Tweet
Paul Spadafora targets Erik Morales
Resurgent Paul Spadafora targets Erik Morales, Paulie Malignaggi and Floyd Mayweather
Andrew Harrison speaks to the unbeaten 'Pittsburgh Kid'
PITTSBURGH’S unbeaten former lightweight world titlist, Paul Spadafora, 44-0-1 (18), continues his improbable comeback this weekend (Saturday, November 20) at the Mohegan Sun Resort in Uncasville, Connecticut, hoping that a win will kick down the door to bigger fights at light-welterweight.
“I feel great, I’m really looking forward to fighting again,” Spadafora said whilst taking time out from his training base at Erie, Pennsylvania. Of his next opponent, Argentinean Diego Jesus “El Camicero” Ponce, 19-5-3 (3), Spadafora revealed: “I don’t know too much of him. I’m just getting prepared myself, just getting ready for whatever he brings.”
Back in 1999, Spadafora put on a clinic against Israel Cardona to grab the vacant IBF title in West ******ia, before going on to defend his belt eight times against the likes of Billy Irwin, Victoriano Sosa and Angel Manfredy. In his final bout as champion, “Spaddy” embarked upon a unification match against WBA champ Leonard Dorin in Pittsburgh and after a bloody toe-to-toe battle, honours were shared. It was a contest which prompted a move up in weight, meaning he had to relinquish his beloved title in the process.
That’s when things began to go wrong for him. Alcoholism, mysterious shootings and prison followed, leaving him back at the bottom of the pile more than 10 years after he started out. A skilled craftsman now in his 36th year, “The Pittsburgh Kid” just wants to move things along, to get rid of Ponce before moving back into the big league with name fighters such as Erik Morales.
“I would love to get that fight, I think anything is possible in this game,” he opined, admitting that he’d be quite unabashed about facing “El Terrible” on the Mexican’s home turf in Tijuana. Setting himself three years to accomplish his goals before hanging up the gloves for good, Paul perhaps more than anyone understands the temptations lurking in the dark for ex-fighters. Prodded about the ills visited upon Manchester’s Ricky Hatton recently he intimated that he had a plan to avoid drifting in his retirement. “Yeah I heard about that, that’s a shame,” he reflected. “I’ll be training guys after this is all over.”
Tutored by the legendary Pernell Whitaker, Spadafora acknowledges the contribution the Hall of Famer has made to him as a fighter, yet the loyalty he extends towards “Sweet Pea” doesn’t stretch to an imagined bout between Whitaker and Spadafora’s other favourite fighter, Roberto Duran. “I’d have to say Duran,” he chuckled when quizzed over who’d triumph in a fight between the pair.
Once termed “Pittsburgh’s fourth franchise” by long-standing manager Al McCauley, Paul approaches his career in the same way he does his opposition, never over-analysing a situation and never planning too far down the road. His plans are simple and there are a couple of men he’d like to include in them.
“I want to keep winning, keep taking fights as often as possible and try to get busier. I would love to get a chance to fight Paulie Malignaggi, I’d keep the pressure on him. I just wanna get the big fights and try to make history and the guy I really wanna fight is Floyd [Mayweather], I think it could happen.”
Spadafora has been through tough times outside the ropes yet he credits boxing for giving him a shot at redemption. “Big time,” he confirmed. “Everything is alright now.” Things might be about to get a whole lot better.
Andrew Harrison speaks to the unbeaten 'Pittsburgh Kid'
PITTSBURGH’S unbeaten former lightweight world titlist, Paul Spadafora, 44-0-1 (18), continues his improbable comeback this weekend (Saturday, November 20) at the Mohegan Sun Resort in Uncasville, Connecticut, hoping that a win will kick down the door to bigger fights at light-welterweight.
“I feel great, I’m really looking forward to fighting again,” Spadafora said whilst taking time out from his training base at Erie, Pennsylvania. Of his next opponent, Argentinean Diego Jesus “El Camicero” Ponce, 19-5-3 (3), Spadafora revealed: “I don’t know too much of him. I’m just getting prepared myself, just getting ready for whatever he brings.”
Back in 1999, Spadafora put on a clinic against Israel Cardona to grab the vacant IBF title in West ******ia, before going on to defend his belt eight times against the likes of Billy Irwin, Victoriano Sosa and Angel Manfredy. In his final bout as champion, “Spaddy” embarked upon a unification match against WBA champ Leonard Dorin in Pittsburgh and after a bloody toe-to-toe battle, honours were shared. It was a contest which prompted a move up in weight, meaning he had to relinquish his beloved title in the process.
That’s when things began to go wrong for him. Alcoholism, mysterious shootings and prison followed, leaving him back at the bottom of the pile more than 10 years after he started out. A skilled craftsman now in his 36th year, “The Pittsburgh Kid” just wants to move things along, to get rid of Ponce before moving back into the big league with name fighters such as Erik Morales.
“I would love to get that fight, I think anything is possible in this game,” he opined, admitting that he’d be quite unabashed about facing “El Terrible” on the Mexican’s home turf in Tijuana. Setting himself three years to accomplish his goals before hanging up the gloves for good, Paul perhaps more than anyone understands the temptations lurking in the dark for ex-fighters. Prodded about the ills visited upon Manchester’s Ricky Hatton recently he intimated that he had a plan to avoid drifting in his retirement. “Yeah I heard about that, that’s a shame,” he reflected. “I’ll be training guys after this is all over.”
Tutored by the legendary Pernell Whitaker, Spadafora acknowledges the contribution the Hall of Famer has made to him as a fighter, yet the loyalty he extends towards “Sweet Pea” doesn’t stretch to an imagined bout between Whitaker and Spadafora’s other favourite fighter, Roberto Duran. “I’d have to say Duran,” he chuckled when quizzed over who’d triumph in a fight between the pair.
Once termed “Pittsburgh’s fourth franchise” by long-standing manager Al McCauley, Paul approaches his career in the same way he does his opposition, never over-analysing a situation and never planning too far down the road. His plans are simple and there are a couple of men he’d like to include in them.
“I want to keep winning, keep taking fights as often as possible and try to get busier. I would love to get a chance to fight Paulie Malignaggi, I’d keep the pressure on him. I just wanna get the big fights and try to make history and the guy I really wanna fight is Floyd [Mayweather], I think it could happen.”
Spadafora has been through tough times outside the ropes yet he credits boxing for giving him a shot at redemption. “Big time,” he confirmed. “Everything is alright now.” Things might be about to get a whole lot better.