Spadafora’s Return Continues:
Paul Spadafora is back, with his sixth comeback fight scheduled for November 20 at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. Also known as “The Pittsburgh Kid,” Spadafora made a splash in the lightweight division during the early part of the decade. He captured the vacant IBF belt in 1999, in a fight with fringe contender Israel Cardona. He went on to defend that title eight times, including a win over a faded Angel Manfedy and pulling out a tie in a unification fight with the tough WBA champ from Romania, Leonard Dorin. Along the way, he built quite a fan following in Pittsburgh and West Virginia.
Spadafora’s reign came apart when he was accused of shooting his pregnant girlfriend in October 2003. He compounded that by allegedly drunk-driving his car into a police cruiser in September 2004, and then flunking a drug test in December of that same year. Spadafora wound up in jail, convicted first on drug charges and then for attempted murder. His comeback began in November 2006, after a 32-month lay-off.
Spadafora moved up to super lightweight for his comeback, although truth be told he often weighs in at 144 or 145 lbs, and is therefore fighting as a welterweight. He has been steadily shaking off the rust and is looking sharp again, and is clearly angling to be named as an opponent in the red hot 140 lbs division. How far he can go is very much an open question.
As his history shows, Spadafora has always been an unstable personality, and his drinking binges put even Ricky Hatton to shame. Boxing plus alcohol abuse is a bad combination, and age a man quickly. At age 35, Spadafora clearly does not have much time or potential to waste if he hopes to get back into world title contention.
