After his easy win in the rematch with Roberto Duran on January 14, 1995, Vinny’s management pursued and got a shot at Roy Jones for his super middleweight belt on June 24 at Atlantic City Convention Hall. I don’t really think that anyone gave Pazienza a shot at beating Jones, but he was a name, and could put people in the seats.
I had a huge stake personally in the fight. After a two real toxic relationship with a bitch who borrowed money from me, and never paid me back, I devised a plan to get myself out of the debt she left me. HBO had a run of fights called ‘The Winter Blitz of Boxing’, and I decided to bet big money on big favorites to win money a little at a time. My goal was to win $60,000, not because that’s what she stole from me, but to pay all my credit card debts, buy myself some nice stuff, and travel back and forth to Vegas in order to do it, and that cost money.
I started on March 3 with the Pernell Whitaker vs Julio Cesar Vasquez bout, and continued with a serious of successful bets throughout March, April, May and June. On June 17, I won almost $10,000 on Riddick Bowe when he knocked out Jorge Luis Gonzalez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, and I was live to see it. Traveling back and forth to Vegas was expensive, so I figured about 3 more nice paydays would accomplish my goal. Before I left Vegas that weekend, I did something that I still regret to this day.
Roy Jones was a 12-1 favorite to beat Pazienza, and I laid $36,000 to take home an easy 3 grand. When one of the bosses at the sports book at Caesar’s Palace remarked “What a stupid bet!”, I got pissed. I decided to put another $11,000 on the over-under line, figuring I’d shut that bastard up. As tough as Vinny was, I didn’t think anyone could knock him out, and the 6 and 1/2 round line seemed safe to me. A win would score me another 8 grand, making my goal arrive quicker than I planned.
Watching the fight that night on my brand new 46 inch projection tv, I was a bit nervous. I knew there was not way Roy could lose, but the over-under was a risk. As the fight began, Vinny fought as I planned, trying to box, and Roy didn’t really press for a knockout. He was winning every round with his jab, and when the fifth round ended quietly, I figured another round and a half, and I’m home free.
The sixth round was moving along without any major problems. but just as I was about to go use the bathroom, Roy dropped Vinny with a left hook along the ropes midway through the round. My heart was in my mouth as I yelled “Run Vinny! Run!” at the television. He went down again, but appeared unfazed as he got up, and I was praying he’d finish the last 30 seconds on his feet. Unfortunately, a sizzling three punch combination dropped Pazienza in the corner, and referee Tony Orlando stopped the bout as he was falling.
I was beyond sick to my stomach, and regretted letting my ego get in the way. I had lost a total of $8,000 that night, and it threw a monkey wrench in my plans. I must admit to this day, I still can’t thing about that night, because it changed everything, and made me chase my losses, which was a disaster.
As far as the fight itself, it proved that Vinny didn’t belong in the ring with the great Roy Jones, and I wasn’t sure why the fight was made in the first place. Looking back, I wish it never was.
FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM AT kensoldtimeboxingchat
LISTEN TO MY PODCAST ON SPOTIFY AT kensoldtimeboxingchat
