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By Mitch Abramson
In the old photo, Billy Collins Jr. is handsome and young. His eyes are shut, giving him the quiet look of someone who is sleeping. His skin is callow, with a shiny glow. The image, taken for Ring Magazine in 1983, suggests that Collins is a corpse.
He is indeed alive in the photo, but soon he will be dead.
The snapshot is one of the enduring images of the fight between Collins and Luis Resto at Madison Square Garden on June 16, 1983. Collins, an undefeated prospect, was beaten to a lavender pulp by Resto in a 10-round junior middleweight bout.
After the fight, as Collins Sr. went over to congratulate Resto on his win, he realized that Resto had fought without padding in his gloves, a deed that would bring Resto and his trainer jail time and would get them thrown out of boxing.
Once a ballyhooed prospect, Collins never fought again. He was plagued with blurry vision and depression. Not long after, he would drive his car off a road in Tennessee, falling to his death at 22.
After the fight, Resto was convicted of assault, conspiracy, and criminal possession of a deadly weapon. He did 2 ˝ years of a three-year sentence. His trainer, Panama Lewis, was found guilty of the same crimes, along with tampering with a sports contest. He also served time. The fight was later changed to a no-contest. [details]
In the old photo, Billy Collins Jr. is handsome and young. His eyes are shut, giving him the quiet look of someone who is sleeping. His skin is callow, with a shiny glow. The image, taken for Ring Magazine in 1983, suggests that Collins is a corpse.
He is indeed alive in the photo, but soon he will be dead.
The snapshot is one of the enduring images of the fight between Collins and Luis Resto at Madison Square Garden on June 16, 1983. Collins, an undefeated prospect, was beaten to a lavender pulp by Resto in a 10-round junior middleweight bout.
After the fight, as Collins Sr. went over to congratulate Resto on his win, he realized that Resto had fought without padding in his gloves, a deed that would bring Resto and his trainer jail time and would get them thrown out of boxing.
Once a ballyhooed prospect, Collins never fought again. He was plagued with blurry vision and depression. Not long after, he would drive his car off a road in Tennessee, falling to his death at 22.
After the fight, Resto was convicted of assault, conspiracy, and criminal possession of a deadly weapon. He did 2 ˝ years of a three-year sentence. His trainer, Panama Lewis, was found guilty of the same crimes, along with tampering with a sports contest. He also served time. The fight was later changed to a no-contest. [details]
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