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Sechew Powell still waiting for Bundrage

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor

“Iron Horse” should be next up for K9

Despite winning two IBF light-middleweight title eliminators in the last three years, Brooklyn’s Sechew Powell is still no closer to his shot at current champion Cornelius Bundrage as he scouts for his next opponent.

After defeating Terrance Cauthen in his first eliminator back in December 2007, the southpaw was hoping for a shot at Cory “Next Generation” Spinks in early 2008. Spinks had dropped back down to 154lb from a failed challenge against middleweight champion Jermain Taylor and avoided the big punching Powell in order to make a tune-up defence against Verno Phillips.

A 38 year-old Phillips, with ten defeats on his record at that point, blew the fight out of the water by defeating Spinks on a split decision in Missouri, meaning Powell would now have to find another opponent and wait for his chance against Phillips.

Three months later and Powell faced Deandre Latimore, a dangerous opponent with only one defeat in 19 fights. Powell suffered only second defeat that night as he was stopped by Latimore in seven rounds, handing “The Bull” the opportunity to take his place in an IBF Title clash against former champion Cory Spinks for the title vacated by Phillips, who moved up to challenge Paul Williams at 160lbs.

Powell then picked himself up from the disappointment of never gaining the opportunity he had rightfully earned by winning his next two fights. He would then wait over a year for a shot a redemption against Latimore, whom he beat on points to gain revenge in March last year in his second IBF title eliminator to recrod his 26th career victory.

Cory Spinks was again the champion that the 31 year-old was focusing on after he out-pointed Latimore to reclaim the title, but Cornelius “K9” Bundgrage put a spanner in the works in August last year after he knocked out Spinks in a stunning upset.

Now Powell is hoping to set up a rematch with Bundrage, who he knocked out in an amazing 20-second knockout when the pair met in 2005 and will be confident of claiming the title if he get his chance, that is three-years in the making.

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