Errol Spence stops Bundu and sets up world title shot
Welterweight contender Errol Spence Jr (21-0, 18 KOs) stopped Italian opponent Leonard Bundu (33-2-2, 12 KOs) in the sixth round of a IBF eliminator on Sunday at the Ford Amphitheater in Coney Island, New York.
Spence scored his eighth straight stoppage win and became the first person to KO Bundu.
Southpaw Spence, 26, took control with his right jab and landed hard shots to head and body throughout the fight.
The reigning European welterweight champion Bundu, 41, was aggressive but his punches never troubled the unbeaten American.
Spence dropped Bundu twice in the sixth but referee Johnny Callas ruled the first knockdown a slip even though Bundu was visibly hurt. When the fight resumed, Spence continued to attack and landed a solid left uppercut followed by a right hand to the chin, knocking Bundu down and out at 2:06 of the round.
"I was going for the knockout," said Spence. "I thought my performance was great. Once I was able to catch his rhythm and break him down, I knew I had him."
With the win, Spence is now mandatory challenger to IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook, who is moving up two weight divisions to challenge WBA/WBC/ IBF middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin on September 10.
Brook could return to welterweight and make a defence against Spence, but the British fighter now has a difficult time making 147 pounds and could vacate the belt regardless of the outcome against Golovkin, and Spence could end up fighting somebody else for the world title.
"I want a shot at Kell Brook as soon as he's done with GGG," said Spence. "If he's not going to fight me, he needs to vacate and I'll fight somebody else. But I definitely want that IBF title shot this year."