Luis Resto (boxer)
Encyclopedia
Luis Resto is a former welterweight
professional boxer
from Bronx, New York
.
, and moved to the Bronx when he was nine years old. Late in his eighth grade year, he elbowed his math teacher in the face, and spent six months in a rehabilitation center for the mentally disturbed. Not long after getting out, an uncle signed him up for boxing lessons in a Bronx gym.
A two-time New York
Golden Gloves
amateur state champion in the welterweight
division, Resto trained at the Police Athletic Leagues Lynch Center. He won both the 1975 and 1976 147lb Golden Gloves Open Championships. Resto defeated Miguel Hernandez
in the finals of the 1976 147lb Open Championship.
in his third professional fight, against Mike Lytell in May of the same year. Resto remained unbeaten until his eighth bout, a knockout loss to Bruce Curry in March 1978. Through 29 fights Resto had compiled a record of 20-8-1 with 8 wins by knockout, which made him a high-level journeyman. Although he was ranked 10th in the world, he was practically unknown outside the New York area.
at Madison Square Garden
in New York City
in a 10-round unanimous decision. The fight was the undercard for a bout between Roberto Durán
and Davey Moore
.
However, when Collins' father and trainer, Billy, Sr., came to shake Resto's hand, he discovered that Resto's gloves felt thinner than normal. Screaming that he thought the gloves had no padding, Collins, Sr. demanded that the New York State Athletic Commission
impound the gloves. An investigation revealed that someone had removed an ounce of padding from each of his gloves. Collins' eyes were swollen shut by the end of the 10th round, and the rest of his face was so badly swollen that it was impossible to believe a light puncher could have inflicted such damage.
Collins suffered a torn iris
and permanently blurred vision, ending his career. He died only months later when he drove his car into a culvert
while intoxicated. Some commentators have speculated that the loss of his livelihood drove him into a downward spiral. Collins' father has since speculated that his son committed suicide.
After a month's investigation, the New York State Boxing Commission determined that Resto's trainer, Panama Lewis
, had removed the padding from Resto's gloves. It also determined that Resto should have known the gloves were illegal. The commission suspended Resto's boxing license for at least a year. Since most state boxing commissions honor sanctions from other states, this effectively banned Resto from boxing in the United States for the duration of the ban. The commission subsequently changed its rules to prevent anything like what happened to Collins from ever happening again. Resto's win was subsequently changed to a no contest
.
In 1986, Lewis and Resto were both put on trial and found guilty of assault, criminal possession of a weapon (Resto's hands) and conspiracy. Prosecutors charged that Resto had to have known the gloves were illegal, and therefore the bout amounted to an illegal 10-round assault. Prosecutors also argued that the plot was centered around a large amount of money bet on Resto by a third party, who had met with Lewis prior to the fight. Resto served 2.5 years in prison.
After 15 years of trying to regain his license, he was finally allowed to work as a cornerman
by New York State. For many years, he has lived in an apartment near the gym where he once trained, and has worked with youngsters there as well.
For almost a quarter-century, Resto publicly denied knowing that Lewis had tampered with the gloves. However, in 2007, Resto apologized to Collins' widow, Andrea Collins-Nile, who attempted to sue the state of New York for not protecting her late husband. Resto also told Collins-Nile that in addition to removing padding from the gloves, Lewis soaked his hand wraps in plaster of Paris
. This caused the wraps to harden into plaster cast
s similar to those used to set broken bones, which greatly—and illegally—increased Resto's punching power. The hand wraps had never been confiscated. Combined with the removed padding, this meant that Resto had basically been hitting Collins with rocks for 10 rounds. Resto also disclosed that Lewis would break apart pills used to treat asthma and pour the medicine into his water bottles, giving Resto greater lung capacity in the later rounds of a fight. Resto also visited Collins' gravesite and said, "I'm sorry for what I did to you." At a 2008 press conference, Resto said that he knew Lewis had taken the padding out of his gloves and had done so at least twice before. However, Resto said, he didn't protest at the time even though he knew it was wrong. "At the time, I was young," he said. "I went along."
The 1983 incident and subsequent aftermath is covered in the HBO aired documentary Assault in the Ring
. During this documentary, Resto appeared to confirm law enforcement's theory that the incident was rooted in large bets on him.
Welterweight
Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing, taekwondo and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system...
professional boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
from Bronx, New York
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
.
Personal life
Luis Resto was born in Juncos, Puerto RicoJuncos, Puerto Rico
Juncos is one of the 78 municipalities of Puerto Rico located in the eastern central region of the island, south of Canóvanas and Carolina; southeast of Gurabo; east of San Lorenzo; and west of Las Piedras. Juncos is spread over 9 wards and Juncos Pueblo...
, and moved to the Bronx when he was nine years old. Late in his eighth grade year, he elbowed his math teacher in the face, and spent six months in a rehabilitation center for the mentally disturbed. Not long after getting out, an uncle signed him up for boxing lessons in a Bronx gym.
A two-time New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Golden Gloves
Golden Gloves
The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States. The Golden Gloves is often the term used to refer to the National Golden Gloves competition, but it also can represent several other amateur tournaments, including regional golden gloves...
amateur state champion in the welterweight
Welterweight
Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing, taekwondo and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system...
division, Resto trained at the Police Athletic Leagues Lynch Center. He won both the 1975 and 1976 147lb Golden Gloves Open Championships. Resto defeated Miguel Hernandez
Miguel Hernández
Miguel Hernández Gilabert was a 20th century Spanish poet and playwright.-Biography:Hernández was born in Orihuela, in the Valencian Community, to a poor family and received little formal education; he published his first book of poetry at 23, and gained considerable fame before his death...
in the finals of the 1976 147lb Open Championship.
Early career
The light-punching Resto made his professional boxing debut on February 4, 1977 with a points defeat of Julio Chevalier. He scored his first professional knockoutKnockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
in his third professional fight, against Mike Lytell in May of the same year. Resto remained unbeaten until his eighth bout, a knockout loss to Bruce Curry in March 1978. Through 29 fights Resto had compiled a record of 20-8-1 with 8 wins by knockout, which made him a high-level journeyman. Although he was ranked 10th in the world, he was practically unknown outside the New York area.
The Billy Collins Jr Incident
On June 16, 1983 Resto unexpectedly beat undefeated prospect Billy Collins, Jr.Billy Collins (boxer)
William Ray Collins, Jr. was an Irish-American professional boxer whose career was ended after he sustained serious injuries against an opponent with illegal under-padded gloves.-Career:...
at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in a 10-round unanimous decision. The fight was the undercard for a bout between Roberto Durán
Roberto Durán
Roberto Durán Samaniego is a retired professional boxer from Panama, widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time. A versatile brawler in the ring, he was nicknamed "Manos de Piedra" during his career....
and Davey Moore
Davey Moore (1980s)
Davey Moore was an American world champion boxer, the second of two boxers who shared the name in the late 20th century, and whose respective careers each ended with death by trauma around the age of thirty....
.
However, when Collins' father and trainer, Billy, Sr., came to shake Resto's hand, he discovered that Resto's gloves felt thinner than normal. Screaming that he thought the gloves had no padding, Collins, Sr. demanded that the New York State Athletic Commission
New York State Athletic Commission
The New York State Athletic Commission or NYSAC, also known as the New York Athletic Commission, regulates all contests and exhibitions of unarmed combat within the state of New York, including licensure and supervision of promoters, boxers, professional wrestlers, seconds, ring officials,...
impound the gloves. An investigation revealed that someone had removed an ounce of padding from each of his gloves. Collins' eyes were swollen shut by the end of the 10th round, and the rest of his face was so badly swollen that it was impossible to believe a light puncher could have inflicted such damage.
Collins suffered a torn iris
Iris (anatomy)
The iris is a thin, circular structure in the eye, responsible for controlling the diameter and size of the pupils and thus the amount of light reaching the retina. "Eye color" is the color of the iris, which can be green, blue, or brown. In some cases it can be hazel , grey, violet, or even pink...
and permanently blurred vision, ending his career. He died only months later when he drove his car into a culvert
Culvert
A culvert is a device used to channel water. It may be used to allow water to pass underneath a road, railway, or embankment. Culverts can be made of many different materials; steel, polyvinyl chloride and concrete are the most common...
while intoxicated. Some commentators have speculated that the loss of his livelihood drove him into a downward spiral. Collins' father has since speculated that his son committed suicide.
After a month's investigation, the New York State Boxing Commission determined that Resto's trainer, Panama Lewis
Panama Lewis
Carlos "Panama" Lewis is a well-known and highly controversial boxing trainer who achieved his greatest notoriety in the 1980s.-Early career:Lewis was a disciple of trainer Chickie Ferrara...
, had removed the padding from Resto's gloves. It also determined that Resto should have known the gloves were illegal. The commission suspended Resto's boxing license for at least a year. Since most state boxing commissions honor sanctions from other states, this effectively banned Resto from boxing in the United States for the duration of the ban. The commission subsequently changed its rules to prevent anything like what happened to Collins from ever happening again. Resto's win was subsequently changed to a no contest
No contest (boxing)
No contest is a technical term used in some combat sports to describe a fight that ends for reasons outside the fighters' hands.-Boxing:...
.
In 1986, Lewis and Resto were both put on trial and found guilty of assault, criminal possession of a weapon (Resto's hands) and conspiracy. Prosecutors charged that Resto had to have known the gloves were illegal, and therefore the bout amounted to an illegal 10-round assault. Prosecutors also argued that the plot was centered around a large amount of money bet on Resto by a third party, who had met with Lewis prior to the fight. Resto served 2.5 years in prison.
After 15 years of trying to regain his license, he was finally allowed to work as a cornerman
Cornerman
A cornerman, or simply corner, is a combat sports term for a coach or team mate assisting a fighter during the length of a bout. The cornerman remains outside the combat area during the fight, but in proximity, and can assist the fighter through instruction...
by New York State. For many years, he has lived in an apartment near the gym where he once trained, and has worked with youngsters there as well.
For almost a quarter-century, Resto publicly denied knowing that Lewis had tampered with the gloves. However, in 2007, Resto apologized to Collins' widow, Andrea Collins-Nile, who attempted to sue the state of New York for not protecting her late husband. Resto also told Collins-Nile that in addition to removing padding from the gloves, Lewis soaked his hand wraps in plaster of Paris
Plaster
Plaster is a building material used for coating walls and ceilings. Plaster starts as a dry powder similar to mortar or cement and like those materials it is mixed with water to form a paste which liberates heat and then hardens. Unlike mortar and cement, plaster remains quite soft after setting,...
. This caused the wraps to harden into plaster cast
Plaster cast
A plaster cast is a copy made in plaster of another 3-dimensional form. The original from which the cast is taken may be a sculpture, building, a face, a fossil or other remains such as fresh or fossilised footprints – particularly in palaeontology .Sometimes a...
s similar to those used to set broken bones, which greatly—and illegally—increased Resto's punching power. The hand wraps had never been confiscated. Combined with the removed padding, this meant that Resto had basically been hitting Collins with rocks for 10 rounds. Resto also disclosed that Lewis would break apart pills used to treat asthma and pour the medicine into his water bottles, giving Resto greater lung capacity in the later rounds of a fight. Resto also visited Collins' gravesite and said, "I'm sorry for what I did to you." At a 2008 press conference, Resto said that he knew Lewis had taken the padding out of his gloves and had done so at least twice before. However, Resto said, he didn't protest at the time even though he knew it was wrong. "At the time, I was young," he said. "I went along."
The 1983 incident and subsequent aftermath is covered in the HBO aired documentary Assault in the Ring
Assault in the Ring
Assault in the Ring is a 2009 sports documentary film about a controversial boxing match held at Madison Square Garden on June 16, 1983...
. During this documentary, Resto appeared to confirm law enforcement's theory that the incident was rooted in large bets on him.