Spadafora shows resilience

The Pittsburgh native rallied for victory at Mountaineer.
SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR
CHESTER, W.Va. -- After a lethargic start, Paul Spadafora did what he had done in 35 previous fights -- utilize his boxing skills to earn a victory.
Spadafora (36-0), the southpaw from Pittsburgh, scored a unanimous decision over Dennis Holbaek Saturday night to retain his IBF lightweight crown and take Holbaek's IBC title, at The Harv, at Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort.
Spadafora was the master of the fight after the sixth round. Judge Debra Barnes scored it 118-110 for Spadafora; the other two judges each scored it 117-111.
The aggressor
Holbaek (43-2), from Kolding, Denmark, found an early target with right-hand leads over Spadafora's left. He worked Spadafora's body in the second round and apparently hurt him with a short right to the head in the third.
Still working as the aggressor, Holbaek caught Spadafora with a good right cross in the fourth round and had a good finish to the round.
"Dennis got me with a good shot in the third round and I was hurt for a few seconds, but I sucked it up and did what I had to do to win," Spadafora said.
Normally a counterpuncher, Spadafora turned the fight around in the fifth when he got the best of Holbaek in several exchanges. In the sixth Holbaek again landed several good rights, but after that round the right, his best offense of the night, became non-existent.
Aside from slight rallies in the 11th and 12th rounds, he threw very few punches and when he did he was tentative.
"I trained good in the East for a good six weeks, but when you are in an actual fight things aren't the same and the layoff caught up with me with my thighs cramping in the seventh and eighth rounds," Holbaek said. "With no legs I had trouble getting off punches and Paul isn't the easiest guy to hit."
Momentum turns
Spadafora took control of the fight with right jabs and straight lefts.
"I was sluggish early and overall it wasn't the best of nights for me, but fighters have bad nights and it is a true champion who can win on such a night," said Spadafora.
The first of 10 bouts on the card featured John "Macho Midget" Bailey (21-9-2) of New Cumberland, W.Va., who stopped Abdul Blackburn of Cleveland after the third round. Blackburn, managed by Pat Nelson of Youngstown, was unable to continue because of a huge lump on his head.