Greg Haugen - Vinney Paz fights

There were actually three meetings between Paz and Haugen and I've seen all three, tho its been many years. In the summer of 1990, I saw their third and final meeting. My family and I rented a cottage on the chain of lakes in northern Illinois. One sunny afternoon, the fight was broadcasted on the tube and I had the pleasure of enjoying these two meeting once again. All three fights were classics, and a reminder of how guys used to battle it out in trilogies during the old days. Paz and Haugen were both throwbacks to those legendary fighters, and have since become legends in my mind.

I miss them both, and one day would like to watch all three fights again.

 

................I won't lie, I hated Paz. All flash and no substance. That is too simple to be true of course, as he was one of the gutsiest fighters around, but quite short on skill. He'd shimmy back and forth, throw a bunch of wide, powerless shots that looked flashy but did little damage, then he'd bop back outiside and raise his arms or some damn thing. Hated him. Haugen was more skilled, but didn't have the longevity.

Still, they were a fine pairing. Oil and water, and that can make for some great action.

 

I still dislike Paz.

One of the very few fighters who irritates me.

His later career steroid bloated stomach always makes me laugh, though.

 

............Agreed; there is no way in hell that goombah wasn't on 'roids.



*I say this with not an ounce of proof, merely the supposition borne of malevolence. :thumbsup

 

Well, A) He was an angry mother****er

B) He was one of the machismo fueled 80's guys who you know did them

C) Steroid stomach. Like a beer gut, but not.

 

..............Yeah! Real men get their beer guts the natural way, like me! :hat

 

I loved the Pazmanian devil myself. He had guts like no other. In 1991, he suffered a car accident which nearly took his life. He was told that he'd never fight again, but he proved everyone wrong. Vinny gave me a lot of good boxing memories.

 

Bwhahhaa.

I intend to get that DVD burning link to you soon, by the way. Sorry about that.

 

..............Eh, whenever. Don't rush, it's all good.

 

Paz had some talent but was entirely unpalatable. And yes, he had every symptom of 'roid endulgence.

Haugen was a 1940's throwback, a cutie, with nice footwork, clever punching and a good head for the game. Remember that he beat a prime Camacho, no mean task, only to be robbed because he liked the mota. I hear he isn't doing too well these days, but I was always a fan of his.

 

If you want to see a War with Haugen, check out his battle with Tony The Tiger Lopez, it saw it late last year and it is an awesome fight, one of my fav's now.

 

I loathe Paz. An arrogant, obnoxious, *******. Other than that, he was alright. Haugen, on the other hand, I always admired, and enjoyed his attitude as much as I did his skills. That attitude got him in a bit of trouble vs. Chavez, however. He had subtle, understated boxing skills, as shown in his title winning fight against Jimmy Paul, and the rematch with Paz. It aggravated me to hear the talking heads, the so called "experts" always describe Haugen as a "brawler". Not true, as he always had good, functional boxing skills, and was something like a 40's or 50's type of well rounded fighter, though not an especially big puncher at all. Enjoyed seeing himbust up Paz' nose and win that rematch.

 

Yeah paz was one of those guys no one liked. Even after coming back from that accident, you would think something may have changed. But it didn't, still an unlikeable sort, though he did have heart if nothing else.

 

Like many others, I rooted HARD for Haugen in the Pazienza fights, and thought he should have gotten the nod in the first as well as the second. These were throwback fights, marred only (of course) by Pazienza's showboating at times. Good action fights with two evenly matched fighters.