Vaden Wants to Prove He Has the Power to Stick Around

Last April, Paul Vaden left a storied amateur career and a good chance at making the 1992 U.S. Olympic boxing team to go for the big money as a professional.

A syndicate led by former Charger Ernie Wright and Bob Fox, the former vice president of marketing for Coors Light, formed to finance Vaden’s quest for the world middleweight title. The syndicate, which includes prominent San Diegans Dr. Nolan Johnson and civil attorney Sebastian D’Amico, pays the salaries of Vaden, his trainers and his sparring partners.

A year, nine pro fights and nine victories later, Vaden has shown good progress, quick hands and a crowd-pleasing personality. His fights have drawn hundreds of local supporters, many of them former Patrick Henry High classmates. And Vaden says he’s nearing his first major milestone, a fight for the state middleweight title.

But some observers question whether Vaden has really left behind his amateur career, which featured a hit-and-move style that enabled him to amass a 327-10 record in 14 years. His handlers question whether he is too nice to make it. Others wonder whether he’ll develop the punching power required in the pro game.

It is doubtful Vaden, 24, will clear that up tonight when he faces 31-year-old journeyman Freddie Thomas (5-4-1) of Los Angeles in an eight-round bout at the Sports Arena.

But Hank Pniak, a veteran trainer who has worked with Vaden as amateur and pro, said the fighter is having a tough time breaking his amateur habits.

“Some kids never make the transition to pros,” Pniak said. “Paul was the epitome of the amateur style. There was really no emphasis on hitting hard. It’s kind of a touch game. Things happen pretty fast in the amateurs. Things slow down more in the pros.”

Vaden acknowledges he’s having a hard time fighting the inside game and not using the hit-and-run tactics that served him so well as an amateur.

“It’s kind of hard coming from an amateur,” he said. “You don’t just jump out of that. In the amateurs, I’d throw combinations and run, but my trainers tell me I can actually stay there. It’s just a matter of getting comfortable doing it.”

Said Maurice Betts, one of Vaden’s trainers: “Paul’s got such good reflexes, he can stay inside and not get hurt. He just doesn’t realize it yet.”

Vaden’s trainers, Betts and Bumpy Parra, are also trying to boost his punching power. Of his nine victories, only three have been by knockout.

Betts and Parra believe that they have yet to see the real Paul Vaden because of inferior competition and short fights.

Said Betts: “We know that Paul can box. Now we need to fight that individual who can push him to the limit. There’ no doubt in my mind he’s ready.”

But Vaden and his managers aren’t so sure.

“One of my strongest attributes is patience,” Vaden said. “I feel I’m a really blessed boxer, but who’s to say I’m any different than Sugar Ray Leonard. He fought four and six round fights before going to 10.

Fox said he’s not about to deviate from the syndicate’s original plan.

“Paul’s goal is to reach the top,” Fox said. “He’s willing to work toward that goal in a systematic approach. He doesn’t have any desire to reach that goal now. We’re right on schedule for the plan we laid out for Paul. We don’t think we’re moving too slow.”

Fox said he expects Vaden to have one more eight-round fight before moving on to 10 rounds by the summer. Vaden is hoping to fight Joey DeGrandis (14-2, four knockouts) of Van Nuys for the vacant state middleweight title.

Abel Sanchez, who trains world junior middleweight champion Terry Norris, said he thinks Vaden’s career could be further along with the right sparring partners.

“They’re having to bring him along slowly because he’s not getting the experience in the gym that he needs,” Sanchez said. “He needs to step up the level of the people he’s sparring with.”

Fox agrees with Sanchez. He even tried to get Vaden some sparring sessions with Norris, but Sanchez wouldn’t allow it.

“Terry would kill him,” Sanchez said.

Said Vaden: “I could learn a lot from Terry Norris. If Abel’s looking out for me, I thank him.”

Said Parra: “Paul could beat Terry in three rounds. After three rounds, I don’t know. He might have to run for his life.”

Vaden realizes, eventually, he will have to stop running and start punching. But he also understands that he will never be a devastating puncher like Norris.

“I may be wrong, but I don’t feel the need to have a certain rage in there,” Vaden said. “My rage is for competition and victory, not to kick somebody’s tail. I don’t have a problem working for 12 rounds so long as I’m doing a number on someone technically.

Parra said Vaden may have to find a happy medium between the two.

“He’s got all the skills,” Parra said. “Whether he’s got the heart, I don’t know yet. I’ve seen glimpses of it. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t still be around.”