Top welterweight prospect Errol "The Truth" Spence rolled through challenger Leonard "The Lion" Bundu on Sunday's PBC on NBC boxing card, scoring a brutal 6th round KO in order to set up a title shot for Kell Brook's IBF title.
Spence (21-0, 18 KO), who is widely considered one of the top rising stars in all of boxing, made quick work of Bundu, who holds the European Welterweight belt, in order to obtain mandatory challenger status for the IBF strap currently held by England's Brook. The undefeated American started the fight banging Bundu's body and countering anything his foe managed to throw his way, never letting off the gas for the remainder of the scuffle.
It was apparent that "The Truth" was starting to wear down his opponent in the fifth frame, which led to the action rapidly increasing in the 6th. A massive left uppercut caught Bundu (33-2-2, 12 KO) right on the chin and sent him straight to the mat, however due to bad positioning, referee Johnny Callas inexplicably ruled the clear knockdown as a slip. This proved to matter none, as Spence smelled blood and ran straight to "The Lion", flailing a barrage of punches that were sneaking through Bundu's defense. Another hard left was followed by a short right hook that left the challenger flat on the mat and out cold, with the fight being waved off immediately.
While this fight gives Spence the well deserved title shot he has been aiming for, it remains unclear as to if he will actually get to fight Brook for the IBF title. The Sheffield, England native recently signed on to jump two weight classes, meeting juggernaut Gennady Golovkin for his Middleweight belts at 160 pounds. The outcome of the Golovkin-Brook fight could play a major role in deciding whether Brook stays at welterweight, or decides to make the full transition into a larger weight class.
Regardless, Spence remains adamant that he wants a title shot sooner than later. "I want a shot at Kell Brook as soon as he's done with GGG" Spence retorted after the fight, "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." A lot more clarity should come to this situation after the September 10th fight between Golovkin and Brook, however for now Spence remains the mandatory challenger, and will be an absolute hand full for anyone in the division.
