Spinks vs. Bundrage on June 12
Although the boxing community seems to be overlooking it, IBF Junior Middleweight Champion Cory Spinks is set to defend his title on June 12 against #1 contender, Cornelius Bundrage. This fight happened because of the aftermath of Bundrage’s fight with Yuri Foreman.
Foreman was winning that fight two rounds to one when it was stopped and declared a No Contest due to a big cut on Foreman’s head, caused by a head-butt. That fight was to establish the IBF’s #1 contender. With the situation muddy due to the No Contest, Foreman challenged Daniel Santos for his WBA black strap instead. That is how Foreman wound up on the dance card of Miguel Cotto.
With Foreman out of the equation, Bundrage became the IBF’s #1 contender by default. Even though Bundrage is trained by Emmanuel Steward now, he has little chance against Spinks. His best win was outpointing Kassim Ouma, which proves merely that he is a solid journeyman.
If Steve Forbes was able to outbox him in 2006, even with Steward fine-tuning his technique and advising him in the corner, it is hard to imagine him having the stuff to deal with the uber-slick Cory Spinks, who has beaten such luminaries as Ricard Mayorga and Zab Judah. Many also think he was robbed against Jermain Taylor. The fight will be Spinks’ first outing with Buddy McGirt as trainer, and will take place before Spinks’ hometown crowd in St. Louis, Missouri.
Spinks is one title holder in a division now packed with solid champions and in serious need of a unification fight. In addition to the aforementioned Israeli, Yuri Foreman (who may or may not be replaced soon by Cotto), the WBO strap adorns Paul Williams’ waist. Kermit Cintron is lurking around out there somewhere, and if a rematch with Williams does not materialize, bank on him going for the vacant WBC belt. Daniel Santos is also on the loose and looking for a title fight too.
