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Spadafora to get new boxing license

3 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Former world lightweight boxing champ Paul Spadafora, paroled two months ago after spending seven months in jail for shooting his then-fiance in 2003, will likely get his boxing license back, a newspaper reported. “We’re agreed that we’re going to give him back the license,” Andrew DePaolo, a state athletic commissioner told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “If he doesn’t be a good boy and breaks his parole, we’ll take it away.”

The 30-year-old boxer from McKees Rocks was paroled in April after spending seven months in state prison and six more in boot camp after pleading guilty in late 2004 to shooting his girlfriend, Nadine Russo, in October 2003. Russo has since given birth to Spadafora’s child.

The state athletic commissioners said they talked to Spadafora by phone this week. He told them he did 1,000 sit-ups and push-ups a day at Quehanna Motivational Boot Camp in Clearfield County.

Spadafora told the commissioners he could be in shape to fight within a month. Spadafora must pass a physical, and be tested for HIV and hepatitis, which is standard for boxers, said Greg Sirb, executive director of the athletic commission.

The commission has also mandated extra medical tests for Spadafora, but will not say what they are. Sirb said the tests could be completed in 10 days and that Spadafora could get his license back by the end of the month.

Chuck Bednarik, the former Philadelphia Eagles star who chairs the five-member athletic commission, said none of the members oppose granting Spadafora a boxing license.

“I’ll vote for him,” Bednarik said. “He did his time.”

“If we take away the chance for him to fight, how’s he going to make a living?” DePaolo said.

Spadafora dropped out of high school at age 16 to pursue a boxing career that has been marred by several lesser run-ins with the law – including public intoxication. He confesses to being an alcoholic and tested positive for cocaine while free on bail in the Russo shooting, prompting a judge to jail him in December 2004.

Spadafora’s pro record is 38-0-1. In his last fight in July 2004, Spadafora knocked out Francisco Campos in the third round, his second straight win since moving up to junior welterweight. Spadafora had given up his IBF lightweight title in 2003 so he could move up.

Spadafora was drinking the night he shot Russo. Spadafora shot her after she drove across a concrete median and flattened two tires on his Hummer.

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