Former boxing champion hospitalized after dog attack in Las Vegas
Paul Spadafora, the former world lightweight champion, is recovering in a Las Vegas hospital after being attacked by his dog Sunday night.
"We were at the house. Paul was, like, roughing around with his dogs," said Spadafora's wife, Nadine.
Video above: Paul Spadafora's troubles behind him, but not forgotten
"When he was, like, playing around, she bit him. She probably didn't realize she bit him that hard because she ran away after she did it. It's not like she locked on him, or was trying to kill him," she said.
Nadine said that, at first, Paul didn't think his pit bull bit him that hard.
"I just thought he was going to get stitches," she said.
The former IBF champion and McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, resident now lives in Las Vegas. When he went to a hospital there, he was told the injury was much more serious. Spadafora severed an artery in his left arm when his dog bit him.
"He's just such a special person, and I'm just so glad that he lived through this," Nadine Spadafora said.
A report said that after an extensive surgery, the artery was repaired. Spadafora was on a ventilator to help him breathe, but he is now conscious and expected to make a full recovery.
"Just letting everybody know that he's OK," Nadine Spadafora said. "The reason why he was on a ventilator — because he was fighting with himself, because he's such a fighter, and now he's calm. He's letting himself recover. Just pray that he sits still."
Spadafora, who defended his title until 2003, was known as "The Pittsburgh Kid" in the ring. He was training fighters before the attack.
"Paul needs to slow down. You know what I mean? So maybe this is the universe telling him to slow down," Nadine Spadafora said.
She said her husband does not want his dog to be taken away.
Spadafora's full recovery is expected to take about six weeks, Nadine said.
