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Paul Spadafora

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Paul Spadafora
Born
Paul Ross Spadafora

(1975-09-05) September 5, 1975 (age 49)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Other namesThe Pittsburgh Kid
Statistics
Weight(s)Lightweight
Light welterweight
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Reach69 in (175 cm)
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights51
Wins49
Wins by KO19
Losses1
Draws1

Paul Ross Spadafora (born September 5, 1975)[1] is an American retired professional boxer. He is the former IBF lightweight champion of the world, and has challenged once for a light welterweight world title.

Personal background

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Known as "The Pittsburgh Kid", Spadafora is from McKees Rocks, a borough outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His childhood was poverty-stricken: his father died of a drug overdose when he was nine, and he was homeless for several weeks as a teenager. He started boxing when he was eleven, and left school in 9th grade to focus on it.[2]

Amateur career

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Spadafora had a fruitful amateur career, winning 75 of 80 bouts.[citation needed]

Professional career

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Paul Spadafora was trained by Tom Yankello. On October 18, 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 KO'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 in 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 defended his title again by split decision over Mike Griffith in round 11, and beat Billy Irwin in a 12-round decision to close the year.

By 2001, 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 by retaining his title over 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.

Fight for unification

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In 2003, Spadafora and WBA world champion Leonard Dorin from Romania decided to meet to try to unify their world titles. They met on May 18, but the fight was declared a draw, 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 because he was having trouble making weight in the Lightweight division.

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

Troubles outside the ring

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Spadafora was an alcoholic from a young age and at one point also abused drugs.[2] He pleaded guilty to aggravated assault for shooting his girlfriend Nadine Russo in the chest in October 2003 after a night of drinking, and in February 2005 was sentenced to six months in a bootcamp-style rehabilitation center.[2] He had by then become engaged to Russo and she had born his second child.[2] He ultimately went to prison for the crime.[3]

In September[4] and October 2011, Spadafora was twice arrested on DUI charges. The following September he pleaded guilty.[3]

On September 23, 2012, his manager filed suit against him in Allegheny County court for breach of contract.[3]

Comeback

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Despite his troubles outside 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.[citation needed]

On April 25, 2008, again in Erie, Spadafora returned to the ring to fight Shad Howard. Spadafora repeatedly connected with sharp jabs and combinations en route to an 80–72 unanimous decision.

In 2010 he defeated Italian boxer Ivan Fiorletta by knock out.[5] In August 2012 he defeated Humberto Toledo.[3]

One April 6, 2013, Spadafora defeated Robert Franckel for the NABF Super Lightweight Championship.

Professional boxing record

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51 fights 49 wins 1 loss
By knockout 19 0
By decision 30 1
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
51 Win 49–1–1 Héctor Velázquez UD 8 Jul 11, 2014 Rivers Casino, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
50 Loss 48–1–1 Johan Pérez MD 12 Nov 30, 2013 Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, US For WBA interim super lightweight title
49 Win 48–0–1 Robert Franckel UD 10 Apr 6, 2013 Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, US Won vacant NABF super lightweight title
48 Win 47–0–1 Solomon Egberime UD 10 Dec 1, 2012 Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, US
47 Win 46–0–1 Humberto Toledo UD 8 Aug 18, 2012 Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, US
46 Win 45–0–1 Alain Hernandez RTD 5 (10), 3:00 Nov 20, 2010 Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, US
45 Win 44–0–1 Ivan Fiorletta TKO 8 (10), 0:40 Mar 12, 2010 War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US
44 Win 43–0–1 Jermaine White UD 8 Sep 30, 2009 Heinz Field VIP Tent, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
43 Win 42–0–1 Ivan Orlando Bustos TKO 6 (8), 2:26 Jun 24, 2009 I.C. Light Amphitheater, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
42 Win 41–0–1 Shad Howard UD 8 Apr 25, 2008 Avalon Hotel, Erie, Pennsylvania, US
41 Win 40–0–1 Oisin Fagan SD 10 Mar 9, 2007 Soaring Eagle Casino, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, US
40 Win 39–0–1 Frankie Zepeda TKO 5 (10), 2:07 Nov 22, 2006 Avalon Hotel, Erie, Pennsylvania, US
39 Win 38–0–1 Francisco Campos TKO 10 (10), 1:02 Jul 17, 2004 Chevrolet Amphitheatre, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
38 Win 37–0–1 Rubén Galván UD 10 Apr 29, 2004 Hilton Garden Inn, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, US
37 Draw 36–0–1 Leonard Doroftei SD 12 May 17, 2003 Petersen Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US Retained IBF lightweight title;
For WBA lightweight title
36 Win 36–0 Dennis Holbaek Pedersen UD 12 Nov 9, 2002 Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, US Retained IBF lightweight title
35 Win 35–0 Angel Manfredy UD 12 Mar 9, 2002 AJ Palumbo Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US Retained IBF lightweight title
34 Win 34–0 Charles Tschorniawsky UD 10 Aug 14, 2001 Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, US
33 Win 33–0 Joel Perez UD 12 May 8, 2001 I.C. Light Amphitheater, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US Retained IBF lightweight title
32 Win 32–0 Billy Irwin UD 12 Dec 16, 2000 Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US Retained IBF lightweight title
31 Win 31–0 Rodney Jones UD 10 Sep 9, 2000 Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, US
30 Win 30–0 Mike Griffith TD 10 (12), 3:00 May 6, 2000 Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US Retained IBF lightweight title
29 Win 29–0 Victoriano Sosa UD 12 Mar 3, 2000 Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York, US Retained IBF lightweight title
28 Win 28–0 Renato Cornett TKO 11 (12), 0:52 Dec 17, 1999 Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US Retained IBF lightweight title
27 Win 27–0 Israel Cardona UD 12 Aug 20, 1999 Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, US Won vacant IBF lightweight title
26 Win 26–0 Eugene Johnson UD 8 Mar 30, 1999 Monzo's, Monroeville, Pennsylvania, US
25 Win 25–0 Rocky Martinez UD 10 Jan 22, 1999 Carmichael's, Chicago, Illinois, US
24 Win 24–0 Dezi Ford TKO 10 (12) Dec 4, 1998 Monzo's, Monroeville, Pennsylvania, US
23 Win 23–0 Sam Girard UD 10 Oct 23, 1998 Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, US
22 Win 22–0 David Thomas TKO 2 (8) Aug 30, 1998 Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, US
21 Win 21–0 Jose Aponte PTS 12 Jun 23, 1998 Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, US
20 Win 20–0 Amado Cabato TKO 7 (8) May 27, 1998 Avalon Hotel, Monroeville, Pennsylvania, US
19 Win 19–0 Troy Fletcher UD 8 Mar 26, 1998 Avalon Hotel, Monroeville, Pennsylvania, US
18 Win 18–0 Roger Brown UD 8 Dec 11, 1997 Avalon Hotel, Erie, Pennsylvania, US
17 Win 17–0 Hector Ramirez TKO 2 (?) Oct 15, 1997 Monzo's Palace Inn, Monroeville, Pennsylvania, US
16 Win 16–0 Kino Rodriguez UD 6 Sep 13, 1997 Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
15 Win 15–0 Bernard Harris UD 8 Aug 13, 1997 Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, US
14 Win 14–0 Julio Cesar Merino TKO 5 (?) May 23, 1997 Ridgeway, Pennsylvania, US
13 Win 13–0 Joe Lafontant PTS 6 Mar 1, 1997 Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
12 Win 12–0 Greg McLean KO 2 (6) Dec 22, 1996 Struthers, Ohio, US
11 Win 11–0 Mark Andreske TKO 5 (?) Nov 21, 1996 Erie, Pennsylvania, US
10 Win 10–0 Jeff Whaley TKO 2 (8) Sep 27, 1996 Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, US
9 Win 9–0 Antonio Gonzalez UD 4 Jun 22, 1996 Mark Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
8 Win 8–0 Calvin Faggins TKO 2 (4) Jun 10, 1996 Washington, Pennsylvania, US
7 Win 7–0 Erik Joshua UD 4 May 7, 1996 St. John's Arena, Steubenville, Ohio, US
6 Win 6–0 Julio Ibarra TKO 3 (?) Mar 31, 1996 Washington, Pennsylvania, US
5 Win 5–0 Michael Lopez RTD 3 (4), 3:00 Feb 20, 1996 Mahi Temple Shrine Auditorium, Miami, Florida, US
4 Win 4–0 Lacebian Crockett KO 1 (?) Dec 13, 1995 Holiday Inn Metroplex, Liberty Township, Ohio, US
3 Win 3–0 Anthony Hardy UD 4 Nov 15, 1995 Erie, Pennsylvania, US
2 Win 2–0 Nathaniel Hardy TKO 2 (?) Nov 7, 1995 Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, US
1 Win 1–0 Steve Maddux PTS 4 Oct 18, 1995 Sheraton Station Square, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US

References

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  1. ^ "Paul Spadafora". BoxRec. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d Chico Harlan (February 27, 2005). "Boxing: Can Spadafora rebound from rock bottom?". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  3. ^ a b c d Paula Reed-Ward (September 26, 2012). "Manager McCauley sues Pittsburgh boxer Spadafora". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on September 27, 2012.
  4. ^ "Boxer Paul Spadafora Arrested In Jefferson Hills". KDKA. September 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "Paul Spadafora Gets TKO Win In Latest Comeback Fight: 'Pittsburgh Kid' Stops Ivan Fiorletta In Round 8". WTAE. March 3, 2010. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012.
[edit]
Sporting positions
World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Shane Mosley 		IBF lightweight champion
20 August 1999 – 26 June 2003
Vacated 		Vacant
Title next held by
Javier Jáuregui
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