PRESS RELEASE: Former IBF lightweight titlist Paul Spadafora (41-0-1) has cleared another hurdle in his latest comeback bid.  Spadafora who underwent knee surgery June 3rd at Sharon Regional Health Systems Hospital in Sharon, PA, returned to the gym yesterday.  The surgery was performed by Dr. Keith Lustig, a specialist in knee surgeries. Lustig removed floating cartilage.  

"The surgery was a success and Paul's knee has responded very well to the surgery and rehabilitation," Dr. Lustig.  

Spadafora injured his knee January 17th and went through strength conditioning and rehabilitation in February and March in hopes of getting his knee better. 

 
Spadafora stated, "I thought that the conditioning and rehab would work but it was temporary, in my last fight (April 26th) I experienced too much pain and inability to move my knee and just couldn't perform the way I can." 

 
Michael Acri, Spadafora's promoter, hopes to have a fight scheduled for him at the end of August or the beginning of September.  

 
Spadafora captured the vacant IBF lightweight title in 1999, upsetting  Israel Cardona via a unanimous decision.  After successfully defending his crown eight times during his four-year reign, he vacated the title to move up in weight. Subsequent arrests slowed his career since then.