Paul Spadafora has had numerous behavioral problems outside the ring, but his talent inside the ring is undeniable. Interesting that all-time football great Chuck Bednarik is the president of the commission in Pennsylvania that oversees such things.
<H2>Spadafora expected to regain boxing license</H2>
Saturday, July 01, 2006
By Milan Simonich, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
State athletic commissioners plan to restore the boxing license of former world lightweight champion Paul Spadafora, who was paroled two months ago.
All that remains is for him to pass a series of medical tests.
"We're agreed that we're going to give him back his license," Commissioner Andrew DePaolo of Green Tree said yesterday. "If he doesn't be a good boy and breaks his parole, we'll take it away."
The commissioners spoke to Mr. Spadafora by phone this week. He told them he did 1,000 push-ups and 1,000 sit-ups a day during his six months in the state prison system's boot camp. By Mr. Spadafora's estimation, he could be ready to fight in a month.
Commission Chairman Chuck Bednarik, a former football star with the Philadelphia Eagles, said none of the five commission members had any reservation about allowing Mr. Spadafora to box again.
"I'll vote for him. He did his time," Mr. Bednarik said.
Mr. Spadafora, 30, pleaded guilty in February 2005 to shooting his girlfriend, Nadine Russo. In addition to six months in the correctional boot camp, he served another seven months in a traditional prison.
A boxing license will give him the opportunity to support himself and his children, Mr. DePaolo said. "If we take away the chance for him to fight, how's he going to make a living?"
Mr. Spadafora dropped out of Sto-Rox High School at 16 to pursue a boxing career.
Boxing licenses for parolees are commonplace and have been for generations.
The late heavyweight champion Sonny Liston, who fought out of Philadelphia in his glory days, had a record of 39 knockouts and 19 arrests. He served time for armed robbery and assaulting a police officer before winning the world title in 1962.
Mr. Spadafora committed his most serious crime after tasting fame.
Fighting at 135 pounds, he won the International Boxing Federation lightweight title in 1999 and held it almost four years. He relinquished the championship in June 2003 to move up to the junior welterweight class for 140-pounders.
Four months later, after a night of drinking, he shot Ms. Russo. She had flattened two tires on his Hummer after driving across a concrete median in McKees Rocks.
Greg Sirb, executive director of the State Athletic Commission, said Mr. Spadafora must pass a physical and be tested for HIV and hepatitis C before he can be licensed. Those tests are standard for fighters.
In addition, the commission mandated additional medical tests for Mr. Spadafora. Mr. Sirb would not disclose what they are.
But, Mr. Sirb said, all tests could finished in 10 days, clearing the way for Mr. Spadafora to be licensed in July.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06182/702583-139.stm
<H2>Spadafora expected to regain boxing license</H2>
Saturday, July 01, 2006
By Milan Simonich, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
State athletic commissioners plan to restore the boxing license of former world lightweight champion Paul Spadafora, who was paroled two months ago.
All that remains is for him to pass a series of medical tests.
"We're agreed that we're going to give him back his license," Commissioner Andrew DePaolo of Green Tree said yesterday. "If he doesn't be a good boy and breaks his parole, we'll take it away."
The commissioners spoke to Mr. Spadafora by phone this week. He told them he did 1,000 push-ups and 1,000 sit-ups a day during his six months in the state prison system's boot camp. By Mr. Spadafora's estimation, he could be ready to fight in a month.
Commission Chairman Chuck Bednarik, a former football star with the Philadelphia Eagles, said none of the five commission members had any reservation about allowing Mr. Spadafora to box again.
"I'll vote for him. He did his time," Mr. Bednarik said.
Mr. Spadafora, 30, pleaded guilty in February 2005 to shooting his girlfriend, Nadine Russo. In addition to six months in the correctional boot camp, he served another seven months in a traditional prison.
A boxing license will give him the opportunity to support himself and his children, Mr. DePaolo said. "If we take away the chance for him to fight, how's he going to make a living?"
Mr. Spadafora dropped out of Sto-Rox High School at 16 to pursue a boxing career.
Boxing licenses for parolees are commonplace and have been for generations.
The late heavyweight champion Sonny Liston, who fought out of Philadelphia in his glory days, had a record of 39 knockouts and 19 arrests. He served time for armed robbery and assaulting a police officer before winning the world title in 1962.
Mr. Spadafora committed his most serious crime after tasting fame.
Fighting at 135 pounds, he won the International Boxing Federation lightweight title in 1999 and held it almost four years. He relinquished the championship in June 2003 to move up to the junior welterweight class for 140-pounders.
Four months later, after a night of drinking, he shot Ms. Russo. She had flattened two tires on his Hummer after driving across a concrete median in McKees Rocks.
Greg Sirb, executive director of the State Athletic Commission, said Mr. Spadafora must pass a physical and be tested for HIV and hepatitis C before he can be licensed. Those tests are standard for fighters.
In addition, the commission mandated additional medical tests for Mr. Spadafora. Mr. Sirb would not disclose what they are.
But, Mr. Sirb said, all tests could finished in 10 days, clearing the way for Mr. Spadafora to be licensed in July.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06182/702583-139.stm
