Errol Spence to Fight Leonard Bundu on PBC Card Aug.21
One of the best young talents in the sport of boxing will be on
full display on national television Aug. 21. Undefeated contender
Errol Spence Jr. will collide with Leonard Bundu in the main event
of the next edition of Premier Boxing Champions’ series on NBC.
Spence and Bundu will oppose one another in a welterweight title eliminator bout, with the winner likely headed for a showdown with reigning IBF 147-pound titlist Kell Brook. If Spence is successful against “The Lion” and is able to wrest the championship from Brook in the near future, he’ll join fellow 2012 Olympian Rau’Shee Warren as the only world champions from Team USA in the previous Games.
Spence (20-0, 17 KOs) has looked sensational as a pro, having torn
apart every man he’s faced thus far. After taking out decent though
underwhelming opposition, “The Truth” pummeled former world champ
Chris Algieri and took him out in the fifth in what was supposed to
be his toughest test to date. Bundu will act as the next logical
step for young Spence because while he may not be a household name,
he’s a high-level veteran who already has faced another young,
premier fighter.
“This is another great opportunity for me to gain exposure on NBC,” said Spence Jr. “A lot of people will be watching because of the Olympics that may not have known my name before. As an Olympian, headlining a major event four years after my Olympic run is exciting. Bundu is an older fighter, but he's tough and has a lot of experience. He fought well against Keith Thurman. Thurman outboxed him but couldn't knock him out. I think I can make a big statement in the division if I can stop him, as I did with Chris Algieri.”
The loss to Thurman was the only one of Bundu’s career. Bundu (33-1-2, 12 KOs) bounced back with two straight wins and hopes to have his hand raised in what is a fight most expect him to lose. He said he made mistakes against Thurman and he won’t against Spence.
“I am going to use my experience to my advantage on Aug. 21,” said Bundu. “When I fought Thurman I ended up being overcautious, but that will not be the case this time. I know it's now or never for me and I won't let this chance slip away. Spence will come forward but that will work to my advantage because I love fighting on the inside. I'm going to show Spence a few things that he hasn't seen before.”
The action will commence from inside the Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk in Brooklyn, N.Y. The PBC on NBC event will go live at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT immediately following the Olympic men’s basketball gold medal game.
Spence and Bundu will oppose one another in a welterweight title eliminator bout, with the winner likely headed for a showdown with reigning IBF 147-pound titlist Kell Brook. If Spence is successful against “The Lion” and is able to wrest the championship from Brook in the near future, he’ll join fellow 2012 Olympian Rau’Shee Warren as the only world champions from Team USA in the previous Games.
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“This is another great opportunity for me to gain exposure on NBC,” said Spence Jr. “A lot of people will be watching because of the Olympics that may not have known my name before. As an Olympian, headlining a major event four years after my Olympic run is exciting. Bundu is an older fighter, but he's tough and has a lot of experience. He fought well against Keith Thurman. Thurman outboxed him but couldn't knock him out. I think I can make a big statement in the division if I can stop him, as I did with Chris Algieri.”
The loss to Thurman was the only one of Bundu’s career. Bundu (33-1-2, 12 KOs) bounced back with two straight wins and hopes to have his hand raised in what is a fight most expect him to lose. He said he made mistakes against Thurman and he won’t against Spence.
“I am going to use my experience to my advantage on Aug. 21,” said Bundu. “When I fought Thurman I ended up being overcautious, but that will not be the case this time. I know it's now or never for me and I won't let this chance slip away. Spence will come forward but that will work to my advantage because I love fighting on the inside. I'm going to show Spence a few things that he hasn't seen before.”
The action will commence from inside the Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk in Brooklyn, N.Y. The PBC on NBC event will go live at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT immediately following the Olympic men’s basketball gold medal game.
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