Spadafora Sets Return Date

[83-Steelers-43]

Spadafora sets return date

By Kevin Gorman
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, October 24, 2006


Paul Spadafora had chances to make a theatrical ring return by appearing on Mike Tyson's world tour in Youngstown or on a card in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Instead, the Pittsburgh native and former International Boxing Federation lightweight champion will end his two-year hiatus by headlining promoter Michael Acri's 22nd Erie Boxing Classic on Nov. 22 at The Avalon Hotel in Erie.

Spadafora's life has been sidetracked since the shooting of his girlfriend, for which he served a seven-month prison sentence, followed by six months in a prison-system boot camp and 90 days in a Gateway Rehabilitation Center.

"Since the day he was released from boot camp, he's been waiting for this to happen," Acri said. "Now, it's reality. He's been very positive. He has a different attitude on life."

After making eight defenses of his IBF title in four years, Spadafora (38-0-1, 15 knockouts) hasn't fought since July 2004, when he scored a technical knockout of Francisco Campos at the Chevrolet Amphitheatre.

"He wants to fight and win a world title," said Acri, who predicted that it could take Spadafora a year to become a contender. "We want to fight for real titles: WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO. The other titles he doesn't care about. He wants to fight for the real stuff, the titles that matter."

Spadafora, Acri said, passed up invitations to appear on the undercard of Tyson's four-round exhibition this past Friday night in Youngstown because he "just wasn't ready." Acri said Spadafora also passed on the Dubai card Nov. 17 because it was postponed due to the injury of a fighter in the main event.

An opponent has yet to be named for this bout, but Acri said Spadafora is "ready for whoever he fights" and to "bank on someone who can fight" because of future television possibilities. The bout is scheduled to go 10 rounds; the rest of the card has not been announced.

Tickets are priced at $60 and $40 for ringside seats and $20 for general admission. They go on sale today at The Avalon Hotel, Dee's Cigar Store, Johnny's Sports Bar and Ringside Restaurant in Erie. For more information, call Michael Acri Boxing Promotions at 814-455-8309 or The Avalon Hotel at 814-459-2220

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_476385.html

[Jeremy]

Hopefully The Pittsburgh Kid can get his life back together by doing what he loves to do, boxing.

Good luck Paul!

[Black@Gold Forever32]

The dude is a bad ass. But violence toward women doesn't sit well with me. I hope he isn't a scumbag anymore and has changed. Then I will root for the guy again.

[83-Steelers-43]

Even though in all right he should still be behind bars, I wish him luck even though I'm not a fan of his after he shot his g/f (did not kill her). Used to attend every one of his fights. Not anymore.

In other boxing news....Ex-heavyweight champ Trevor Berbick was found dead.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2641679

[cbalke]

dang, never heard of this dude. i'll have to check him out. can't be as vicious as don frye, though. :wink:

[83-Steelers-43]

Boxing: Spadafora starts his comeback with win
Stays unbeaten as pro with 5th-round TKO
Thursday, November 23, 2006

Mike Copper, Special to the Post-Gazette

ERIE -- He has been called "The Pittsburgh Kid." But with a jab to the right eye of Jesus Francisco Zepeda, Paul Spadafora began a journey that could make him boxing's latest comeback kid.

Spadafora won his first fight in more than two years in the main event of the 22nd annual Erie Boxing Classic last night. The 31-year-old McKees Rocks native opened a cut to Zepeda's eye a little more than a minute into the first round, which led to a technical knockout of the Indianapolis fighter at 2 minutes, 7 seconds of the fifth round.

A standing-room-only crowd of more than 1,153 at the Avalon Hotel ballroom roared as the former IBF world lightweight champion remained undefeated.

Spadafora (39-0-1) fought for the first time since July 17, 2004, when he knocked out Francisco Campos in the 10th round of their junior welterweight bout at the I.C. Light Amphitheater at Station Square.

In 2003, the former IBF world lightweight champion was arrested for shooting former girlfriend Nadine Russo at a McKees Rocks gas station. Shortly after his fight against Campos, Spadafora was sentenced to seven months in prison and six months at a central Pennsylvania military-style boot camp compound.

"I felt good that I got the win," Spadafora said, "but I still want to take care of myself and take it one day at a time. I know as long as I stay sober, I'll stay strong because I didn't lose much."

Spadafora opened up the cut to Zepeda's eye two other times. The second led to referee Rick Steigerwald's calling the fight in the fifth.

The loss dropped Zepeda to 16-4.

"That was a boxing work of art," said Al Zuck, Spadafora's trainer. "He painted a picture on [Zepeda] and he was a pretty good fighter, too."

Zuck anticipates Spadafora's next fight will be in late December or early January.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06327/740823-139.stm

[83-Steelers-43]

'Pittsburgh Kid' Spadafora to fight March 7
By The Associated Press
Wednesday, January 31, 2007


Former IBW lightweight champion Paul Spadafora will fight for the first time this year on March 7 at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mount Pleasant, Mich.

Spadafora's opponent for the junior welterweight fight will be announced later.

Spadafora (39-0-1) ended a 2 1/2-year absence from the ring when he stopped Jesus Francisco Zepeda in the fifth round on Nov. 22 in Erie. He had been out of boxing while serving jail time for the October 2003 shooting of his girlfriend outside a gas station in McKees Rocks.

Until the bout against Zepeda, Spadafora had not fought since April 2004.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_491177.html