Former world champion PAUL SPADAFORA has been added to “The Pride of Pittsburgh III” on Feb. 20th at CONSOL Energy Center, it was announced today by TOM BROWN of Goossen Promotions.
Sporting a record of 49-1-1 (19KO’s), Spadafora will battle JAKE GIURICEO,
17-2-1 of Youngstown, Ohio (4KO’s) in a scheduled eight round junior welterweight off-TV bout.
“We’re very happy to add Paul in a “special attraction” bout to our Feb. 20 event,” said Brown. “For many years he was among the most skilled fighters in the sport and his battle with Giuriceo, a very tough veteran, should be one of the highlights of the evening for the fans in attendance.”
“The Pride of Pittsburgh III” is headlined by a ten round welterweight clash between local fan favorite SAMMY VASQUEZ JR., 17-0-0 (13KO’s) and Brooklyn, New York native via Accra Ghana, EMMANUEL LARTEY, 17-2-0 (9KO’s) and will be telecast on ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast)
The IBF Lightweight Champion of the World from 1999 to 2003, Spadafora was undefeated for eighteen years before coming up on the short end of a 12-round majority decision to Johan Perez on November 30, 2013.
Most recently, the born and raised Pittsburgh native won an eight round unanimous decision over perennial contender Hector Velasquez on July 11, 2014 in Pittsburgh.
The 29-year-old Giuriceo returns to the ring following a fourth round knockout of Travis Hartman on July 11, 2014 in Pittsburgh on the same card of the Spadafora/Velasquez fight.
Giuriceo was undefeated from his pro debut in 2009, a span of sixteen bouts, until losing a hard fought eight round majority decision to Michael Clark in July 2012.
