Well, he was. The one-time Golden Boy of Canadian boxing would be convicted eight more times for various offences involving extortion or weapons. The two were slain, execution-style, outside a Mississauga social club in what can only be seen as a gory epilogue to what could have been glory unending. His takeoff was sensational. That's the start of it.
Defeat affects boxers differently.
Some, like heavyweights Floyd Patterson and Gerry Cooney, become hermits. Melo slipped into his other persona. He would look after Cotroni's problems. That would be Vic Cotroni, a Mafia chief now doing time. Here I am now saying the same things to other kids.