Paul Spadafora: Fighting Till the End

by Chris Scarnati, Roy Jones Jr. (foreword), Tom Yankello (foreword)

"The way I looked at it was Paul had to be pretty damn awesome to do the stuff he did in the ring and remain undefeated for so long with all of his issues. The man had all kinds of things going on outside the ring that should have stood in his way, but he still kept winning. God had to be watching out for him." – Roy Jones Jr., former world boxing champion and HBO fight analyst

"Paul was one of the best. And without the drugs and alcohol, he would have been unstoppable." – Tom Yankello, Pittsburgh area boxing trainer

“Chris Scarnati adeptly pulls back the curtain on one of boxing's tortured souls, a man whose demons were at constant war with his talent. This book will give readers a greater understanding of both what made Paul Spadafora special and what kept him from reaching his full potential.” – Chris Mannix, Sports Illustrated

“What the book shows is that Spadafora’s fight is mostly internal, and his greatest challenger is often himself and his fight with addictions.” – Kevin Gorman, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

“Scarnati boldly documents the sordid details in straightforward prose, laying bare the story of a deeply troubled kid who became a lightweight champion. Recommended for Spadafora fans, haters, and any reader curious about a gifted man who could never get the devil off his shoulders.” – Nigel Collins, ESPN.com and Ringside Seat Magazine

Pittsburgh’s Paul Spadafora defeated Israel Cardona to capture the International Boxing Federation (IBF) lightweight belt and the heart of a city that had not boasted a world champion prizefighter in over a half-century. Outside the ring, Paul’s irrepressible dependency on drugs and alcohol marred his legacy and bore tragic consequences. Paul’s narrative was one of brilliance, crippled by madness, a dichotomy of in-ring savant and out-of-ring calamity. Fighting Till the End is a candid examination of a flawed champion determined to conquer his demons and come out on top in the final round of his life.

235 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 8, 2023

Reviews

[Jake Pokorny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is bittersweet for me to read. Paul is my first cousin, and lived at my house for a period of time before he hit stardom. I’ve seen his rise and fall on a personal level and it was difficult to digest. I will say, he is a true warrior. He is always capable and able to bounce back, and that’s a quality I greatly admire.

I visit his mom Annie regularly, as she is my mom’s last remaining sister. I pray he is able to acquire the peace he so desperately seeks. I am proud to say that he is blood ❤️🫶🏼

[Sabrina Orlansky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast and entertaining read. I hope Paul finds peace and continued sobriety.

If you are from Pittsburgh, this is a must read. Not likely to find another potential Pittsburgh Kid....at least not in my life time.

[Kiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

insightful read

This book is not my usual genre, but is a local author and wanted to support the local works. Defiantly worth reading.