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March,20 2005
Again enetering the Kronk recreation center, I notice how silent it is as the men sit playing cards at a table and another man performs his costodial duties sweeping the floors. The nice woman greets me from her desk and I sign in and make my way down the stairs. Again the red and gold lets me know that I am in a very historic place for the Detroit community aswell as the boxing world.
Looking around the gym I see the trainers and nice Mr. Logan in his same position he is every day. A new female boxer moves about the ring akwardly as another female boxer punches the mitts with her coach. SMACK!!!!!! The woman throws a beautiful right hand, crashing into the mitt and forcing the trainers hand back violently. Shaking my head in amazement, I know that I am in the right place. No where have I seen a woman throw a right hand like that, a Kronk right hand. A right hand that could set you on your seat.
Looking around I could not find my subject. Turning to Mr. Logan I ask, "Hey, have you seen K-9". Mr. Logan smiles and points to the cieling, "He's up playing basketball, you'll find him in the gym." Thanking him, I quickly make my way to the gym upstairs. As I enter the gym, I stop and look around. There, on the far side of the gym, my subject was in the process of a long jumpshot from behind the 3 point line. It bounced off of the rim and straight into the air. Again it bounced off of the rim and then down to the floor. He ran up like a little kid in play, grabbed the ball and dribbling the ball turned to see me observing. With a huge smile he points at me and jogs over to where I stand.
You would not know by watching him that he was a fighter, nor by even talking with him. When he smiles he has such a warmth with his personality. You would never guess that in a little under two months this man was going to be stepping into the ring to throw fists in the biggest fight of his career. In a featured bout on Showtimes, Sho Box- The Next Generation; K-9, Cornelius Bundrage, (21-0(13) will square up against fellow undefeated prospect Sechew Powell.
In the ring this man is known as K-9 and his nickname is not that of a dog for no reason. For this dog is a trained fighter and on a mission to be the best, a mission that he see's leading him to a world title. Things havent always been easy for Cornelius. At the beginning of his career, Cornelius felt that he was not being treated fairly by the judges. Although he won every one of his fights, it seemed that the judges were not rewarding his aggressive style.
"Ya know, at the time the judges didnt know who I was. I always had an akward style back then. I didnt come up learning jab,jab..right hand. I came up hooks, rights and more hooks." In a bout against a young, tough opponent named Charles Howe, Cornelius was only awarded a split decision victory when in his eyes and many others eyes it was a near shut out. "I had this guy bleeding from both eyes and did everything as it was planned.... one judge gave him the fight." Unable to believe this Cornelius, with his faith in god says, "by gods way I pulled out the decision."
The wins did not stop there, and Cornelius does not see the streak ending with this bout approaching. "I want to show everybody that I am the best out there." Cornelius knows the routine of others fighting soft touches until they are ranked, but he has no fear in stepping in with Powell, (15-0(9). "You gotta take chances or you will stay in the same place forever." He backs those words with his faith in the lord, "If god tells me to do it, then I'm going to do it."
Engaged, with a 4 year old son Da'Shawn, Bundrage is set in his visions and desires. "That boy is the apple of my eye." Again that great smile comes accrossed his face. "I think of him when I am in my fights and you know what? It makes the fights so much easier." Cornelius also holds a part time job to go with his training and family. He is working part time with the mentaly handicapped, driving buses, setting and running activities for them aswell as just being there to help them when they need somebody special.
Inspired by Mike Tyson and Thomas Hearns, Cornelius began his quest for his dream. It was not easy for him at first by any means. "I was learning on the job, ya know. I was fighting on E.S.P.N and the commentators are saying that I had no identity, no real style." This did not sit well with Bundrage. "I'm not looking to be no Mike Tyson or Roy Jones, I'm creating the K-9!"
With this upcoming bout, Cornelius could propel himself into the rankings where he is hungry to get at the men that are considered to be the best in the world. "When I first started, they told me that I was going to be nothing, well this is my time to shine." Powell will have his hands full come May 7th; at the Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, Connecticut when he steps in to face Cornelius Bundrage. This god fearing man, with his family and his dreams riding on each round will be ruthless if neccesary. So I dont recommend trying to take anything from this dogs plate. Wanting to give his loving family everything that they deserve, you could very well lose some flesh..........Rockin'
Again enetering the Kronk recreation center, I notice how silent it is as the men sit playing cards at a table and another man performs his costodial duties sweeping the floors. The nice woman greets me from her desk and I sign in and make my way down the stairs. Again the red and gold lets me know that I am in a very historic place for the Detroit community aswell as the boxing world.
Looking around the gym I see the trainers and nice Mr. Logan in his same position he is every day. A new female boxer moves about the ring akwardly as another female boxer punches the mitts with her coach. SMACK!!!!!! The woman throws a beautiful right hand, crashing into the mitt and forcing the trainers hand back violently. Shaking my head in amazement, I know that I am in the right place. No where have I seen a woman throw a right hand like that, a Kronk right hand. A right hand that could set you on your seat.
Looking around I could not find my subject. Turning to Mr. Logan I ask, "Hey, have you seen K-9". Mr. Logan smiles and points to the cieling, "He's up playing basketball, you'll find him in the gym." Thanking him, I quickly make my way to the gym upstairs. As I enter the gym, I stop and look around. There, on the far side of the gym, my subject was in the process of a long jumpshot from behind the 3 point line. It bounced off of the rim and straight into the air. Again it bounced off of the rim and then down to the floor. He ran up like a little kid in play, grabbed the ball and dribbling the ball turned to see me observing. With a huge smile he points at me and jogs over to where I stand.
You would not know by watching him that he was a fighter, nor by even talking with him. When he smiles he has such a warmth with his personality. You would never guess that in a little under two months this man was going to be stepping into the ring to throw fists in the biggest fight of his career. In a featured bout on Showtimes, Sho Box- The Next Generation; K-9, Cornelius Bundrage, (21-0(13) will square up against fellow undefeated prospect Sechew Powell.
In the ring this man is known as K-9 and his nickname is not that of a dog for no reason. For this dog is a trained fighter and on a mission to be the best, a mission that he see's leading him to a world title. Things havent always been easy for Cornelius. At the beginning of his career, Cornelius felt that he was not being treated fairly by the judges. Although he won every one of his fights, it seemed that the judges were not rewarding his aggressive style.
"Ya know, at the time the judges didnt know who I was. I always had an akward style back then. I didnt come up learning jab,jab..right hand. I came up hooks, rights and more hooks." In a bout against a young, tough opponent named Charles Howe, Cornelius was only awarded a split decision victory when in his eyes and many others eyes it was a near shut out. "I had this guy bleeding from both eyes and did everything as it was planned.... one judge gave him the fight." Unable to believe this Cornelius, with his faith in god says, "by gods way I pulled out the decision."
The wins did not stop there, and Cornelius does not see the streak ending with this bout approaching. "I want to show everybody that I am the best out there." Cornelius knows the routine of others fighting soft touches until they are ranked, but he has no fear in stepping in with Powell, (15-0(9). "You gotta take chances or you will stay in the same place forever." He backs those words with his faith in the lord, "If god tells me to do it, then I'm going to do it."
Engaged, with a 4 year old son Da'Shawn, Bundrage is set in his visions and desires. "That boy is the apple of my eye." Again that great smile comes accrossed his face. "I think of him when I am in my fights and you know what? It makes the fights so much easier." Cornelius also holds a part time job to go with his training and family. He is working part time with the mentaly handicapped, driving buses, setting and running activities for them aswell as just being there to help them when they need somebody special.
Inspired by Mike Tyson and Thomas Hearns, Cornelius began his quest for his dream. It was not easy for him at first by any means. "I was learning on the job, ya know. I was fighting on E.S.P.N and the commentators are saying that I had no identity, no real style." This did not sit well with Bundrage. "I'm not looking to be no Mike Tyson or Roy Jones, I'm creating the K-9!"
With this upcoming bout, Cornelius could propel himself into the rankings where he is hungry to get at the men that are considered to be the best in the world. "When I first started, they told me that I was going to be nothing, well this is my time to shine." Powell will have his hands full come May 7th; at the Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, Connecticut when he steps in to face Cornelius Bundrage. This god fearing man, with his family and his dreams riding on each round will be ruthless if neccesary. So I dont recommend trying to take anything from this dogs plate. Wanting to give his loving family everything that they deserve, you could very well lose some flesh..........Rockin'
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