Who Is Paul Spadafora, Man Infamous for Leaving Floyd Mayweather Bloodied in 6 Rounds of Sparring?

It was at age 24 that Paul Spadafora became a world champion. He defeated Israel Cardona to become the IBF lightweight champion. ‘The Pittsburgh Kid’ was to hold the title for the next four years. Ten years later, after his one last attempt at forcing an entry into light welterweight crumbled by the margins, he retired for good. Many die-hard fans might still remember him. However, it is for one of the most innocuous reasons that most recall Paul Spadafora’s name.

In December of 1999, as he started preparing for the first title defense against Renato Cornett, Spadafora met Floyd Mayweather Jr. The duo’s six-round sparring at Las Vegas-based Nevada Partners Boxing Gym eventually turned contentious and is discussed till date. It had been three years since Mayweather Jr. turned to professional boxing. He was riding high on an unbeaten record. The leaked footage propagated discussions about the time when someone managed to check the mighty Floyd Mayweather Jr. So who was the man who pulled off such a feat? If it was indeed to quote with.

Who is Paul Spadafora? What are his professional accomplishments?

Roughly a year before Floyd Mayweather Jr. became a professional, Paul Spadafora debuted against Steve Maddox in his hometown of Pittsburgh on October 18, 1995. Four years later, after 26 consecutive wins, ‘The Pittsburgh Kid’ won his first world title. He defended his belt successfully eight times, until 2003. Troubles with maintaining the 135 weight limitations saw him move up a division to light welterweight.

In between intermittent breaks, Paul Spadafora managed to win the regional NABF light welterweight championship in April 2013. A few months later, he challenged Venezuelan Johan Perez for his interim WBA light welterweight title. However, the attempt ended in a defeat by a majority decision, his first professional loss. Spadafora fought for one last time on July 11, 2014, before hanging his gloves for good.

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With a 39% knockout-to-win rate, the Pittsburgh-born southpaw’s professional record stood at 49 wins, against a single loss as well as a draw.

The fateful day when Paul Spadafora left Floyd Mayweather Jr. bloodied in a 6-round sparring session

Paul Spadafora’s trainer, Jesse Reiss, remembers the days clearly. Per the plan, the two boxers were to engage in a six-round sparring session to warm up. However, by the time they reached the fourth round, it was clear who had the upper hand. The going became so tough for Mayweather Jr. that, reportedly, he tried to bargain an early exit. But as the story goes, Reiss didn’t concur and insisted on continuing.

The trainer said, “[Mayweather’s] nose is bleeding, and that eye looks like it’s swelling up, and he keeps crackin ’em. Finally, in the fourth round, Mayweather comes to me and asks me if he can get out of the ring because he says he’s tired.” Jesse Reiss emphasized that Mayweather Jr. learned a few valuable lessons that day. First, he never allowed himself to go slack when it came to fitness. Secondly, according to Reiss, Mayweather Jr. stopped allowing anyone to record his sparring sessions.

Speaking about the incident that generated widespread interest in him, Paul Spadafora said, “I just look I look at it…look at it completely differently…he’s coming into the gym, not you know…he you’re not. I know it doesn’t matter who you are; you’re not going to come into the gym when I’m getting ready to fight…there was…don’t think there was any. I don’t care who you was coming he wasn’t coming against just gonna get out on me. That ain’t gonna happen.”

Trainer Jesse Reiss claims that he instilled the value of preparedness in Mayweather Jr. The undefeated former champion’s trim looks, even as he turned 46 this year, bear a strong testament to it.

Former IBF champion’s regrets and troubles with the law

Sadly, despite his professional accomplishments, troubles one after another marred the personal life of Paul Spadafora. Reportedly, he struggled with alcoholism and substance abuse from an early age. In October 2003, following an evening of binge drinking, he allegedly shot his girlfriend in the chest. He admitted to ‘aggravated assault’ and, two years later, was sentenced to six months in a rehabilitation institution.

Some seven years ago, law enforcement took him into custody for allegedly stabbing his brother during an altercation. He even got into a fight with police officers when they arrived. If that was not enough, additional charges of physically attacking his mother were also brought up against him. Additionally, arrests relating to driving under the influence (DUI) were also reported.

According to a 2013 Sports Illustrated article, the former IBF champion always felt there were a few things in his past that he wished were different. For instance, consider some of the crimes he committed during his childhood. Along with a gang of teenagers, older than him by a few years, he would break into people’s homes. But thankfully, his apprehension and subsequent transfer to the juvenile system somehow prevented him from following that path of crime.

Coming from a family of boxers, it was only a matter of time before he discovered his calling in boxing. By the time he entered his teenage years, everyone started noticing him for his boxing prowess. He had won a few Golden Glove titles, and before his professional debut, Paul Spadafora’s amateur record read 75 wins against 5 losses. The rest, thereafter, is history.

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What’s your take from the footage? Do you believe that Mayweather Jr. just gave up or that the sparring session wound up as it should have? Please share your views with us in the comments below.

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