Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
Light-middleweights meet again six years on from their amazing first fight
Cornelius “K9” Bundgrage will defend his IBF 154lb title for the first time tonight in Missouri in a rematch with former opponent Sechew “Iron Horse” Powell. The two Americans first met in May 2005 in an unbelievable bout that lasted only 22 seconds, but included a double knockdown with both fighters’ first punches.
Immediately after their fight at Foxwoods Resort in Connecticut, Bundrage, 37, entered The Contender tournament, where he reached the semi-finals, whilst 31 year-old Powell has been on the brink of a world title shot ever since, only to lose when the chance of a title bout was just one victory away from being a reality.
After becoming number one contender to the IBF title in 2007 with a victory over Terence Cauthen, New-Yorker Powell was pencilled in to meet IBF champion Cory Spinks in the summer of 2008, only for Spinks to lose his title to Verno Phillips in March and with no title shot, Powell went on to lose to Deandre Latimore in the June.
It’s been a long struggle back to recognition for the Brooklyn Southpaw and after reversing his loss to Latimore in March last year, Powell (26-2, 15 KO’s) has been patiently waiting for his chance to come along since. Cory Spinks re-gained the title in 2009, meaning Powell fully expected to meet “The Next Generation” last year in his first world title fight last summer.
Ironically though, along came his former opponent “K9” to shock Spinks in an astounding upset in August to claim the title and now the two are set to meet again in a long-awaited rematch. In their first meeting, the two fighters knocked each other down in a stunning double knockdown with their opening punches, but Bundrage came out worse and went on to be stopped in 22 seconds on the fight.
It was the Michigan fighter’s first career loss after 21 straight wins and he has since gone one to lose three more in the years that have followed, two of which were part of The Contender franchise. The Detroit fighter has seasoned late in his career though under the tutelage of Emanuel Steward and is now a wiley campaigner, meaning should be a totally different proposition for Powell tonight.
WBN Editor
Light-middleweights meet again six years on from their amazing first fightCornelius “K9” Bundgrage will defend his IBF 154lb title for the first time tonight in Missouri in a rematch with former opponent Sechew “Iron Horse” Powell. The two Americans first met in May 2005 in an unbelievable bout that lasted only 22 seconds, but included a double knockdown with both fighters’ first punches.
Immediately after their fight at Foxwoods Resort in Connecticut, Bundrage, 37, entered The Contender tournament, where he reached the semi-finals, whilst 31 year-old Powell has been on the brink of a world title shot ever since, only to lose when the chance of a title bout was just one victory away from being a reality.
After becoming number one contender to the IBF title in 2007 with a victory over Terence Cauthen, New-Yorker Powell was pencilled in to meet IBF champion Cory Spinks in the summer of 2008, only for Spinks to lose his title to Verno Phillips in March and with no title shot, Powell went on to lose to Deandre Latimore in the June.
It’s been a long struggle back to recognition for the Brooklyn Southpaw and after reversing his loss to Latimore in March last year, Powell (26-2, 15 KO’s) has been patiently waiting for his chance to come along since. Cory Spinks re-gained the title in 2009, meaning Powell fully expected to meet “The Next Generation” last year in his first world title fight last summer.
Ironically though, along came his former opponent “K9” to shock Spinks in an astounding upset in August to claim the title and now the two are set to meet again in a long-awaited rematch. In their first meeting, the two fighters knocked each other down in a stunning double knockdown with their opening punches, but Bundrage came out worse and went on to be stopped in 22 seconds on the fight.
It was the Michigan fighter’s first career loss after 21 straight wins and he has since gone one to lose three more in the years that have followed, two of which were part of The Contender franchise. The Detroit fighter has seasoned late in his career though under the tutelage of Emanuel Steward and is now a wiley campaigner, meaning should be a totally different proposition for Powell tonight.