Lowell man portrayed in “The Fighter” charged with stealing

Gary Giuffrida, who was portrayed as a crack-addicted friend of boxer Micky Ward’s half-brother, Dicky Eklund, in “The Fighter,” pleaded not guilty this week to stealing a bass guitar and four gold-plated Communion trays, and wine holders from the Christ Jubilee International Church. The Lowell Sun reports that Giuffrida, who was played by actor Paul Campbell in the Oscar-nominated film starring Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale, was released on personal recognizance with the condition that he stay away from the church on Smith Street in Lowell. In addition to “The Fighter,” Giuffrida (whose nickname is “Boo Boo”) also appeared in Richard Farrell’s 1995 HBO documentary “High on Crack Street.”