# Paul Spadafora

Paul Ross Spadafora (born September 5, 1975) 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

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.

## Troubles outside the ring

Spadafora was an alcoholic from a young age and at one point also abused drugs. 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. He had by then become engaged to Russo and she had born his second child. He ultimately went to prison for the crime.
In September and October 2011, Spadafora was twice arrested on DUI charges. The following September he pleaded guilty.
On September 23, 2012, his manager filed suit against him in Allegheny County court for breach of contract.

## 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.
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. In August 2012 he defeated Humberto Toledo.
One April 6, 2013, Spadafora defeated Robert Franckel for the NABF Super Lightweight Championship.

## Professional boxing record

| 51 fights | 49 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 19 | 0 |
| By decision | 30 | 1 |
| Draws | 1 | 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 | |