Cornelius Bundrage: record, next fight and profile →
Former champion Cornelius "K9" Bundrage reached out to BoxingScene.com to send a message to IBF junior middleweight champion Carlos Molina and undefeated contender Jermall Charlo who face each other Saturday on the Canelo Alvarez versus Alfredo Angulo pay-per-view undercard. Bundrage became the mandatory challenger to the IBF crown when he defeated Joey Hernandez in an eliminator in January.
Junior middleweight contender Joey “Twinkle Fingers” Hernandez says he’s in the best shape of his life for his IBF elimination fight against former champion Cornelius “K9” Bundrage this Friday, January 24th, at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California. Hernandez just finished training camp in his hometown of Miami, Florida with chief second Herman Caicedo for what is the biggest fight of the 29-year old’s career. With a win Hernandez could secure his first world title shot against current champion Carlos Molina. Hernandez (23-1-1, 13 KOs) has won eight bouts in a row since suffering his only professional defeat. He has also started to develop, and display more punching power, stopping five of those last eight opponents. The wins have done enough to earn him this opportunity to become the mandatory challenger for Molina, and it’s one that he’s not going to let go to waste. “A win against Bundrage could change my life,” Hernandez said. “I have worked hard to get here, and this is the chance to take my career to the next level. This is a dream come true.”
BoxingScene.com has been advised that Golden Boy Promotions is looking to stage the IBF's final junior middleweight eliminator, between Cornelius "K9" Bundrade (32-5, 19KOs) and Joey "Twinkle Fingers" Hernandez (23-1-1, 13KOs), on January 24th at Fantasy Springs Resort & Casino in Indio, California. Bundradge lost the IBF title to Ishe Smith by way of a twelve round majority decision in February, but then Smith lost the belt to Carlos Molina on the Mayweather-Canelo undercard on September 14th. Hernandez, who recently broke away from promoter Don King, has been inactive since last November's decision win over James Winchester. Hernandez, now advised by Luis DeCubas Jr., is still a promotional free agent.
BoxingScene.com has been advised that Golden Boy Promotions has secured the rights to the IBF's final junior middleweight eliminator between Cornelius "K9" Bundrade (32-5, 19KOs) and Joey "Twinkle Fingers" Hernandez (23-1-1, 13KOs). Bundradge lost the IBF title for Ishe Smith by way of a twelve round majority decision in February, but then Smith lost the belt to Carlos Molina on the Mayweather-Canelo undercard on September 14th. Hernandez, who recently broke away from promoter Don King, has been inactive since last November's decision win over James Winchester.
The International Boxing Federation has approved Cornelius "K9" Bundrage (32-5, 19KOs) and Joey Hernandez (23-1-1, 13KOs) to battle in a junior middleweight final eliminator. K9 was last seen in February, where he lost a twelve round majority decision, and his IBF title, to Ishe Smith. Hernandez, who recently parted way with his promoter Don King, has been inactive since last November.
BoxingScene.com has been advised that a rematch between former IBF junior middleweight champion Cornelius "K9" Bundrage (32-5) and former WBO champion Zaurbek Baysangurov (28-1) is being negotiated for November 9th. If a deal is reached the fight would take in Baysangurov's native Russia. The first fight took place in 2008 when Bundrage stopped Baysangurov in 5 rounds, handing the Russian's his only defeat.
The dust continues to settle from Wednesday's breaking news that Floyd Mayweather will face Saul "Canelo" Alvarez on September 14th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV. If a fight between the two undefeated fighters couldn't be worked out, three division champion Miguel Cotto (37-4, 30KOs) was seen as the frontrunner to be Alvarez's next opponent. Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer recently placed a hold on the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY for September 28th for a possible Miguel Cotto fight. Former IBF junior middleweight champion Cornelius "K9" Bundrage (32-5, 19KOs) had been mentioned as a potential opponent for Cotto should the Alvarez fight not come to fruition for the Puerto Rican.
Ishe Smith had a slight edge in total punches and power shots landed and landed the higher pct. in both categories.
On Saturday night, inside of the Masonic Temple in Detroit, Michigan, Las Vegas native Ishe Smith captured the IBF junior middleweight title with a split-decision victory over former champion Cornelius ‘K9’ Bundrage. After twelve rounds, two 116-111 scorecards favored Smith, with a 114-113 tally going in Bundrage’s direction. Watching the action unfold from his fighter’s corner, trainer and former light heavyweight titlist Eddie Mustafa Muhammad seemed elated with Smith’s showing.
Ryan Burton catches up with newly crowned IBF junior middleweight champion Ishe Smith to discuss his title winning fight with Cornelius "K9" Bundrage.