Rhode Island native Vinny Paz to be inducted into International Boxing Hall of Fame

The International Boxing Hall of Fame announced Thursday the members of the Class of 2025 and one of those is a Cranston, Rhode Island native that entertained fans for over two decades.

The Class of 2025 includes Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao, “The Pazmanian Devil” Vinny Paz and Michael “Second To” Nunn in the Men’s Modern category; Yessica “Kika” Chavez, Anne Sophie Mathis and Mary Jo Sanders in the Women’s Modern category; Cathy “Cat” Davis in the Women’s Trailblazer category; referee Kenny Bayless, cut man Al Gavin (posthumous) and referee Harry Gibbs (posthumous) in the Non-Participant category; broadcaster / journalist Randy Gordon and television producer Ross Greenburg in the Observer category; Rodrigo Valdez (posthumous) in the Old Timer category and Owen Swift (posthumous) in the Pioneer category.

Inductees were voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians.

Vinny Paz was ecstatic upon getting the call.

“This is awesome! I love it. Wow! This is the best phone call I’ve ever taken! I’m so glad. Love it, love it, love it!”

Nobody was tougher than Vinny Paz. Whether it was his fighting style or training with a halo from a broken neck due to a car crash.

The “Pazmanian Devil” was the type of fighter that would take a punch to deliver two. His fights were always entertaining. No dancing around with no punches being thrown. Paz often left the ring blooded, but the other guy looked worse.

Several of Paz’s 60 pro fights (50-10 with 30 K.O.) were classics including 3 brawls with Greg Haugen (Paz won 2), beating Roberto Daran twice, and a split with Dana Rosenblatt.

Vinny finished his career as a 5-time World Champion in the lightweight and light middleweight divisions.

The 2016 film Bleed for This was also based on his life.

Paz has had several legal issues which may have played a role in the length of time it took him to get into the Hall as many fans and those in the boxing world felt it was long overdue.

The festivities will take place at the Hall in Canastota, New York from June 5-8, 2025.

For more information on the Hall and the Induction Weekend, click here.