IBF junior middleweight titleholder Cornelius Bundrage could have his selection of opponents from among promotional stablemates such as Alfredo Angulo, James Kirkland and Erislandy Lara, all of whom are handled by Golden Boy.
Bob Arum said Julio Cesar Chavez could fight Brian Vera next, and eventually, Andre Ward.
Bundrage signs with Golden Boy
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IBF junior middleweight beltholder Cornelius Bundrage has signed a mult-fight deal with Golden Boy Promotions, the company's CEO Richard Schaefer, said on on Tuesday. "It is correct. We signed an agreement with K-9. He was in our offices yesterday, and it's a multi-fight deal with him," said Schaefer, confirming an earlier report by BoxingScene.com. "He is one of recognized names there in the 154-pound weight class. He's a world champion, and I think there are a series of good fights out there for him. We are looking forward to working with him." Bundrage (32-4, 19 knockouts), who is 39, is coming off June's Showtime-televised seventh-round stoppage of Cory Spinks, whom he originally dethroned by fifth-round stoppage in August of 2010. "It feels good. It means more of HBO or Showtime. It's showtime for me," said Bundrage. "This means that the fans get a chance to get more of the 'K-9.' They've been getting more and more of my good fights, and that's what they're going to see out of me." Bundrage has a mandatory challenger in Gabriel Rosado, winner by 10th-round knockout over Charles Whittaker in an IBF 154-pound eliminator bout last month. But Schaefer said Bundrage may also be a candidate for bouts opposite Mexican junior middleweight contender Alfredo Angulo, or southpaw contender James Kirkland, each of whom is promoted by Golden Boy. Angulo was last in the ring for in November, when he lost by an exciting, sixth-round knockout to Kirkland, and will return to action against twice-beaten Raul Casarez, of Edinburg, Texas, on Nov. 10 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Another Golden Boy 154-pounder is former amateur world champion Erislandy Lara, who matches up with unbeaten Vanes Martirosyan on Nov. 10 at at the Wynn in Las Vegas. Schaefer also handles WBC titleholder Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, who has targed a May 5 return to the ring opposite either Floyd Mayweather Jr., Miguel Cotto or Sergio Martinez. "The fact is that we have so many names there at 154 pounds, whether it's Alfredo Angulo, who is coming back Nov. 10, or if it's James Kirkland or Bundrage or Canelo, the list goes on and on," said Schaefer. "You have 147-pounders who could easily move up as well. You have Erislandy Lara there, who will be beating Vanes Martirosyan in a few weeks. So there are a lot of great names there where we can make fights."
Photo by Naoki Fukuda Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com
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