Paul Spadafora

Paul Spadafora (born September 5, 1975) is a native of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania who is a professional boxer. Spadafora was the IBF's world Lightweight champion.

Personal Background

Known as "The Pittsburgh Kid", Spadafora hails from a borough outside of Pittsburgh named McKees Rocks.

Spadafora had a fruitful amateur career, winning 75 of the 80 bouts he participated in during that stage of his life as a boxer. His dreams of becoming a professional boxer were almost dashed before he could fight for money for the first time, however: In a confusing incident, Spadafora was shot in the achilles' tendon by a policeman. According to the official reports, Spadafora was traveling in a car that was driven by a friend. When his friend began to go over the speed limit, he was chased by a cop. Seeing as the driver refused to stop, the cop fired a shot, hitting Spadafora.

Professional career

On October 18 of 1995, Spadafora made his professional debut, winning a four round knockout of Steve Maddux. He won a total of four fights in his initial year.

In 1996, he fought eight times, winning all, six by knockout. In 1997, he fought six times, but his percentage of knockout wins dropped considerably, when he only won two of those six bouts by knockout.

In 1998, he continued his winning ways throughout the year, winning all six bouts, three by knockout.One of the aforementionedk.o's took place on the exhibition bout card,featuring long retired veteran Dan Maloney and Tim Witherspoon.

He began 1999 by raising his quality of opposition, facing the veteran "Rocky Martinez". He won that fight by a unanimous decision, and after one more win, he and Israel Cardona met in Chester, for the I.B.F.'s vacant world crown on August 20. An underdog in the betting lines, Spadafora nevertheless became world champion, defeating Cardona by a 12 round decision. Then, he retained the title with an 11 round knockout of Renato Cornett to finish the year.

He opened 2000 with a 12 round decision over Victoriano Sosa to retain the title, and subsequently retained the title also against Mike Griffith, by knockout in round 11, and Billy Irwin, with a decision in 12 to close the year.

By the time 2001 rolled in, Spadafora was already a regular on the "HBO Boxing" television show. He retained the title with a 12 round decision over Joel Perez and won one non title fight that year.

He began 2002 retaining the title by beating Angel Manfredy with a 12 round decision. His only other bout that year was a 12 round decision win over Dennis Holbaek, also with his world title on the line.

In 2003, Spadafora and WBA world champion Leonard Dorin decided to meet to try to unify their world titles. They met on May 18, but the fight was declared a draw (tie), both boxers remaining as world champions in their respective organizations.

On June 27 of the same year, Spadafora announced he was relinquishing the IBF world Lightweight title, to move to the Jr. Welterweight division. He said he was having trouble making the Lightweight division's weight limit.

Spadafora next fought on July 17 of 2004, knocking out Costa Rica's Francisco Campos in ten rounds.

Troubles outside the ring

On October 29 of 2003, Spadafora was arrested and accused in the shooting of his girlfriend, Nadine Russo. Russo was shot while in a gas station on October 26. Spadafora was released after posting a $50,000 dollars bond.

On September 7 of 2004, he was arrested again, for running a car into a park while allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. At the same time, he announced that he and Russo are planning to get married.

On September 29 of 2004, His personal troubles continued on December 11, when he was arrested after a urine test of his showed traces of cocaine in his body. On December 20, he pleaded guilty of the charges of drug using, and was jailed immediately.

On February 23, 2005, Spadafora was sentenced to 21 to 60 months in prison for the shooting of his girlfriend.

Comeback to the Ring

Despite his troubles outside of the ring, Spadafora repeatedly expressed his intention to return to the ring. In November 2006 he returned after a 32-month layoff to stop Jesus Francisco Zepeda in round five at the Avalon Hotel in Erie, Pennsylvania. It was Spadafora's first ring action since serving the sentence for the October 2003 shooting of his girlfriend. Spadafora ended up back in jail on a parole violation, but was released in July 2007.

On April 25, 2008, in Erie, Pennsylvania, Spadafora returned to the ring to fight Shad Howard. Spadafora looked good as he repeatedly connected with sharp jabs and combinations en route to a 80-72 victory on all cards.

External links

* [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05058/463277.stm Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Can Spadafora rebound from rock bottom?]
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