Pazienza Suspended For Hitting Referee In Win Over Rosenblatt

Wed., Aug. 28, 1996

Compiled From Wire Services

World Boxing Union super middleweight champion Vinny Pazienza was suspended for 90 days and fined $5,000 on Tuesday for decking a referee who stepped in to halt his fight with Dana Rosenblatt on Friday.

Pazienza, who is appealing the suspension, says he can explain.

“Vinny feels he has an explanation, as hard as it is to believe,” said manager Bill Cayton. Cayton wouldn’t say what it was.

Pazienza, 33, of Providence, R.I., punched referee Tony Orlando after Orlando jumped between the fighters to stop the bout at 2:13 of the fourth round.

The penalty was imposed Tuesday by state boxing commissioner Larry Hazzard, who reviewed videotape of the ending before imposing the sanction.

Pazienza later apologized, saying he got carried away. “I wanted to knock everyone out. Tony just got in the way,” he said after the fight.

Rosenblatt, 24, of Malden, Mass., came in unbeaten, and dominated Pazienza for three rounds. But he was caught with an overhand right that knocked him down.

He got up, but Pazienza quickly put him away.

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Pazienza Suspended For Hitting Referee In Win Over Rosenblatt

Jesse Tinsley

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