BOXING Spadafora headliner against Campos

The troubled Pittsburgh fighter is trying to regain momentum in his career.
PITTSBURGH -- Saturday night at the downtown Chevrolet Amphitheatre, "The Pittsburgh Kid," Paul Spadafora, will top a six-bout pro boxing card that is promoted by Youngstown native Mike Acri.
The 28-year-old Spadafora, who relinquished his IBF lightweight title, will be in a junior welterweight 10-rounder with Francisco Campos.
About opponent
Campos (17-0-1, 9 knockouts) hails from Costa Rica, while Spadafora is 37-0-1 with 14 knockouts. The only blemish on Spadafora's record was the last defense of his IBF lightweight championship against Leonard Dorin in May 2003, which ended in a 12-round draw.
Since that fight, with a legal situation impeding his boxing career, Spadafora has only had one fight and that was a 10-round unanimous decision win over Ruben Galvan in Canonsburg, Pa., which was as a junior welterweight. Even before the Dorin bout, his eighth title defense, the 5-foot-9 Spadafora was having difficulty making weight as a 135-pounder.
Spadafora, a slick boxing southpaw, is the best-known Pittsburgh boxer since an era that produced world champions Billy Conn and Fritzie Zivic. He won the vacant IBF title at Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort in August 1999, taking a unanimous 12-round decision from Israel Cardona. He had seven successful title defenses before the Dorin fight, with the best of those in Verona, N.Y., in March 2000, when he came off the deck twice to win a unanimous decision over Victoriano Sosa.
If he defeats Campos, Spadafora will be looking toward a potential bout with the winner of the Dorin-Arturo Gatti junior welterweight bout at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City July 24.
"I can only look ahead to a future that will take care of itself if I am in fighting shape and ready for that future," said Spadafora.
Other bouts Saturday have a Pittsburgh theme. Heavyweight Abraham Okine, who just won the West Virginia title, cruiserweight Dan Harvison and junior welterweight Joe Wyatt are all from the city.
For ticket information call (412) 323-1919.