K9 looking for unification, not Ryan Rhodes

Phil D. Jay

WBN Editor

Bundrage rules out defence against Briton

IBF light-middleweight champion Cornelius “K9” Bundrage has told WBN that he isn’t interested in defending his title at the moment and would much rather consider a unification bout with one of the three other 154lb champions in his division.

The 37 year-old was linked to a defence against top 10 ranked Ryan Rhodes from Sheffield in the UK, but has denied considering the bout and scoffed at a meeting with the former European champion in the future.

“I haven't been in any discussions with anyone from his team, regarding a fight, nor was I offered any money to fight Rhodes oversees or anywhere else,” Bundrage explained to WBN.

With the WBC version of the light-middleweight title, formerly held by WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquaio currently vacant, that would still leave three options for the former Contender US semi-finalist, two of which have scheduled bouts in the near future.

Rugged Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto is the WBA “super” titleholder, but he is lined up to face Ricardo Mayorga in March and Ukrainian WBO champion Sergei Dzinziruk has moved up to challenge former WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez on the same night.

The last option could be the most realistic for Bundrage and that’s newly crowned WBA “regular” champion Austin Trout, who claimed the title last Saturday against Rigoberto Alvarez in Mexico and would be free to start negotiations immediately.

"Bring em to the dog house and I'll chew em up, kibbles and bits. I want to unify all the belts and become the undisputed jr middleweight champion of the world," barked K9.

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Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Collins after the fight Williams Ray Collins Jr. or Billy Collins Jr. as he became known, was born to a boxing father in Antioch, Tennessee in 1961. His father William Sr, once fought Welterweight Champion Curtis Cokes and wanted his boy to follow in his footsteps, so decided to train Billy himself. Collins Jr. turned pro in 1981, a welterweight, just like his father before him and impressively won his first 14 professional contests, 11 by knockout with eight inside the first three rounds. It was 1983 and Billy was matched up against Puerto Rican journeyman Luis Resto on the undercard of Roberto Duran v Davey Moore at Madison Square Garden in a ten rounder. Resto wasn’t known for his punching power but Billy took a sustained beating for the full ten rounds, his face, badly damaged and his eyes were almost shut. After the fight, which Resto won on decision, Billy’s father shook Resto’s hand and noticed there wasn’t much padding in his gl...

The Ring Magazine P4P Top 10 compared to WBN's P4P Top 10

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