Vinny fought just about everyone. Lost to some very good fighters: Camacho, Roger Mayweather, Greg Haugen, Roy Jones Jr, Herol Graham and Aaron Davis. But he beat some very good fighters as well: Roberto Duran twice (ok, an OLD Roberto Duran), Lloyd Honeygan, Robbie Sims, Brett Lally, Ron Amundson, Greg Haugen, Glenwood Brown. All these guys had winning records when he defeated them. KO'd Dana Rosenblatt who had a 28-0 record at the time. Gilbert Dele was 29-0-1 when Vinny KO'd him for the WBA SW belt. I'd rate him higher than a journeyman/club fighter. A very good boxer/puncher with great fan appeal due to his fighting style and personality. Maybe B+.
I always liked Paz. He was a busy fighter who was quick on his feet, threw a lot of punches and loved mixing It up. His trilogy fights with Greg Haugen were classics. Vinny’s 1991 stoppage win of Gilbert Dele was a fine performance against a solid Jr. middle. Pazienza’s story is one of inspiration too. He saw the movie Rocky in the 70’s when he was 16 years old and decided to become a boxer and then a world champion. Many years later in the early 90’s he suffered a car wreck which nearly killed him and was told he’d never fight again. He defied the odds to come back again and establish a presence in the sport once more. His ring entrances were cool too.
He was a busy fighter who could squeeze rounds out with activity, but if someone had power they shut him down..
