Cornelius Bundrage

American boxer

Cornelius Bundrage (born April 25, 1973) is an American professional boxer. He is a two time former world champion, having held the IBF junior middleweight title twice between 2010 and 2015. In 2006 he was a contestant on season two of the Contender reality TV show, where he reached the semi finals.

Starting out in boxing, Bundrage was a top prospect, remaining undefeated for ten years, which saw his record at (21 0, 13 KOs). As his alias K9 suggests, Bundrage had a reputation of being a dog inside the ring, damaging his opponents with fierce combinations. Cornelius' professional boxing record stands at (32 4, 19 KO's). Bundrage has shared the ring with 7 former world champions during his professional boxing career. Bundrage is currently a world champion boxing free agent. His advisor is Bill Waller, and managed by Shawana Bundrage.

In 2006, professional boxer Cornelius 'K9' Bundrage was a participant on ESPN's "The Contender" Season 2 boxing reality television show, with Hall of fame host Sugar Ray Leonard and Sylvester Stallone in Hollywood, California. During the show, Bundrage was viewed by millions of fans each week for fourteen weeks straight. He also was named "fan favorite" out of sixteen boxers from all over the United States. Bundrage was the last picked, winding up on the Blue Team. Wanting to avenge the slight, he volunteered to be the first member of his team to box in the tournament (quoting Matthew 20:16, "And the last shall be first") and found himself in a match against Michael Clark. In a tightly fought battle for five rounds, the two found themselves practically tied on points, Bundrage knocked Clark down with a massive right hand to the temple, which won him the fifth round on 2 of the 3 judge's scorecards and won a majority decision (2 judges said Bundrage won, 1 said it was a draw). Bundrage moved along in the tournament, while Clark was forced to hang up his gloves and go home. In the quarterfinal round, Bundrage beat Walter Wright via unanimous decision. Bundrage's strength failed him by losing too much weight leading up to the fight, when he faced Steve Forbes in the semifinals; Forbes won a unanimous decision over Bundrage, with the fans booing Bundrage because of intentional punches at the back of Forbes head. Bundrage bounced back, then went on to win The Contender bronze medal fight against Norberto Bravo with a devastating TKO in the seventh round in very impressive fashion.

On the January 12, 2007, edition of ESPN's Friday Night Fights at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington, Bundrage faced former top welterweight prospect Chris Smith. In an extremely close fight, Bundrage was able to survive a sixth round scare and would come back to hurt Smith with a left hook to the jaw in the final seconds of the last round. Bundrage defeated Smith via split decision. On March 30, 2007, he fought in The Contender Challenge: UK vs. USA broadcast on ESPN. He won the fight with a 7th round knockout against Colin McNeil, assuring the American team a victory in The Contender Challenge: UK vs. USA. Bundrage showed superiority throughout the fight. The fight took place in Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England. On July 11, 2007, "Wednesday Night Fights," K9 fought Joel Julio, a hard hitting 22 year old junior middleweight contender who at the time was rated top 3 in all major sanctioning bodies. The fight was held after the ESPY awards at Kodak Theatre. Bundrage took the opportunity on 3 weeks notice and lost a dangerous 37 pounds in a 3 week span. K9 gave all he had, which was not much and lasted 8 rounds off pure heart. At the 2:28 mark of the 8th, Julio caught Bundrage with a long clean right hand. Julio jumped on Bundrage, which caused the referee to call a halt to the fight. On March 28, 2008, Bundrage would rebound with a career best win. Bundrage defeated former IBF Light Middleweight Champion Kassim Ouma by unanimous decision in Salamanca, NY. Bundrage survived an early cut to win by scores of 96 93, 96 93 and 95 94. On November 13, 2008, Bundrage would face the respected journeyman fighter Grady Brewer. Bundrage lost the bout via controversial split decision that not only did many think he deserved, but led on punch stats via a margin that was unexpected. Then just a month later on December 13, 2008, Bundrage flew thousands of miles to Germany on 2 weeks notice to later upset previously unbeaten prospect European Champion Zaurbek Baysangurov via 5th round KO in an IBF eliminator for the #2 mandatory spot. On June 27, 2009, Bundrage then fought in another IBF Title Elminiator against Yuri Foreman, which ended in a 'No Decision'. Bundrage accidentally headbutted Foreman in the third round and the ring physician ended the fight.

After four separate setback losses, two IBF eliminators and a no contest, Cornelius Bundrage finally got his questionable title fight with former Undisputed Welterweight Champion and then current IBF Light Middleweight Champion Cory Spinks on August 7, 2010 at the Scottrade Center, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States. Cornelius traveled to his opponent's home town and scored an impressive 5th round knockout over Spinks. Besides capturing his dream of becoming a world champion, Bundrage also brought a major championship back to his hometown of Detroit, Michigan. There hadn't been a Detroit world champion in 26 years since Thomas Hearns. Bundrage was able to pressure Spinks throughout the fight cutting off the ring, landing good shots and not letting Spinks get into his rhythm of jab and move, Spinks was able to perry the jab of Bundrage occasionally but couldn't capitalize. Midway through the fifth a perfect 1 2 combo landed on the chin of Spinks backing him up to the ropes, Bundrage followed up with two straight rights to the head that knocked Spinks down and into a daze, Spinks got to his feet but after taking too many good shots and with so much time left in the round, the referee Mark Nelson waved of the fight at 1:25 of the round, declaring Bundrage the new IBF Light Middleweight Champion.

He made the first defense of his IBF title in a rematch against Sechew "Iron Horse" Powell on June 25, 2011 in Saint Charles, Missouri. Powell stopped Bundrage 5 years earlier in a wild rare double knockdown which ended in one round. In the rematch, K9 made a statement by winning a 12 round onesided victory, which avenged his defeat, winning by unanimous decision over Powell. The scores read 119 109, 115 113 and 117 111.

On June 30, 2012, K9 rematched Cory Spinks to defend his title for the second time in San Jose California on SHOBOX: the new generation. After knocking Spinks down in round 1, the fight began to even up until K9 dropped Spinks three times in the 7th round en route to a TKO victory. He then expressed his interest and desire to face fellow world champion, WBC Light Middleweight Champion Saul Alvarez.

In his third defense of the IBF title, Bundrage would lose the title to Ishe Smith via majority decision on February 23, 2013. He was docked a point in the second round for hitting Smith while Smith was on the canvas after a push/slip between the two fighters. The scores read 111 116, 114 114 and 111 116.

Bundrage got back into the winning column, defeating Miami's own Joey Hernandez 23 1 (KO 13), by unanimous decision for the IBF Eliminator #1 position on January 24, 2014 in Indio California at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. Scores read 118 110 by all three judges. With the victory Bundrage landed himself another crack at the belt he lost just last year.

On October 11, 2014, Cornelius Bundrage would face off against IBF Light Middleweight champion Carlos Molina. Despite tiring early, Bundrage dominated Molina, dropping him twice and hurtIng him repeatedly throughout the match. Bundrage would win the title via unanimous decision.

No. (Number)ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateAgeLocationNotes44WinAntoine ElersonTKO4 (6), Nov 7, 202047 years, 196 days43Win36–6 Juan Carlos RojasUD6Jun 25, 201744 years, 61 days42Win35–6 Sergio GomezKO2 (6), Jan 7, 201743 years, 108 days41Loss34–6 Jermall CharloKO3 (12), Sep 12, 201542 years, 140 days40Win34–5 Carlos MolinaUD12Oct 11, 201441 years, 169 days39Win33–5 Joey HernandezUD12Jan 24, 201440 years, 91 days38Loss32–5 Ishe SmithMD12Feb 23, 201339 years, 61 days37Win32–4 Cory SpinksTKO7 (12), Jun 30, 201239 years, 64 days36Win31–4 Sechew PowellUD12Jun 25, 201138 years, 61 days35Win30–4 Cory SpinksTKO5 (12), Aug 7, 201037 years, 104 days34NC (No contest)29–4 Yuri ForemanNC3 (12)Jun 27, 200936 years, 63 days33Win29–4Zaurbek BaysangurovTKO5 (12), Dec 13, 200835 years, 232 days32Loss28–4Grady BrewerSD10Nov 13, 200835 years, 202 days31Win28–3Kassim OumaUD10Mar 28, 200834 years, 28 days30Win27–3Nelson ManchegoTKO5 (10), Oct 26, 200734 years, 184 days29Loss26–3Joel JulioTKO8 (10), Jul 11, 200734 years, 77 days28Win26–2Colin McNeilTKO7 (8), Mar 30, 200733 years, 26 days27Win25–2Chris SmithSD10Jan 12, 200733 years, 103 days26Win24–2Norberto BravoTKO7 (8), Sep 26, 200633 years, 154 days25Loss23–2Steve ForbesUD5Feb 10, 200632 years, 74 days24Win23–1Walter WrightUD5Feb 3, 200632 years, 81 days23Win22–1Michael ClarkMD (Majority decision)5Jan 17, 200632 years, 98 days22Loss21–1Sechew PowellTKO1 (10), May 6, 200532 years, 11 days21Win21–0Jonathan CornTKO2 (10), Feb 18, 200531 years, 66 days20Win20–0Damien GuerraTKO2 (10), Nov 19, 200431 years, 208 days19Win19–0Michael DavisTKO9 (10)Sep 25, 200431 years, 153 days18Win18–0William HarmonKO1 (10)Aug 28, 200431 years, 125 days17Win17–0Kirk DouglasTKO2 (10), Jul 17, 200431 years, 83 days16Win16–0Eloy SuarezUD8May 29, 200431 years, 34 days15Win15–0John HammondKO1 (6), Apr 2, 200430 years, 23 days14Win14–0Anthony BowmanRTD (Corner retirement)6 (8), Oct 1, 200229 years, 159 days13Win13–0Scott RobinsonTKO1 (4)Jul 5, 200229 years, 71 days12Win12–0Anthony BowmanUD4Jun 8, 200229 years, 44 days11Win11–0Arsen AivazyanUD6Oct 13, 200027 years, 171 days10Win10–0Sammy SparkmanSD8Jul 29, 200027 years, 95 days9Win9–0Tony AultKO1Feb 4, 200026 years, 81 days8Win8–0Lawrence BrooksSD4Dec 10, 199926 years, 229 days7Win7–0Dewayne HollandTKO1 (4), Nov 20, 199926 years, 209 days6Win6–0Charles HoweSD (Split decision)6Aug 6, 199926 years, 103 days5Win5–0Guy PackerTKO3 (6), Jul 16, 199926 years, 82 days4Win4–0Chris HaentjiensPTS (Points decision)4Dec 12, 199825 years, 231 days3Win3–0Leon FinchemTKO (Technical knockout)2Nov 14, 199825 years, 203 days2Win2–0Ron KrullKO (Knockout)2Feb 2, 199622 years, 83 days1Win1–0Shawn PurdyUD (Unanimous decision)4Sep 15, 199522 years, 143 days