Vinny Pazienza vs. Abdel Marbi ~ "The Paz Gets Sliced Up In Italy"

Saturday ~ December 1, 1984

Sports Palace ~ Milan, Italy

Vinny Pazienza ~ 14-0-0 {12 KO's}
vs.
Abdelkader Marbi ~ 25-3-0 {15 KO's}

American Hot Shot ~ Vinny Pazienza is fighting on the undercard of the Mike McCallum vs. Luigi Minchillo - WBA Light-Middleweight Championship,
with the bout televised on NBC Sportsworld.

It was to be a 'showcase bout' in Italy for the bragging Pazienza, as this bout was to be televised.

The 22 year-old Pazienza has entered the Top 20 in the Lightweight Division, and Vinny is chirping that he's ready for anybody
in the Top 5. Vinny with his wide-open aggressive boxing-style is expected to overwhelm his opponent.

His opponent, Abdelkader 'Abdel' Marbi.

Abdel is a 30 year-old Moroccan based out of France. Abdel is an 'under-rated' boxer/counter-puncher with a record of 25-3-0 {15 KO's},
and is ranked as the #3 French Light-Welterweight.

During the Press Conference, Vinny was his typical way. Bragging and chirping that he was the 'future' of the Lightweight Division, and that
he would destroy this 'second-rate' Moroccan.

Vinny Pazienza >
"This guy {Abdel Marbi} is not even good enough to be my sparring-partner. He's strictly a lame-ass. No punch, and a jab-and-clinch style.
I'll eat him alive."

Weights
* Vinny Pazienza ..... 137 lbs.
* Abdel Marbi ......... 138 lbs.

December 1, 1984

Vinny 'The Pazmanian Devil' Pazienza
vs.
Abdelkader 'The Moroccan Marauder' Marbi

Lou Duva {Manager for Vinny Pazienza} was expecting a 'soft touch' for Vinny to flatten on National Television.

Lou was also 'chirping up' Vinny as the next 'star' for NBC Sportsworld.

Lou Duva >
"This kid is the most exciting fighter to come out of New England in a long time. Not only is he a great boxer,
but he has 'flash-and-pizazz'. He has charisma, and brings excitement into the Ring with his speed and 'Knockout' power.
He's only 2-bouts away from a World Championship."

"We're already looking at the European Lightweight Champion {Germany - Rene Weller} next. After that, we'll shoot
for one of the Lightweight Champions {WBA; Livingstone Bramble} ~ {WBC; Jose Luis Ramirez} ~ {IBF; Harry Arroyo}."

"Nobody in the States wants to take on Vinny. He's too fast for any American Lightweight in the Top 10."

Abdelkader 'Abdel' Marbi

The Pazienza Camp completely underestimated the 'Moroccan Marauder'.

Abdel Marbi was a 30 year-old fighter who was based in France. Abdel was an experienced fighter, as he had a distinguished
Amateur Career where he claimed a record of 187-26 {43 KO's} over 8 Years {from 1973 thru 1981}.

Abdel had started his career late {Age; 26 1/2} in October 1981. After losing '2' early career bouts, Abdel ran off '22-Straight' wins.
thru July 1984. That put Abdel at 24-2-0 {14 KO's}.

Then on July 14, 1984 in France, Abdel scored a 'major upset', when he scored a TKO 4 over the highly-regarded and 'undefeated'
French Lightweight Champion - Frederic Geoffrey.

A rematch was set up 3-Months later {October 12, 1984}, and Frederic Geoffrey returned the favor, and stopped {TKO 7} Abdel by cuts.

That put Abdel at 25-3-0 {15 KO's}, and ended his 23-Bout {2 1/2 Year} winning streak.

Abdelkader Marbi >
"I've seen this kid fight. He comes in 'crazy' and wide open. He's still an Amateur."

"His style may work against low-ranking fighters, but that style won't work agains an experienced fighter like me.
He walks in wide-open and is easy to hit. I'll pick him apart, and slice him up. I'll be waiting for him to charge in,
and then I'll rip him up."

[B]The Fight[/B

Vinny Pazienza vs. Abdelkader Marbi

Round 1 >

Vinny came out fast and tried to be aggressive, and started winging punches from all angles.

But he was met by a smooth sharp counter-puncher in Abdel, who blocked the 'telegraphed punches'
and smartly countered with straight punches into Vinny's face

Vinny expected to 'blow-out' Abdel early and used his hand-speed to score, but by the half-way point
in the session Vinny realized that Abdel had come to fight and not fall down.

Just past the mid-way point in the Round, Abdel landed a sharp 'left-right' to Vinny's face that sent him
back on his heels.

Vinny retaliated with a fast-fluury', but Abdel took them without an issue.

Then Abdel came back hard and 'bopped' Vinny with a jarring right-hand to the chin, and followed up
with several clean punches.

Abdel had the edge in power, and surprised Vinny with a few solid punches over the last 30-Seconds of the Round.

Round 1 > Abdelkader Marbi
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Round 2 >

Vinny opened up more cautious, and didn't charge in recklessly like he did in the 1st-Round. Vinny stayed outside
and low, and fired left-jabs into Abdel's mid-section.

Vinny was wary of Abdel's power, and avoided any exchanges.

Abdel stayed outside and waited to counter, because he could not match Vinny in the speed department.

Abdel was not able to catch Vinny with anything clean over the first 2-Minutes, and changed tactics by moving
forward.

As Abdel moved in, Vinny was able to use his speed, as he 'jabbed-and-moved', as he stayed away from Abdel's
quick straight-punches.

Round 2 > Vinny Pazienza
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Before Round 3 >
Vinny's corner instructed him to move in close, and to go 'downstairs'. He was told to move in close, and to
slam Abdel's body with hooks.

Round 3

Vinny came out fast, but stayed outside, while firing in left-jabs to Abdel's mid-section over the first Minute.

In the meantime, Abdel was looking to counter Vinny's low left-hand with a right-hand over the top.

Abdel was able to catch Vinny a few times with fast right-hand leads over the top. This bothered Vinny, who
then went charging in head first into Abdel.

During one charge, Vinny crashed his head into Abdel's. Vinny came out of this with a 'bad cut' on his left eyebrow.

Immediately, Abdel went after the 'cut', and scored with stiff left-jabs into the area, causing it to 'gush blood'.

Vinny tried to counter, and wailed away. But Abdel was smart, and roughed up Vinny inside while working
on the 'gash'.

By the end of the Round, Vinny's eye-brow was a mess, as Abdel was sending 'pin-point' right-hands into the
eye-brow.

Round 3 > Abdelkader Marbi




with

Vinny Pazienza vs. Abdelkader Marbi

In between Rounds 3 and 4, the Pazienza Corner feverishly worked on Vinny's cut eyebrow.

Manager ~ Lou Duva complained to the Italian Referee that Abdel Marbi had 'head-butted' Vinny, causing the cut.

But the Referee said 'No', stating that it was Vinny Pazienza who came in head first, and banged his head into Abdel Marbi.

Regardless the bout continued >

Round 4

Under instructions from his corner, Vinny bolted out fast starting Round 4, and went right after Abdel with a barrage.
Vinny poured punches on Abdel who was forced to back up.

But Abdel was too cool, and easily covered up and let Vinny flail away over the first 40-Seconds.

Then Abdel made his attack, and poked Vinny in the face with left-jabs while moving to his right.

Vinny who now had blurred vision {due the blood in his eye} tried to counter, and swung wildly with wide-hooks in
an attempt to catch Abdel with a 'Sunday Punch'..

By the mid-way point in the session, Vinny was desperate with the blood pouring from the badly cut eye-brow.
Vinny was winning the Round, but was losing the 'Battle of the Blood'.

At the {2:00 Mark} Vinny again tried a barrage, and came forward with wide swings.

But Abdel countered with a long right-hand to the cut on Vinny's eyebrow, and blood started pouring down Vinny's
cheek.

Vinny was now even more desperate, and tried with more wild right-hand bombs.

But again, Abdel was too smart to get caught by a 'Sunday Punch', and blocked Vinny's attempts.

Vinny then made one more strong charge over the last 30-Seconds and he finally shook Abdel with a 'left-right' at the {2:50 Mark}.

Vinny then poured it on until the Bell.

Round 4 > Vinny Pazienza

The Controversy

At the end of Round 4,

The Referee called in the Commission Ring Doctor to check out Vinny Pazienza

The Italian Commission Doctor went to Vinny's corner.

The cut was the full-length of the eye-brow, and the blood was gushing. There was no way that the Cornermen could
seal the cut, or even slow the flow of blood down.

The Commission Doctor told Manager - Lou Duva > 'That he wanted to stop the fight.'

But Lou Duva pleaded his case > 'Give us one more Round.'

The Doctor said > 'I'll give your fighter one more Round, and then that's it.'

Lou then asked the Commission Doctor > 'That if the bout had to be stopped because of a Head-Butt, then what would be the ruling.'

The Doctor said > 'They will go to the Scorecards, and rule it as a Technical Decision.'

Lou then asked the Doctor > 'And if we win Round 5, and are ahead on Points, then we get Technical Decision win right.'

The Doctor said > 'Yes'

Lou then told the Doctor > 'Then give us one more Round. Tell the Referee to give us a full Round.'

The Doctor said > 'OK, but you only get one Round, and then that's it.'

Lou Duva then said > 'All-right, I just want to make sure the Referee knows we get the full Round.'

The Doctor then turned away, and left the Ring.

Lou then turned to Vinny and told his fighter > 'Go all out and win this Fucking Round, so we can get out of here with a win.'

The Controversy

Before the start of Round 5

Lou Duva was expecting {as told by the Commission Doctor} that Vinny would get the full Round.

At the Bell starting Round 5 >

Vinny with blood leaking from his cut eye-brow came charging out. He went after Abdel, and immediately
let fly with a barrage at Center-Ring.

Abdel took the punches and moved in close to smother Vinny's attack.

Vinny then backed off, and went low and started firing long left-jabs into Abdel's mid-section.

Abdel stepped in, and landed a glancing right-hand to Vinny's cut eye-brow, and the blood started to flow.

Vinny was now bleeding profusely.

At the {0:40 Mark}, the Italian Referee had no choice, but to stop the fight.

In the corner,

Lou Duva jumped up-and-down screaming > 'You told us you'd give us the full Fucking Round.'

The Referee then told both fighters to go to their Corners.

The Referee then walked over to Abdelkader Marbi's corner and raised his left hand.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'All Hell Then Broke Loose'. Vinny Pazienza's entire team charged into the Ring, and pandemonium set in.

They went after the Referee and threatened him. Then they charged Abdelkader Marbi's corner, and screamed at them.

Lou Duva was 'out-of-control' while screaming > 'This ain't Fucking fair. This is not right. The cut was caused by a Head-Butt, not a punch.'

"The Italian Controversy"

The Pazienza Team {Lou Duva and Associates} went 'nuts' after the Italian Referee
awarded the bout to Moroccan - Abdelkader Marbi by a TKO 5.

Lou claimed that he was 'promised' by the Ringiide Doctor that Vinny would get a
full Round in the 5th.

Lou Duva >
"We've been Fucked. The Referee moved in too quickly to stop the fight. Yes, Vinny was cut bad,
but we were promised a full Round. The Referee stopped it after 40-Seconds."

"This is Bull-Shit. This fight should be a 'No Contest'. The cut was caused by an 'illegal head butt',
not a punch. What kind of 'Fucking Shit' is this."

"I'm filing a protest with the Italian Boxing Federation. If they don't overturn this, we'll never come back
to fight here again."

"Vinny is still undefeated in my eyes. This is not a loss."

"We'll fight this Moroccan again. As soon as the cut heals, we'll fight him in France, right in his backyard."
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Lou Duva did file a grievance with the Commission, claiming that the cut was caused by an 'illegal head-butt',
and that the bout should have been ruled a 'No Contest'.

The Milan Boxing Commission ruled >

A} That the cut was indeed caused by an 'accidental head-butt' in the 3rd Round.
B} But, that it was Vinny Pazienza who came in head-first, and caused the clash of heads.
C} Vinny Pazienza fought the rest of the 3rd Round without complaining.
D} The Pazienza Corner made no complaint, until after the end of the 4th Round.
E} If the bout was stopped at the end of the 4th Round and before the 5th Round, the bout would have gone to the Scorecards.
F} But, since the Pazienza Camp pleaded for a 5th Round, they waived their rights for a 4-Round Technical Decision result.
G} Since Pazienza was further damaged by a 'punch' in Round 5, he was deemed to be in too much danger to continue.

According to the Italian Boxing Federation >

A} If the bout was stopped due to the cut, the ruling would have been a TKO win for Abdelkader Marbi.
B} Since Vinny was the cause of his own 'cut eyebrow', he could not be awarded a Technical Draw or Technical Decision win.
C} Vinny would have to win by either > a TKO, KO, or a Decision.