Detroit's Own "K9" Captures IBF World Championship
(Photo by Anne Tangeman)
Fighting out of Detroit's Legendary Kronk Gym, Cornelius "K9" Bundrage defeated IBF Jr. Middleweight Champion, Corey Spinks, in Spinks' hometown of St. Louis, MO.
Spinks is the son of former Heavyweight Champion Leon Spinks. At one time, Leon Spinks was managed by Emanuel Steward and trained at the Kronk Gym.
K9 Won with a Devastating Knockout in the fifth round. He previously appeared on the hit reality TV show, "The Contender".
Over the past 30 years Legendary Boxing Icon, Emanuel Steward has trained and managed more than 41 World Champions, including the current World Heavyweight Champion, "Wladimir Klitschko", WBA Jr. Middleweight World Champion "Miguel Cotto" and Irish Middleweight Contender "Andy Lee".
"K9 is the first of what I expect to be a new generation of home-grown world champions," said Steward after the fight. "Soon I expect Dominique Dalton to become our next word champion."
K9 trained nine months for this fight. Although the fight was postponed four different times, that did not discourage him. He continued to show up at the Kronk Gym every day to prepare for this opportunity to be crowned IBF Jr. Middleweight World Champion. Trainer Javan "Sugar" Hill has been working closely with him.
Focused and determined in the ring, Bundrage also believes in giving back to the community.
"He would come to the gym and mentor members of the Kronk Amateur Boxing Team by training and sharing his knowledge with our youngsters." Says Keith Lee, Kronk Trainer.
Contact: (248) 924- 5775 Email: Anita@EmanuelStewardOnline.com
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Alexander and Cloud Defend, Bundrage Moves
from “Contender” to World Champion!
By: Phil Kane
August 7th, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri: Unbeaten IBF and WBC Light Welterweight Champion Devon “The Great” Alexander successfully defended his titles with a convincing unanimous decision victory over a tough and ready Ukrainian challenger Andriy Kotelnik.
Kotelnik came to stake his claim of the titles landing some big clean shots giving Alexander all he could handle but it was the champions quicker hand and foot speed, busier work rate and superior ring generalship proved to be the deciding factor.
All three judges saw it the as I did 116-112 Alexander allowing him to keep his belts at 21-0, 13Ko’s and a possible showdown with “Desert Storm “ Timothy Bradly or Amir Khan who was on hand to call out Bradley. Kotelnik who won a split decision over Marcos Rene Maidana before dropping a twelve round decision to Amir Khan July last year falls to 31-4, 13Ko’s.
28 year old Tavoris Cloud successfully defended his IBF Light Heavyweight Title taking full advantage of the age differential winning a 116-112 times three unanimous decision over the always entertaining 41 year old “Road Warrior” Glen Johnson. Cloud had too much spark for the elder statesman most times beating the former champion and to the punch never allowing the veteran banger to get the upper hand or land his big shot. Cloud moves to 21-0, 18Ko’s while Johnson dips to 50-14-2, 34Ko’s.
Cornelius ‘K9’ Bundrage can forever climb out from under the term “Conteder” after beating up and pounding out IBF Junior Middleweight Champion and hometown favorite Cory “The Next Generation” Spinks. Bundrage a challenger on the TV boxing series “Contender”dogged the five time champion who lacked the punch to keep the rabid “K9” at bay from the opening bell. The challenger always coming forward applied the pressure from the opening bell that would eventually take its toll in the fifth round. Bundrage stepped up his assault cutting off the ring scoring with big right hands one of which deposited the hometown fighter on the deck. Spinks made it upright but was teetering from side to side prompting referee Mark Nelson to save him from any further damage calling it at 1:25 of round five. Bundrage, 30-4, 18Ko’s now officially moves from “Contender” to champion taking home the IBF Junior Middleweight title while Spinks who looked like a shell of the fighter who battled Roman Karmazin and Zab Judah falls to 37-6, 11Ko’s.
