Spadafora Back In The Mix
By Michael Woods November 27th, 2006Paul Spadafora out of prison and in the ring
It was a lowkey return to the ring for Paul Spadafora, as the Pittsburgh Kid snuck in a bout with Jesus Francisco Zepeda the day before Thanksgiving.
But the former IBF lightweight champion wants bigger names than Zepeda.
“I feel a lot more mature as a person, and that’s going to carry over in the ring,” Spadafora said to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review after the 22nd Erie Boxing Classic at the Avalon Hotel. “We won this fight, but it doesn’t mean nothing until we beat Mayweather Jr. or someone like Cotto. That’s what I want. That’s the kind of fighter I am.
“This guy was a good fighter, and he comes to fight. I train hard for anybody. I’m happy that I won, but I want to fight the best. I want to beat the best. I want to fight the best guy you have in the world – not for anybody here, but for myself, because I really believe in my heart that I’m the best.”
The 31-year-old southpaw Spadafora (39-0-1) did away with Zepeda (16-4), of Shelbyville, Ind., with relative ease.
“I’m real pleased with the job Paul did,” said Spaddy’s trainer Jesse Reid. “He got a little pain in his life, and this pulled him through. That shows you how much he loves the game. It wasn’t like he left the ring. It was like he got better. It rejuvenated him.”
Spadafora is aiming to win a belt at 140, and be flexible with his weight, perhaps going up a few pounds to try and land a shot at PBF.
Spaddy fans must be pleased that this initial hurdle has been passed, and that he came in so light. He could have come in a 150 or so, and whittled his poundage down, but he showed he’s serious post-lockup by scaling in at 141½ …
November 27th, 2006 at 12:52 pm
It really doesn’t matter what this guy does in the ring. If he has truly matured and is not going to shoot any more girlfriends in the stomach, then that’s the important thing.
November 27th, 2006 at 4:05 pm
G-Pal, I agree, man.
Of all the stupid things I’ve heard boxers do out of the ring, shooting the mother of your child is the worst.
This chump makes the crimes allegedly committed by Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather, Naseem Hamed etc seem G-rated.
November 27th, 2006 at 5:48 pm
I was at the fight and Spadafora looked a lot more aggressive than in the past. I agree, it’s best not to date the guy.
November 27th, 2006 at 7:11 pm
Spadafora is a talented fighter. So that would mean Spadafora does not need anymore tune ups or showcase bouts. If Spadafora really means what he says well then he should be at the big card that Cotto is fighting on December 2nd.
That’s the Old School Way of Challenging another fighter. Spadafora is on the same level as the Cotto’s but is he really serious about fighting others on his level cause last time I looked the name Angel Manfredy was his best opponent
even on the downside. To sum it up Spadafora has the worst resume in Boxing
for the level of fighter that he is right now at 31 years old.