‘Pittsburgh Kid' looking to get life on track following assault charges

PITTSBURGH — Years removed from his championship days as a boxer, Paul Spadafora is now fighting to regain control of his life.

In recent years, the boxer known as “The Pittsburgh Kid” has dealt with a plethora of trials and tribulations outside of the ring.

In April, Spadafora faced a judge for assault charges after police said he put a woman in a headlock and pushed her to the ground outside of Redstone Tavern in Crafton. It was an incident he said he wished never happened.

“Of course you are going to regret that because it’s humiliating and people will take it the wrong way,” Spadafora said.

Since retiring from the ring, Spadafora’s biggest opponent has been alcohol.

“Anytime I pick up alcohol to that extreme, I should be booked,” Spadafora said.

A judge sentenced Spadafora to anger management classes. Instead of taking it as a punishment, the former boxing champion sees it as another chance to turn his life around.

He’s taken the first step by beginning to train a young boxer.

He believes the more energy he puts into coaching, the less he thinks about picking up another drink and hopes his future is brighter than his recent past.

“I just want to get myself in a position where I am working with kids or a professional fighter and it’s a full-time thing,” Spadafora said.

These days, Spadafora is also focusing on his health. He said he has memory issues and is heading to the Cleveland Clinic to get tested for memory loss.

His next court appearance is set for August 25.

Cox Media Group