www.maxboxing.com
by Calvin Watkins
Paul Spadafora is trying to save his life.
It’s a life that had him on top of the world a few years ago. He was the IBF lightweight champion with seven successful title defenses. Then, it all went downhill.
In 2003, Pittsburgh’s Spadafora, after a fight with girlfriend, shot her in the chest at a gas station. The woman, trying to protect Spadafora, denied he shot her. Some witnesses saw differently and Spadafora admitted to shooting her. He served 13 months in different correctional facilities until his parole in May.
Now he’s returning to the ring, we think.
He was scheduled to fight October 20 in Youngstown, Ohio, but missed a scheduled news conference on Thursday announcing the bout. Spadafora has yet to sign a contract, but he’d better because according to reports out of Pittsburgh, the kid is broke.
This, after he earned nearly $3 million in the ring, with most of the money going on wild spending and lawyers.
It’s a shame because Spadafora was always one of those fighters who are good people but just boxed for a living. He lived a hard life and discovered boxing was his only way out.
But the reality is that Spadafora couldn’t handle the pressures of being a star in Pittsburgh. He went from fighting in hotel ballrooms to fighting on HBO. Spadafora also had a major problem with the bottle. He’s an admitted alcoholic who is trying to stay sober. At times, it seems alcohol was the root of Spadafora’s problems.
Not everybody can handle the pressures of success; just ask Mike Tyson, who like Spadafora, is broke and now fighting in exhibitions. It’s Tyson headlining this Oct. 20 show that’s allowed Spadafora to fight close to his hometown.
It doesn’t matter who Spadafora fights, and promoters didn’t tell members of the media who the opponent will be. What matters is that Spadafora is doing something positive with his life and that’s fighting.
We hope Spadafora has learned that those wild and crazy days of a few years ago should be out of his system. He needs to calm down.
Spadafora is a quality fighter, not Hall of Fame material, but exciting enough for people to watch, especially in Pittsburgh. Spadafora should sign that contract today and step into the ring and fight to save his life.
One of the things Tyson said that was so true about the sport was this, “I learned life is short and very unpredictable. You have to stay humble and not get too emotional. I’m trying to keep my cool.”
If Tyson keeps his cool, then Spadafora should too.
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Never been a big fan of his but hope he gets things worked out.
Not sure how well he'll be able to come back but he's a pretty good boxer. Missing that press conference isn't really a good sign though.
