Tweet
By Lisa Scott
--------------------
Last week, former IBF lightweight champ Paul Spadafora (39-0-1; 16 KO's) won his first fight since being released from prison - a jr. welterweight matchup against Frankie Zapeda (TKO 5) in Erie, PA. Known as the 'Pittsburgh Kid', the 31 year old Spadafora recently completed a sentence split between Camp Hill Penitentiary in Pennsylvania (7 months) and a prison-style boot camp (6 months) for the 2003 shooting of his girlfriend outside a gas station in Pittsburgh.
Having worked with Spadafora in previous fights, esteemed trainer Jesse Reid returned to Spadafora's corner for his comeback bout and says he recognized a formidable improvement in the southpaw fighter - regardless of Spadafora's 28 month layoff from the ring.
Reid told *********: "I think that the time away did Paul some good because he got into great condition and his body looked sensational. Paul hasn't lost anything. In fact... he's gotten stronger! But most importantly, Paul looked like he got some rest. Paul always had skill, but in this fight, he had great agility and great power! More than I've ever seen in him before. In the first couple of rounds, I think Paul was more curious about what Zapeda was like and he held back a little. But as the fight went on, Paul's confidence grew and he just got better and better until he stopped the guy."
Reid adds, "Paul has been through some very tough times, but I'll say this about him: Paul has character, he doesn't make excuses, he's a loyal person and he's a franchise in Pittsburgh where people just love him! I think Paul can do a lot of good, not only for himself, but for people who've also had hard times and don't think they can get out of it."
Can Spadafora continue on the straight and narrow and give boxing fans something to look forward to in 2007? Reid answers enthusiastically, "Paul has got a lot going for himself right now. He learned a lot while he was away, he's matured and he's got tremendous support from his promoter Mike Acri and manager Al McCauley. But what's really important is that Paul still has a love for boxing. So I'm just hoping that he continues to stay clean and works hard, because he has a big future ahead of him. Paul Spadafora has got all the tools in the world to become a champ again."
--------------------
Last week, former IBF lightweight champ Paul Spadafora (39-0-1; 16 KO's) won his first fight since being released from prison - a jr. welterweight matchup against Frankie Zapeda (TKO 5) in Erie, PA. Known as the 'Pittsburgh Kid', the 31 year old Spadafora recently completed a sentence split between Camp Hill Penitentiary in Pennsylvania (7 months) and a prison-style boot camp (6 months) for the 2003 shooting of his girlfriend outside a gas station in Pittsburgh.
Having worked with Spadafora in previous fights, esteemed trainer Jesse Reid returned to Spadafora's corner for his comeback bout and says he recognized a formidable improvement in the southpaw fighter - regardless of Spadafora's 28 month layoff from the ring.
Reid told *********: "I think that the time away did Paul some good because he got into great condition and his body looked sensational. Paul hasn't lost anything. In fact... he's gotten stronger! But most importantly, Paul looked like he got some rest. Paul always had skill, but in this fight, he had great agility and great power! More than I've ever seen in him before. In the first couple of rounds, I think Paul was more curious about what Zapeda was like and he held back a little. But as the fight went on, Paul's confidence grew and he just got better and better until he stopped the guy."
Reid adds, "Paul has been through some very tough times, but I'll say this about him: Paul has character, he doesn't make excuses, he's a loyal person and he's a franchise in Pittsburgh where people just love him! I think Paul can do a lot of good, not only for himself, but for people who've also had hard times and don't think they can get out of it."
Can Spadafora continue on the straight and narrow and give boxing fans something to look forward to in 2007? Reid answers enthusiastically, "Paul has got a lot going for himself right now. He learned a lot while he was away, he's matured and he's got tremendous support from his promoter Mike Acri and manager Al McCauley. But what's really important is that Paul still has a love for boxing. So I'm just hoping that he continues to stay clean and works hard, because he has a big future ahead of him. Paul Spadafora has got all the tools in the world to become a champ again."
Comment