I remember growing up not being a huge fan of Vinny "The Pazmanian Devil" Pazienza. As a huge boxing fan, my favorite fighters tended to be the quieter guys who showed up, knocked people out, and went home. Paz was the furthest thing from quiet. He was a showman, an entertainer, but a Hell of a fighter. It wasn't until his traumatic injury, a broken neck suffered in a car accident, and subsequent return to the ring that I became a fan. When all logic, not to mention the advice of EVERY doctor, said he would never fight again, Paz worked his tail off to get back in the ring. Not only did he do that, but he went on to fight for championships.
Paz's story has been told in the film
Bleed for This, starring Miles Teller in a potential awards-worthy performance. Behind the camera was Ben Younger, a director who had his breakout years ago with
Boiler Room, a movie that was a touchstone for guys my age. I had a chance to talk with Younger about
Bleed for This, Teller's physical transformation and performance as Paziena, and more.
Excuse the opening intro where I have a complete brain lapse and forget Younger directed Boiler Room. We do talk about it during the interview in relation to the filmmaker he is now. Check it out below, plus our review of
Bleed for This here.
