By Tom Donelson
Vinny Maddalone is one of those fighters that excites a live crowd. In his match against Shannon Miller, Maddalone showed his strength, his weakness and his appeal. Maddalone moves full speed ahead, throwing punches from every angle and hoping that one hits the target. As boxing broadcaster Ted Atlas noted about Maddalone, defense is a word not in Maddalone’s dictionary.
Shannon Miller came into the fight as an undefeated prospect, but his record was deceiving. Miller had spent much of his life in boxing gyms, but it was a sport that he enjoyed more as a hobby. An accountant by day, Miller had taken many sabbaticals in his career and has no illusion of being a heavyweight champion. Miller understands his limitations. Maddalone still dreams of being a champ, but realistically it is a goal that is not obtainable. Both men have talent, but not "top ten" talent.
In the opening minutes of the first round, Miller rocked Maddalone with a sharp left hook that stopped the Flushing marauder in his path. Miller's sharper punches hit the target quicker than Maddalone wider punches. At least for the first minute. Miller's chief flaw was that after a jab, his left hand came down and left his wide open for counter rights. Maddalone found the opening and nailed Miller with a wide bruising right that sent him down to the mat. Miller got back up and showed good survival skills that were picked up from years in the gym. With a few seconds left in the round, another Maddalone right sent Miller spiraling like a top as he went down a second time. He beat the count, barely.
Miller's sharp punches started to show their effect from the second round through the fourth. Miller began to creep back in the fight as his left hooks and right hands found a home on Maddalone’s face. By the end of the third round, Maddalone’s left eye started to swell.
Instructed by his corner to box, Miller spent more time on the inside of Maddalone. Miller found that if he stayed close and smothered Maddalone’s punches, Maddalone left himself open for Miller's more compact punches. Miller could have moved to the outside and jabbed Maddalone, provided that he was far enough away from the Maddalone’s right. When Miller traveled in the zone between the outer reaches of Maddalone’s rights and within Maddalone power shots, he was fine. When Miller traveled just slightly beyond the smothering stage, Maddalone’s power took control.
In those three rounds, Miller fought smart. Maddalone's eye continued to puff and Miller’s chances of not just surviving but winning started to increase. Going into the fifth round, Miller closed the gap in scoring and had momentum on his side. Maddalone was used to fights that swung back and forth. A year earlier, Maddalone fought Brian Minto in one of the best heavyweight fights of the year. Maddalone dominated the early rounds and Minto took the middle rounds. Going into the tenth round, Maddalone appeared ahead on the scorecards, but a Minto left hook sent Maddalone down for the count. That fight had numerous changes in momentum.
This fight was no different. One right hand from Maddalone and whatever momentum Miller had would disappear. Miller began the fifth round the same way he ended the fourth, by nailing Maddalone with sharp accurate combinations. Taking advantage of every opening provided by Maddalone, Miller continued his assault. As the round progressed, Miller took the offensive. With less than minute left, Maddalone took a step back as Miller moved forward. Miller's left hook began to swing in the direction of Maddalone’s face. Suddenly out of nowhere, Maddalone delivered the sharpest compact left hook of the fight. His hook beat Miller’s wider hook. Miller whirled 180 degrees as his butt hit the floor. By instinct, Miller got up but his wobbly matter and gazed eyes convinced the referee that the fight was over. Maddalone won by a knockout.
For Maddalone, this fight will land him another televised fight on ESPN. Maddalone does not have the skills to compete with the elites of the division, but he does have enough skill to beat most heavyweights outside of the top 15 or 20. His straight ahead style and go for broke attitude excites boxing fans and that alone guarantees a few TV spots in the future. As for Miller, he has reached the apex of his career. Unlike most fighters, Miller can go back Monday morning and return to being an accountant. Miller does not fight because he has to, but because it is enjoyable. Miller's dilemma is that he not as dedicated to the sport as Maddalone and this is because it is just an option in Miller's life. Boxing does not dictate Miller’s life like it does Maddalone. For Maddalone, he knows that his styles entertain and that appears to be one of his goals. Entertain the fans and make some money from the sport of boxing.
