Billy Collins Jr. was a professional boxer who died tragically at the age of 22 due to injuries sustained in a fight that was later discovered to have involved cheating by his opponent.
Billy Collins Jr. was an up-and-coming boxer with a promising career ahead of him. On June 16, 1983, he fought Luis Resto in a match that would have significant consequences. During the fight, Collins sustained severe eye injuries that permanently damaged his vision. It was later discovered that Resto’s gloves had been tampered with; padding had been removed, making the punches more damaging than they would have been otherwise.
The aftermath of the fight was devastating for Collins. His injuries were so severe that he was unable to box again, effectively ending his career. The emotional and physical toll of the incident led to a downward spiral in his life. On March 6, 1984, less than a year after the fight, Collins died in a car accident. The accident was suspected to be a result of drunk driving.
The scandal surrounding the fight had far-reaching implications. Resto and his trainer, Panama Lewis, were both banned from boxing for life. They were also convicted of assault, conspiracy, and criminal possession of a weapon (the tampered gloves). The incident remains one of the most notorious in boxing history, highlighting the dangers of cheating and the need for strict regulation and oversight in the sport.
