Greater fighter: Ray Mancini or Vinny Pazienza

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Flo_Raiden, Dec 5, 2024.

  1. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2010
    Messages:
    22,174
    Likes Received:
    35,675
    Two Italian-Americans in the IBHOF, although some people would disagree about their achievements being enough to be inducted. In terms of resume and H2H who would you say was the greater fighter out of the two?
     
  2. themostoverrated

    themostoverrated Active Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2022
    Messages:
    563
    Likes Received:
    679
    Ray Mancini. He was genuinely one of the top dogs if not the top dog of the lightweight division for a while. Paz was a bit here and a bit there at different weight classes, but never the best in any of them.
     
    Mark Dunham, Smoochie, Levook and 4 others like this.
  3. AwardedSteak863

    AwardedSteak863 Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2018
    Messages:
    6,497
    Likes Received:
    12,281
    Ray all day. Hey, that rhymes.
     
    Smoochie, Levook and Flash24 like this.
  4. northpaw

    northpaw Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2010
    Messages:
    17,542
    Likes Received:
    11,270
    Boom Boom easily. Boom Boom was a monster, then just ran up against an ATG, got another belt then sputtered at the end of his career.

    Also argued this about Boom Boom deserving his spot there............I will also admit I'm also from Boom's geographic area (NE Ohio).

    Honestly, Vinny Paz getting in makes everything I said about Gatti getting in null and void. Even Gatti is light years and leagues beyond him as far as pop/accomplishment etc.........It's like Mick Ward or Emmanuel Augustus getting in, they showed us a good time, but they are nowhere near HOF'ers, that's what I feel about Paz
     
    Levook likes this.
  5. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2004
    Messages:
    15,995
    Likes Received:
    11,873
    Mancini, and it's not close.
     
  6. Xplosive

    Xplosive Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2008
    Messages:
    24,518
    Likes Received:
    10,396
    I said a few days ago that Mancini is overrated, and he is, but having said that:

    Mancini is Ezzard Charles compared to Spaz.
     
    Saad54, Smoochie and Flash24 like this.
  7. drenlou

    drenlou VIP Member

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2015
    Messages:
    78,015
    Likes Received:
    42,847
    Yep I agree with the consensus here, BOOM boom is the greater fighter.
     
  8. lora

    lora Fighting Zapata Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2010
    Messages:
    10,305
    Likes Received:
    553
    Mancini was probably overhyped when he was champ, but he was a legitimately good/very good 135lber (albeit one with some obvious limitations) for 2-3 years. Paz was a decent 135/140 fighter...hhad his moments, but he was a step or two below Mancini.

    80-83 Mancini is a good enough fighter that you could throw him in with the field of very good to great lightweights with the prospect of getting some very good fights/surprise results in there, even if he might lose the majority and get smashed in some. With Paz, you would be thinking hard about who you could match him with to avoid a one-sided beating/wide decision loss.
     
    Smoochie and Levook like this.
  9. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2007
    Messages:
    17,164
    Likes Received:
    16,936
    Mancini by far
     
    Levook likes this.
  10. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2009
    Messages:
    58,634
    Likes Received:
    13,803
    Paz was beating RJJ.
     
    Levook likes this.
  11. thistle

    thistle Boxing Junkie

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2016
    Messages:
    8,517
    Likes Received:
    9,133
    my immediate thought was Mancini, but then I thought well the Paz jumped into a lot of weights and did well it has to be said...

    so I conclude that they were both very good & top fighters, though not Elites, but worthy of Top Recognition and Credibility, I think P4P Mancini was a better boxer, who in such a scenario would beat the Pazman, though Who Knows, I sure don't.
     
  12. Xplosive

    Xplosive Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2008
    Messages:
    24,518
    Likes Received:
    10,396
    Att... what, exactly?
     
    Mark Dunham likes this.
  13. Vic-JofreBRASIL

    Vic-JofreBRASIL Obsessed with Boxing

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2010
    Messages:
    23,559
    Likes Received:
    5,872
    Mancini, period.
     
  14. Smoochie

    Smoochie Combat sports fanatic Full Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2024
    Messages:
    2,031
    Likes Received:
    2,088
    ...in receiving similar beatings in his prime to the ones Roid took post-Tarver ko when he was shot to pieces, incredible.
     
  15. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2007
    Messages:
    43,973
    Likes Received:
    13,342
    Well, Paz by his own admission was a drug abuser after his accident so I'd take what he accomplished with a large grain of salt.

    Even with drugs, Mancini still accomplished more and should be held in a higher regard, IMO anyway.
     
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2024