SPADAFORA OVERRATED

PITTSBURGH (INSIDE BOXING) Paul Spadafora (32-0) retained his IBF lightweight title with a unanimous decision over the uninterested mandatory challenger Billy Irwin (33-4).

The Lawrence Convention Center was loaded with Spadafora fans that didn’t seem to care that their hometown hero was lackluster in defense of a title that he should not be allowed to hold. Irwin was unable to win a single round on the INSIDE BOXING scorecard. Even when the 11^th round had the referee deduct a point from Spadafora for a low blow, Irwin was lucky to have the round declared EVEN.

Controversy arose immediately as Spadafora agreed to step on the HBO scales just before entering the ring for the Saturday afternoon contest. After weighing in Friday afternoon at the lightweight limit of 135 pounds Spadafora tipped the scales at an incredible 153 pounds! Irwin weighed in before the fight at 139 pounds.

Spadaforas’ weight advantage of some 14 pounds was not at issue to some. Those are the same advocates of fighter protection. These are the types of situations where State Boxing Commissions have to take the initiative and sometimes, in the sake of future safety, protect the fighters from themselves.

Paul Spadafora is an average boxer who has not shown he can fight anywhere other than friendly confines. He claims that he wants the winner of the Mayweather-Corrales showdown in January 2001. He has not proven himself worthy of that match.

Either Stevie Johnston or current WBC champ Jose Luis Castillo would have no problem dispatching of Spadafora. He has not mentioned either when talking about adequate competition in the lightweight division.

The welterweight division is where Spadafora belongs. He himself admits to weighing around 160 pounds on "any given Sunday". So why jeopardize one’s health by dropping some 25 pounds to make a 135 pound weight limit?

Perhaps he feels he cannot compete with the boxers who he should rightfully

(weight-wise) be in with. Perhaps he is not comfortable fighting with the weight his body seems most adjusted to. Perhaps he sees the dollar signs from a fight with Mayweather of Corrales.

Looking for the "fat" payday is what every fighter lives for. Continuing to fight in the lightweight division may provide Spadafora the opportunity to (later in life) realize the price he’s paid for that payday.

Unless, of course, he has someone or some Boxing Commission that is more concerned about his health than his bank account.

Boy Wonder

12/16/00