BOXING Spadafora breaks from training for unification fight

He was in the Valley Wednesday, at Southside Boxing Club.
SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR
YOUNGSTOWN -- IBF and IBC lightweight champion Paul Spadafora was at Jack Loew's Southside Boxing Club Wednesday to work out.
Spadafora was accompanied by his manager, Al McCauley, his co-trainers, Jesse Reid and Tommy Yankello, and promoter Mike Acri, as he prepares for a May 17 unification bout with Leonard Dorin.
The 12-round bout will be the main event, televised by HBO, and will be at the Petersen Events Center at the University of Pittsburgh.
Acri, formerly from Youngstown now residing in Erie, Pa., called it, "The biggest fight in Pittsburgh since Jersey Joe Walcott took the heavyweight title from Ezzard Charles at Forbes Field in July of 1951."
Dorin from Bucharest, Romania, fighting out of Montreal, is 21-0 and has stopped 15 of his opponents. He won the WBA slice of the crown in January 2002 winning a 12-round split decision over Argentina's Raul Balbi.
He's the first world champion from Romania and had successful defense of that title in May 2002, a 12-round decision over Balbi in a rematch.
Leo the Lion
Called "Leo the Lion," Dorin is an orthodox slugger who throws punches from bell to bell in contrast to the slick boxing Spadafora, an elusive southpaw who is able to amass points as an excellent counter puncher.
Spadafora (36-0, 14 KOs), Pittsburgh's first world champion since Billy Conn had the light heavyweight title 64 years ago and Fritzie Zivic a lightweight crown 61 years ago, will be making the 10th defense of his IBF title, which he won with a unanimous decision over Israel Cardona at Mountaineer Race Track and Resort in August 1999.
His last fight was in November 2002, at Mountaineer when he won a 12-round decision over Dennis Holbaek Peterson.
Spadafora has been training for the last three months, including a six-week seclusion outside California, Pa.
Training break
"I'm a little uncomfortable with this break in training," said Spadafora who shadow boxed and worked on the light and heavy bags at Loew's gym. "This fight means everything to me and I want people who have followed my career to realize that.
"Dorin comes at you all the time and on the average throws 120 punches a round. He never stops punching so this will be like a matador and a bull in a bullfight, with me having to be at my best to win.
"For me it has always been a case of the better the fighter an opponent is, the better I will be."
McCauley, Spadafora's longtime manager, said, "This bout gives us legitimacy to vie for being not only one of the best lightweights in the world, but also one of the best fighters in the world pound for pound.
"Paul doesn't have to win this fight from the outside as he is in the kind of physical, mental and emotional condition to go toe to toe with Dorin and is ready to win this fight from wherever he has to be in the ring," McCauley said.
Mike Acri Boxing Promotions Inc., along with Dibella Entertainment & amp; Interbox Inc. are presenting the card, which is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Ticket prices range from $25 to $200 and may be purchased through Ticketmaster, Kauffman's and select Giant Eagle Locations.
Also present at the Southside Boxing Club Gym was Austintown heavyweight Chris Koval (3-0, three KOs).
Koval, a Youngstown State student, will be on the undercard in a heavyweight four-rounder with Scott Dixon (2-2-1) of Morgantown, W. Va.