"Well, while still in the ring, Billy Collins Sr. went to congratulate Resto, and while shaking his gloved hand, could tell that the gloves had significantly less padding than they were supposed to have. He told the boxing commission, which confiscated the gloves. Collins Jr., meanwhile, was in bad shape. He'd suffered a torn iris resulting in permanent blurred vision, ending his boxing career."
"Resto and his trainer Panama Lewis were put on trial and found guilty of assault, criminal possession of a weapon (Resto's hands) and conspiracy. Resto served two and a half years in prison. Two decades later he apologized in person to Collins Jr.'s widow, and admitted their scheme was worse than people knew. They'd not only removed the padding from his boxing gloves, but soaked tape in plaster which they wrapped his hands in."
"He fell apart. He couldn't cope with it. He thought he was somebody, then he was nobody. His young mind couldn't stand it. He became depressed, and it kept going deeper. I really think he drove off the road on purpose. Not that he wanted to kill himself. No. I think everything just piled up, and he wanted to punish himself."
Athletes occasionally commit crimes during competition, ranging from cheating to violent assault. One notable case involved boxer Luis Resto, who deliberately tampered with his gloves by removing padding and soaking tape in plaster before fighting Billy Collins Jr. The sabotage caused Collins Jr. severe injuries, including a torn iris that ended his boxing career and led to permanent vision loss. Devastated by his sudden fall from athletic prominence, Collins Jr. struggled with depression and died nine months later in a drunk driving accident. Resto and his trainer Panama Lewis were convicted of assault, criminal possession of a weapon, and conspiracy. Resto served two and a half years in prison and later apologized to Collins Jr.'s widow, revealing the full extent of their scheme.
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