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. In 2020, he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame.^[2][3] . A Southpaw with slick defense, quickness, and ability to fight in the pocket and in range, his talent was well-regarded ^[4].

Personal background

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.^[5]

Troubles outside the ring

Spadafora was an alcoholic from a young age and at one point also abused drugs.^[5] 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.^[5] He had by then become engaged to Russo and she had born his second child.^[5] He ultimately went to prison for the crime.^[6]

In September^[7] and October 2011, Spadafora was twice arrested on DUI charges. The following September he pleaded guilty.^[6]

On September 23, 2012, his manager filed suit against him in Allegheny County court for breach of contract.^[6]

Comeback

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.^[8]

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

In 2010 he defeated Italian boxer Ivan Fiorletta by knockout.^[9] In August 2012 he defeated Humberto Toledo.^[6]

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

Spadafora suffered the only loss of his career on November 30, 2013, losing to Johan Pérez by majority decision to lose the WBA Light Welterweight title.^[10]

Retirement

Paul Spadafora retired from boxing following his 2014 fight with Héctor Velázquez.

In April 2016, Spadafora was charged with assault for an altercation with a woman outside of Redstone Tavern in Crafton, Pennsylvania, and was sentenced to anger management classes.^[11]

In December 2016, Spadafora was arrested after police responded to an altercation where Spadafora was accused of attacking his brother with a knife, stabbing him in the thigh, and kicking his mother in the back. In March 2018, Spadafora plead guilty to simple assault, resisting arrest, and terroristic threats, and was sentenced to time served and released on parole.^[12]

As of 2024, Paul Spadafora is living in Las Vegas and training boxers in a gym built in his garage.^[13] In October 2024, Spadafora was hospitalized after being bitten by his pet dog, severing an artery in his left arm.^[14]

Professional boxing record

See also

• Billy Conn, another professional boxer from Pittsburgh nicknamed "the Pittsburgh Kid".

References

External links

• Boxing record for Paul Spadafora from BoxRec (registration required)
• Official Website