Errol Spence Jr. vs. Leonard Bundu
It isn't often that boxing airs on Sunday, but that is exactly what will happen this Sunday when the PBC returns to NBC. That early evening card will be headlined by potential future superstar Errol Spence Jr. who will take on veteran Leonard Bundu. The two are scheduled to go 12 rounds and the fight will act as an IBF welterweight title eliminator. At this juncture of Spence's career it isn't just about winning fights, it is about looking good while winning fights as he looks to grow his name and perhaps someday rise to the ranks of superstar.
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| Spence looked sensational against Algieri |
What makes the southpaw Spence so dangerous is that while he has plenty of power he is also a slick boxer. Spence likes to work behind an excellent jab which he will follow with a very stiff straight left hand that is not only heavy but also accurate. Along with those weapons Spence also has a nice right hook and his combination of power and hand speed is a nightmare for most opponents. When it comes to defense Spence is also very skilled. He uses his feet well and moves around the ring nicely but he can also avoid punches while in the pocket and thus far has shown very few flaws defensively or offensively.
While Spence has been brought along at a nice pace it was in 2015 when he started to step up his level of competition. He still has yet to face an elite opponent but he has faced some quality opponents and he was very impressive in his last fight, which was supposed to be the toughest test of his career in Chris Algieri. Instead of a competitive fight fans saw Spence pick Algieri apart, drop him three times, and stop him in the fifth round which was the first time Algieri had ever been stopped. At only 26 years old Spence has put together a record of 20-0 with a very impressive 17 knockouts. He is the heavy favorite against Bundu but he won't just be looking to get the victory, he will also be looking to become the first man to stop Bundu.
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| Bundo has never been knocked out as a pro |
At the very least Bundu should be able to give Spence some new looks because while he is an orthodox fighter he often switches to the southpaw stance. Unfortunately for Bundu he has very little power so he might not be able to get Spence's respect and hold him off. Surprisingly for a fighter with little to no power Bundu likes to fight on the inside and actually does a nice job of combination punching from in close. Bundu has a nice left hook and he is skilled with his right hand whether he is throwing it over the top or as a straight punch. However, Bundu doesn't jab much and should have a very difficult time getting inside on Spence.
Bundu is in a very different place in his career than Spence is. Spence is a young rising star while Bundu is a 41-year-old veteran looking to hang on. One thing Bundu has going for him is his chin. He has never been knocked out and Keith Thurman, who he fought in 2014, was the only man to drop him. Outside of Thurman, Bundu has had a few other notable fights but never against anyone considered elite. His career record is 33-1-2 but he only has 12 career knockouts.
Most fans should know that this fight is all about Spence. In a way the fight will be a comparison between Spence and Thurman, who already beat and dropped Bundu. While Thurman was the first man to drop Bundu he couldn't finish him and Spence hopes to be the first fighter to accomplish that. If Spence could stop Bundu it would be a big statement and a sign that he is ready for bigger and better things. However, Bundu will certainly come to fight and if he can stay in the pocket he could get some good work in, but getting there won't be easy.
PREDICTION: It shouldn't surprise anyone that Errol Spence Jr. will beat Leonard Bundu. Really the only question is whether or not Spence will get the knockout. Bundu is tough but the power and hand speed of Spence will be too much for the aging fighter and Spence will get the stoppage win in the 10th round.
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