Cops: Ex-boxing champ Spadafora threw woman, 63, to ground (The Associated Press)
Former International Boxing Federation lightweight champ Paul Spadafora has been charged with assault after authorities say he put a woman in a semi-headlock at a Pittsburgh-area bar, drank some of her beer and then threw her to the ground when she went outside to call police. Spadafora, who was raised in the Pittsburgh suburb of McKees Rocks, calls himself ”The Pittsburgh Kid.” He won the vacant IBF belt in August 1999, and suffered his only professional loss just two and a half years ago after struggling to mount a comeback since serving time in jail. Witnesses told police that Spadafora, 40, appeared to be intoxicated when he arrived at the Redstone Tavern in Crafton on Wednesday.