Paul Spadafora


Paul Ross Spadafora 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.

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 enroute to an 80–72 unanimous decision.
In 2010 he defeated Italian boxer Ivan Fiorletta by knockout. In August 2012 he defeated Humberto Toledo.
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.

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

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
51WinHéctor VelázquezUD8Jul 11, 2014Rivers Casino, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
50Loss48–1–1Johan PérezMD12Nov 30, 2013Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, USFor WBA interim super lightweight title
49Win48–0–1Robert FranckelUD10Apr 6, 2013Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, USWon vacant NABF super lightweight title
48Win47–0–1Solomon EgberimeUD10Dec 1, 2012Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, US
47Win46–0–1Humberto ToledoUD8Aug 18, 2012Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, US
46Win45–0–1Alain HernandezRTD5, 3:00Nov 20, 2010Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, US
45Win44–0–1Ivan FiorlettaTKO8, 0:40Mar 12, 2010War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US
44Win43–0–1Jermaine WhiteUD8Sep 30, 2009Heinz Field VIP Tent, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
43Win42–0–1Ivan Orlando BustosTKO6, 2:26Jun 24, 2009I.C. Light Amphitheater, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
42Win41–0–1Shad HowardUD8Apr 25, 2008Avalon Hotel, Erie, Pennsylvania, US
41Win40–0–1Oisin FaganSD10Mar 9, 2007Soaring Eagle Casino, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, US
40Win39–0–1Frankie ZepedaTKO5, 2:07Nov 22, 2006Avalon Hotel, Erie, Pennsylvania, US
39Win38–0–1Francisco CamposTKO10, 1:02Jul 17, 2004Chevrolet Amphitheatre, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
38Win37–0–1Rubén GalvánUD10Apr 29, 2004Hilton Garden Inn, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, US
37Draw36–0–1Leonard DorofteiSD12May 17, 2003Petersen Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USRetained IBF lightweight title;
For WBA lightweight title
36Win36–0Dennis Holbaek PedersenUD12Nov 9, 2002Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, USRetained IBF lightweight title
35Win35–0Angel ManfredyUD12Mar 9, 2002AJ Palumbo Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USRetained IBF lightweight title
34Win34–0Charles TschorniawskyUD10Aug 14, 2001Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, US
33Win33–0Joel PerezUD12May 8, 2001I.C. Light Amphitheater, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USRetained IBF lightweight title
32Win32–0Billy IrwinUD12Dec 16, 2000Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USRetained IBF lightweight title
31Win31–0Rodney JonesUD10Sep 9, 2000Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, US
30Win30–0Mike GriffithTD10, 3:00May 6, 2000Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USRetained IBF lightweight title
29Win29–0Victoriano SosaUD12Mar 3, 2000Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York, USRetained IBF lightweight title
28Win28–0Renato CornettTKO11, 0:52Dec 17, 1999Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USRetained IBF lightweight title
27Win27–0Israel CardonaUD12Aug 20, 1999Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, USWon vacant IBF lightweight title
26Win26–0Eugene JohnsonUD8Mar 30, 1999Monzo's, Monroeville, Pennsylvania, US
25Win25–0Rocky MartinezUD10Jan 22, 1999Carmichael's, Chicago, Illinois, US
24Win24–0Dezi FordTKO10 Dec 4, 1998Monzo's, Monroeville, Pennsylvania, US
23Win23–0Sam GirardUD10Oct 23, 1998Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, US
22Win22–0David ThomasTKO2 Aug 30, 1998Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, US
21Win21–0Jose ApontePTS12Jun 23, 1998Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, US
20Win20–0Amado CabatoTKO7 May 27, 1998Avalon Hotel, Monroeville, Pennsylvania, US
19Win19–0Troy FletcherUD8Mar 26, 1998Avalon Hotel, Monroeville, Pennsylvania, US
18Win18–0Roger BrownUD8Dec 11, 1997Avalon Hotel, Erie, Pennsylvania, US
17Win17–0Hector RamirezTKO2 Oct 15, 1997Monzo's Palace Inn, Monroeville, Pennsylvania, US
16Win16–0Kino RodriguezUD6Sep 13, 1997Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
15Win15–0Bernard HarrisUD8Aug 13, 1997Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, US
14Win14–0Julio Cesar MerinoTKO5 May 23, 1997Ridgeway, Pennsylvania, US
13Win13–0Joe LafontantPTS6Mar 1, 1997Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
12Win12–0Greg McLeanKO2 Dec 22, 1996Struthers, Ohio, US
11Win11–0Mark AndreskeTKO5 Nov 21, 1996Erie, Pennsylvania, US
10Win10–0Jeff WhaleyTKO2 Sep 27, 1996Mountaineer Casino, Chester, West Virginia, US
9Win9–0Antonio GonzalezUD4Jun 22, 1996Mark Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
8Win8–0Calvin FagginsTKO2 Jun 10, 1996Washington, Pennsylvania, US
7Win7–0Erik JoshuaUD4May 7, 1996St. John's Arena, Steubenville, Ohio, US
6Win6–0Julio IbarraTKO3 Mar 31, 1996Washington, Pennsylvania, US
5Win5–0Michael LopezRTD3, 3:00Feb 20, 1996Mahi Temple Shrine Auditorium, Miami, Florida, US
4Win4–0Lacebian CrockettKO1 Dec 13, 1995Holiday Inn Metroplex, Liberty Township, Ohio, US
3Win3–0Anthony HardyUD4Nov 15, 1995Erie, Pennsylvania, US
2Win2–0Nathaniel HardyTKO2 Nov 7, 1995
1Win1–0Steve MadduxPTS4Oct 18, 1995Sheraton Station Square, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US