by James Slater: Detroit light-middleweight contender and former “Contender” star Cornelius “K-9” Bundrage scored the biggest upset of the weekend this past Saturday – and one of THE upsets of the year – as he snatched the International Boxing Federation 154-pound crown from Cory Spinks. Some observers may have questioned the referee’s decision to call a halt to the bout in the 5th-round (certainly Spinks claims he was in no position to have been stopped), but Bundrage himself says the third man in the ring did Spinks a huge favour by diving in when he did.
“The ref saved his life,” Bundrage said, matter-of-factly to The Detroit Free Press yesterday. “I was going to hit him with a bomb my next punch. I really didn’t want to hurt him bad.”
Bundrage, who improved to 30-4(18) with his biggest career win, pounded away at southpaw Spinks as he was stuck on the ropes, prompting the ref to call a halt to the action approx halfway through the 5th-round. Now, after scoring such a big win, the 37-year-old who has been halted just twice in his 15-year pro career, and who also has wins to his name over guys like Kassim Ouma and Zaurbak Baysangurov, wants a mega-fight.
Immensely proud of his accomplishment, and for giving his city of Detroit a big boost, “K-9” insists he is ready for pound-for-pound stars Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather and “Sugar” Shane Mosley.
“People are going to know Detroit is back in business,” Bundrage told The Detroit Free Press with regards to his title-winning effort. “We have a new world champ. It reminds me of the days of Tommy Hearns. I want the big names, Floyd, Pacquiao, Shane Mosley. I want those guys. I’ll step up to the plate. Bring them on.”
But while it’s easy to admire the hardworking Bundrage, for both his recent and past efforts as well as for his desire to take on the sport’s elite, is there a real chance he will ever get to face “Money,” “Pac-Man” or “Sugar?” Mayweather and Pacquiao are still, hopefully, going to clash with one another in the near future, and in the meantime Floyd seems to be enjoying another break from boxing, while Manny is looking at a November date with Antonio Margarito. As for Bundrage’s chances of enticing Mosley into the ring, he may have a decent shot there.
Mosley, if he can win against Sergio Mora in September, might just take a good look at “K-9’s” IBF crown. And after becoming only the second man to have beaten the crafty Spinks inside the distance, Bundrage sure deserves a big money fight.
Could Bundrage also add the name of Shane Mosley to his list of victims?