Ex-IBF Champ Paul Spadafora Returns To Action

Undefeated former IBF lightweight champion Paul Spadafora was issued his license and Federal ID by the state of Pennsylvania today and announced that he will return to the ring next week, ending an eight-month hiatus.

Spadafora resumes his career after spending 75 days over the past summer in custody for parole violation accusations that were ultimately rescinded.

He will spar in an four-round super welterweight exhibition on Michael Acri's 23rd Annual Erie Boxing Classic held every Thanksgiving eve. This years's Classic takes place, Wednesday, November 21 at The Avalon Hotel in Erie. It was at the 2006 Classic that Spadafora began his ring comeback, knocking out Jesus Francisco Zepada in the fifth round.

"Paul has never stopped working out and is in tremendous shape," said Acri, Spadafora's promoter. "I am very hopeful that he will be in the ring for an official bout by December or January at the latest. We are all very pleased with how quickly his timing returned and he has shown some very impressive power with his added muscle."

Spadafora (40-0-1, 16 KOs), last fought on March 9, winning a 10-round decision over Oisin Fagan (17-3, 10 KOs), ending his two-year, 11-bout winning streak.

Spadafora captured the IBF world lightweight title in 1999, upsetting the heavily-favored Israel Cardona via a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision. After successfully defending his world championship crown eight times during his four-year reign, he vacated the title to move up in weight.