After fifteen years of pounding away in our bang for your buck sport, Cornelius ?K9? Bundrage 30-4 (18) has finally claimed the title of champion. This past Saturday night K9 not only earned himself a fifth round stoppage victory over former two division champ, Cory Spinks, but Bundrage captured the IBF Light Middleweight strap as well, making the thirty-seven year old?s dream of becoming champ, a reality.
In this exclusive interview conducted by Boxingtalk, Bundrage speaks out on his win over Spinks, gives his thoughts on his career, and tells Boxingtalk who he wants next, enjoy.
Benny Henderson Jr.: After fifteen years of competing as a professional boxer, you can now say that you are a world champion, it has to be a great feeling.
Cornelius Bundrage:Oh yes, it is a great feeling, you cannot doubt the power of God, God blessed me, just like I said on ?The Contender?, the first shall be last and the last shall be first.
BH: What was going through your mind when they called a halt to the fight?
CB: I am champ now, I am going back home with the belt. My family is going to eat steak, it was a really good feeling, but all though I really didn?t know what to feel. I knew it was my time, actually before the fight I knew the belt was going to be mine, before the fight I told Cory Spinks to mail me the belt, I knew it was my time. God will not give you something you cannot handle, and I have been faithful for such a long time. God is a great at rewarding people and I got rewarded that night.
BH: Now that you have the title, you have something to wager with, and there are fights to be made, so with all the names out there, including the likes of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, who would to fight?
CB: I want to fight the best, I have been going to people?s backyards for so long, you know I am not scared of anybody, but it has to be worth it. Before people would not call my name unless I didn?t look good in a fight, if I looked good they wouldn?t call me, but now they have to call me because I am champion. And I wouldn?t mind fighting Mayweather, he is a big name, and I respect him a whole lot, I would be the under dog but I always am. I wouldn?t mind fighting Manny Pacquiao; I just want to fight somebody who is going to make me step my game up. I want to fight the best, I don?t want to fight these up and comers, I want the best. I believe right now, in my heart I am the best pound for pound fighter of all time. I say that because you look at every loss that I had I bounced back in my next fight and shocked the world.
BH: How St. Louis crowd treat you after you just dethroned their hometown guy?
CB: There were a few people that was upset, but they shouldn?t be mad they have Alexander, but afterwards the people seen what kind of person I was they showed love. I worked hard for this belt.
BH: You say you want to fight the best fighters in the business, so who is the best in the business that you want to fight?
CB: I have a lot of respect for Floyd Mayweather; I am not a guy who likes to call people out. I met Floyd in downtown Detroit and he showed me some love, and gave my son an autograph, but I would like to fight Floyd because he has never lost, and a win over Mayweather would put me greatest of all time, because he is. But if need be I wouldn?t mind fighting Shane Mosley, Paul Williams, I wouldn?t even mind fighting Sergio Martinez, I want the best.
BH: Anything you would like to add to or say in closing?
CB: I would like to say to the Spinks family, that I am praying for them, because mentally Cory didn?t look as focused, looked like something was on his mind. I pray for his soul and that he gets right with Jesus, because there is more than boxing, he has a family, I want him to be ok, and I want him to be ok after boxing. If he gets Jesus he will be ok, because the Bible says the first will be last and the last will be first. And my wife wants his wife to know that she is praying for her as well.
