Paul Spadafora may have outboxed Floyd Mayweather during their famous sparring match.
But that, he believes, is exactly what ‘ruined’ his chances of ever fighting Mayweather professionally.
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Mayweather was 21 years old and 19 bouts undefeated heading into 1999 when he shared the ring with Spadafora, who was on a similar trajectory having won 24 successive fights.
‘Money’ was linked to fighting Spadafora at the time as both men had turned professional within a year of each other in the same weight class.
He was also the WBC world super featherweight champion having defeated Genaro Hernandez to win the strap in Las Vegas in October 1998.
However, Mayweather quickly realised that Spadafora was a force to be reckoned with when they participated in an 18-minute sparring bout divided into six rounds.
“The first two rounds were take one, I’ll take the other,” Spadafora’s trainer Jesse Reid said in a radio interview speaking about the spar.
“Floyd’s nose was bleeding, and his eye looked like it was swelling up. He [Spadafora] kept cracking him.
“Finally, in the fourth round, Mayweather comes to me and asks if he can get out of the ring, because he said he’s tired.
“I said, ‘You aren’t getting out of the ring, you’re getting your a** kicked today to teach you for all of the big mouth you had.’
Reid was right, as Mayweather was being taught a lesson in the sweet science during the scrap.
Spadafora had done well to avoid the explosive combinations that earned ‘Pretty Boy’ so many world titles in the opening rounds.
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But as the spar went on, the Pittsburgh man grew in confidence, as he began circling Mayweather, picking him apart with a strong right jab and nasty hooks.
After Spadafora had cornered his opponent in the third, he continued his momentum into round four and Mayweather’s demeanour was fading.
Mayweather was very static and his movement was lacking, compared to an energetic Spadafora, who continued to back up his opponent against the ropes.
Spadafora’s output was nearly double Mayweather’s in the final rounds and the latter was clearly backing off as Spadafora mixed it up with brutal hooks and uppercuts.
Mayweather had his arms resting on the ropes as Spadafora paced back and forth and both men entered the last round.
‘Money’ came out stronger, but the same theme prevailed and Mayweather dropped straight to the canvas completely exhausted after all six rounds.
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Spadafora may have felt a surge in confidence at the time, but 25 years later, he doesn’t like to talk about it.
“It makes me sick to talk about that,” he told Boxing news in March. “You’re talking about a guy who they say is arguably the best fighter ever.
“Don’t talk about me and him. That’s not reality. I had a good day in the gym, he didn’t have a good day in the gym.
“It was just a f****** sparring match. Do you know how many times I was in a sparring match with another fighter that damn near jammed me up for real, beat the brakes off me?
“It wasn’t even like I beat him like that, but I had a good day and he had a bad day.”
Spadafora was crowned the IBF world lightweight champion in August of the same year, but never got the high-paying fight so many others were awarded with.
“When it went on YouTube and they made it out to be something that it wasn’t, it ruined my chances of getting a fight with him,” he added.
“But I’m done chasing that dumb s***. He ain’t interested. And why would he be?”
Spadafora’s coach, Reid, confirmed that his fighter’s chances of getting a fight with Mayweather were long gone before the video went viral online.
“After it was all over he lay on the ground for 20 minutes, completely exhausted, and I’m taping it.” Reid said.
“I sent this tape to Lou DiBella (Hall of Fame promoter), and Lou DiBella was in shock. Next thing I know, we’re not getting the fight.
“So this vicious animal that’s supposed to be the greatest boxer of all time, and I’ll tell you right now, if they ever make that match Paul Spadafora will be right in his chest, and he’ll get his heart rate up to over 270 beats, and might run him out of the damn ring.
“Here’s a guy that’s not even a puncher who kicked his a** once and I think he’ll kick it again.”
Spadafora retired from boxing after beating Hector Velazquez in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in July 2014.
He is a former IBF world champion and left the sport with an incredible 49-1-1 record.
