Vinny Paz, left, alongside Matt Pomara, president of Long Island Boxing Charities.
Courtesy Matt Pomara
“Rocky” is fiction, but “Bleed For This,” starring Miles Teller, is based on a true story.
Thanks to the efforts of Long Island Boxing Charities, you can watch this movie, donate to the charity’s cause, and meet legendary boxers on Thursday at Deer Park’s Constantino Brumidi Lodge — including Vinny Paz, the subject of the film.
Paz is a multiple-time, multiple-weight world champion.
During his illustrious career in the squared circle, Pazienza beat the legendary Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran, and shared the ring with Roy Jones Jr. — Jones has said Paz had the fastest hands of any opponent he ever faced.
Paz was in a car crash in 1991 that left him with fractured vertebrae in his neck, and a doctor’s declaration that he could likely not box again — but “The Pazmanian Devil” was determined not to give up.
“Bleed For This” follows Paz’s career before and after the car accident.
About The Event
Vinny Paz is not the only legendary boxer who will be there on Thursday.
Michael Spinks, the former heavyweight champion and light heavyweight champion, will also be in attendance.
“Jinx” Spinks is widely considered among the greatest light heavyweights of all time, and he won the heavyweight title against Larry Holmes in 1985.
He successfully defended his heavyweight title against a local Long Island boxing legend — “Gentleman” Gerry Cooney.
Former light heavyweight and cruiserweight champion Bobby Czyz — who shared the ring with Evander Holyfield — will be there as well, as well as up-and-coming boxer Zay Flaherty.
About Long Island Boxing Charities
Long Island Boxing Charities was founded in 2019 by Rich Boxer.
Though Rich Boxer remains involved, it is run by its president Matt Pomara, co-founder of Ark Technologies, and its vice president Tony Palmieri, who is also vice president for operations and matchmaking at the White Plains-based promotion company Star Boxing.
Long Island Boxing Charities is a 501(c)(3) aimed at assisting boxers who have fallen on hard times — as professional boxing does not have the kind of safety nets that other sports have.
View more details of the event here.
