Paul Iannuzzi to set World Record in Boxing
to break a world record as the oldest male or female to ever make their
professional boxing debut. On July 15th, 2022, Iannuzzi will step into the
ring at 52 years, 10 months and four days old breaking Dewey Bozella’s
11-year old record. In 2011, Bozella won a unanimous decision over Larry
Hopkins at 52 years and four months old. However, Iannuzzi has no plans to
surpass former World Heavyweight Champion Jack Johnson as being the oldest
American fighter to ever compete as a pro. “This is a one and done for me,”
said Iannuzzi. “Ten years ago I made a promise to my six-year old daughter
Grace Iannuzzi that I would break Dewey’s record, and I kept my word.”Whether or not Iannuzzi will be the oldest ever to win his professional
debut is a question left to be answered. His debut is at
Junior Middleweight (154lbs) and his opponent is slated to be
Lucinei Santos, a professional MMA fighter from Brazil, who is winless
in three fights as a boxer. Santos has a 17-year age advantage over his
elder but the age gap means nothing to Iannuzzi. “I expect Santos to come
forward and try to hammer me like a nail but he’ll realize quickly that
it’s gonna take more than just a hammer to beat me,” said a confident
Iannuzzi. “Even though I’ve been training for 34 years, I feel like I’m 35.
There is nothing he can bring that I haven’t seen before.”
Shortly after graduating from LaSalle Academy in Providence, Iannuzzi, from
Smithfield, RI started competing on the New England amateur circuit in the
late 1980’s. “I first walked into Grundy’s Boxing Gym in Central Falls, RI
on December 13th, 1987,” recalled Iannuzzi. “Less than a month
later, my trainer Billy “Bing Bing” Bento put me in the Golden Glove
Tournament in Fall River, MA. I won my first fight” Not only did he win his
first fight, Iannuzzi went on to win the tournament beating Angel
Maserati for the Southern New England Golden Gloves Championship.
He obtained a Bachelor’s Degree from Providence College in ’95’ before
marrying his first wife and reluctantly gave up his dream of becoming a
prizefighter.
Iannuzzi’s biggest accomplishment as an amateur, was in the 118
lb division, where he beat former Liberian Olympian and accomplished
professional boxer Sammy Stewart two of the three times they met. “Sammy
and I had some wars,” said Iannuzzi. “He was a great fighter. Back then it
was different, there were sanctioned amateur bouts all over New England
every Friday night.” Stewart is now a trainer under Freddie Roach at the
world renown Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, CA. Film buffs will know
Stewart more for his villainous role in the movie franchise Fast & Furious.
Years ago, Iannuzzi got divorced and found himself back in the boxing gym.
“At first, training was just a way to stay active but the skills came back
pretty quick,” stated Iannuzzi. “I was in my 40’s and started competing in
the master’s division of amateur boxing. I’ve always been of the belief
that it’s not over til you say it’s over – your mind is in control of your
body.” Paul Iannuzzi won several Masters Division world championships
including the 2019 Willie Pep International Boxing Federation Masters
box-off in Windsor Locke, CT.
Paul Iannuzzi, who now resides in Brooklyn, CT, and his wife Jill are not
only partners in life, but the couple also runs a prospering business out
of their gym, Rude Dog Boxing. Paul and Jill turned Rude Dog Boxing into
the largest international Masters boxing promoter in the world. In 2019,
boxers from 13 countries around the world competed in a Masters Tournament
promoted by Rude Dog.
As much as Rude Dog Boxing has thrived, the couple is most proud of having
created “Life in balance,” a program that is curtailed toward a client’s
specific disability including Parkinson’s Disease, stroke and general
elderly strength and balance deficiencies. “The Life and Balance program
that Paul and I created is being used by other gyms and wellness centers
around the world,” said Jill Iannuzzi. “Some neurologists have adopted our
drills such as Toy Soldier, a diagnostic test that can detect a deficiency
between the left and right sides of the brain. We have dozens of clients at
our Brooklyn facility ranging from age 52 to 101.”
If interested in learning more about Rude Dog Boxing, the Life in Balance
program or want to purchase tickets to the July 15th boxing event at the
Worcester Palladium headlined by a New England Super Middleweight
championship fight, Kendrick Ball (18-1-2, 12 ko’s) vs Angel Camacho Jr.
(16-0, 5 ko’s) email rudedogboxing@yahoo.com or call 860-771-1343. The
event is promoted by Rivera Promotions Entertainment.
