12 Facts About Paul Spadafora

Paul Ross Spadafora was born on September 5,1975 and is an American retired professional boxer.

Paul Spadafora is the former IBF lightweight champion of the world, and has challenged once for a light welterweight world title.

Paul Spadafora's childhood was poverty-stricken: his father died of a drug overdose when he was nine, and he was homeless for several weeks as a teenager.

Paul Spadafora started boxing when he was eleven, and left school in 9th grade to focus on it.

Paul Spadafora was an alcoholic from a young age and at one point abused drugs.

Paul Spadafora pleaded guilty to aggravated assault for shooting his girlfriend Nadine Russo in the chest in October 2003 after a night of drinking, and in February 2005 was sentenced to six months in a bootcamp-style rehabilitation center.

Paul Spadafora had by then become engaged to Russo and she had born his second child.

In September and October 2011, Paul Spadafora was twice arrested on DUI charges.

Paul Spadafora retired from boxing following his 2014 fight with Hector Velazquez.

In December 2016, Paul Spadafora was arrested after police responded to an altercation where Paul Spadafora was accused of attacking his brother with a knife, stabbing him in the thigh, and kicking his mother in the back.

In March 2018, Paul Spadafora plead guilty to simple assault, resisting arrest, and terroristic threats, and was sentenced to time served and released on parole.

In October 2024, Paul Spadafora was hospitalized after being bitten by his pet dog, severing an artery in his left arm.