Paul Nave, 48, boxing’s one time WBF World Welterweight Champion, who served three years at San Quentin for drug possession, stepped back into the ring March 6, 2009, and in a four round bout pounded out a unanimous decision over a much younger opponent.
Known as the “The Marin Assassin,” Nave was a local favorite who became a Golden Gloves champion before turning pro in 1985. His once promising career was derailed by his conviction and subsequent sentence to a six year term which he began in 1990.
Nave continued fighting while here at S.Q. and was permitted to fight a bout at the Petaluma Veterans Hall. SQTV has the video of the fight that shows Nave landing a devastating blow to his opponent that put him on the canvas with no doubt of where he’d be at the end of the ten-count.
Nave paroled on July 4, 1993 and continued fighting, eventually winning the welterweight title at the Marin Civic Center March 3, 1998. Injuries and repeated surgery on his back led to his retirement. For his current comeback, due to his many injuries and age, the boxing commission elected to limit his most recent fight to four rounds.
The crowd at the Marin Civic Center was loud, screaming for their home-town favorite. His opponent, Mikhail Lyubarsky from Kiev, Ukraine , was 18 years younger. A banner for the fight declared: “It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over.”
In between his parole and this last bout, Nave ran for a state assembly seat, and even put his hat in the ring to be California’s governor during the recall election which saw Arnold Schwarzenegger elected to Sacramento.
With the victory, Nave’s record improved to 17-8-1. He has indicated that he intends to fight again.
–staff writer David Marsh contributed to this story
