Leonard Dorin's handlers continued to contend the neutrality of the judges selected for Saturday's lightweight unification bout with Paul Spadafora. On Thursday, though, they picked the wrong forum. Montreal-based Interbox officials, who represent the World Boxing Association champion, tried to state their case before a largely pro-Spadafora crowd at a pre-fight news conference Thursday at the Pittsburgh Brewing Co. Spadafora (36-0, 14 knockouts), the International Boxing Federation champion from McKees Rocks, faces Dorin (21-0, seven KOs) at the Petersen Events Center. The fight is the main event of a seven-bout card and is expected to begin at 10:45 p.m. It will be televised live on HBO's Boxing After Dark. "Spaddy is in probably the toughest fight of his career," HBO's Xavier James said. "I think this is his best opportunity to make a statement that he is the one of the best, if not the best, lightweights in the world." The news conference, usually low-key for Spadafora's fights, grew heated when his manager, Al McCauley, traded verbal jabs with Interbox's Don Majeski. The debate began after Interbox general manager Yvon Michel continued to question the neutrality of the officials. "Leonard Dorin is not your typical contender who comes here to try to get Paul Spadafora's belt," Michel said. "He's a world champion who chose to come to Paul Spadafora's turf to show who is the best lightweight in the world. "The least we expected was the courtesy of neutral judges." Dorin's camp threatened to cancel the fight upon learning that the referee would be Rudy Battle of Philadelphia and Gary Merritt of Indiana, Patrick Russell of California and Ove Ovesson of Denmark were selected as ringside judges. Ovesson has since been replaced by Guillermo Perez of Panama, who has experience judging WBA title fights. Interbox's Don Majeski said the fight warranted four international officials and at least three neutral judges. He cautioned Dorin's camp to be wary of the chosen judges and used yesterday's platform to contest the selection process of Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission executive director Greg Sirb. "It's patently unfair, the way we were treated," said Majeski, an American who later added that he was "sick and tired of this geocentric, jingoistic attitude" other Americans held against anyone from outside of the U.S. Spadafora manager Al McCauley, well-known for his pre-fight theatrics, dismissed the complaints as posturing to place doubt in the minds of the judges and a built-in excuse in case Dorin loses in Spadafora's hometown. "It's a ploy to try to get the judges to bend over backwards for Dorin," McCauley said. "They were never going to pull out of here. It's a joke." Shortly after, Spadafora proclaimed that he wouldn't want Dorin's WBA belt unless he wins the 12-round prizefight fair and square. "The whole world is going to see the fight," Spadafora said. "I swear to God and all things holy, if I don't win the fight, I don't want the fight." Spadafora wasn't lying. Dorin is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist for Romania, and Michel said the fight would be broadcast at 6 a.m. in his homeland with an anticipated viewing audience of 8 million people. "Leo Dorin, if you back to Romania," co-promoter Lou DiBella said, "is not only a household name but a national hero." The 5-foot-4 Dorin is expected to present Spadafora his greatest challenge, not only because of his size but also his busy approach. He vowed to throw 1,000 punches. Spadafora, with his slick defensive style, said he was not concerned with Dorin's size or punch count. "If you're not sitting in front of the guy and you're coming from the angles," Spadafora said, "the number of punches you throw don't mean nothing." Spadafora remained calm throughout the conference, and co-trainer Jesse Reid said that the pre-fight posturing hasn't bothered the Pittsburgh Kid during his training. "It might have motivated him a little more," Reid said. "I think he knew it was B.S. Talking never won a fight." In this corner Tickets remain available for Saturday's lightweight unification bout between International Boxing Federation champion Paul Spadafora and World Boxing Association champion Leonard Dorin. Tickets can be purchased at all Ticketmaster and Kaufmann's outlets and select Giant Eagle locations at $200 for golden ringside, $100 for ringside, $75 for golden reserved, $50 for reserved and $25 for general admission. Tickets will be on sale Saturday at the Petersen Events Center box office. Here is the seven-bout card: Main event IBF/WBA lightweight unification (12 rounds) - Paul Spadafora, McKees Rocks (36-0, 14 knockouts) vs. Leonard Dorin, Bucharest, Romania (21-0, 7 KOs). Co-feature Middleweights (10 rounds) - Jermain Taylor, Little Rock, Ark. (15-0, 11 KOs) vs. Nicolas Cervera, Pivijay, Colombia (35-3-1, 32 KOs). Undercard Heavyweights (10 rounds) - Sergei Liakhovich, Scottsdale, Ariz. (17-1, 11 KOs) vs. Sione Asipeli, Las Vegas (17-6-2, 8 KOs); Light heavyweights (6 rounds) - Adrian Diaconu, Romania (11-0, 5 KOs) vs. Ron Cobbs, Atlanta (5-4, 3 KOs); Junior middleweights (6 rounds) - Joachim Alcine, Montreal (15-0, 10 KOs) vs. Leonard Townsend, Chicago (37-12-1, 20 KOs); Junior welterweights (6 rounds) - Joe Wyatt, East Liberty (13-0, 9 KOs) vs. Rudy Lunsford, Tampa (12-23, 2 KOs);Heavyweights (4 rounds) - Scott Dixon, Nitro, W.Va. (1-2, 1 KO) vs. Chris Koval, Youngstown, Ohio (3-0, 3 KOs).

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