis Santana in a 10-round fight. After capturing the vacant IBO Middleweight title, Paz would next face the most remarkable opponent on his resume, Roberto Duran.
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In what can only be described as the Triumph of Will, Paz faced Duran in two fights, outpointing him twice while the IBC middleweight title was on the line. Paz would find further success after his bouts with Duran with his iconic run finally coming to an end when he went up against a young Roy Jones Jr.
With his intense story of the highest of highs and the lowest an athlete can go through, Vinny Pazienza will forever live on in boxing history as an icon.
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Jerin Mathew
(713 Articles Published)