Leonard Bundu
Born (1974-11-21) 21 November 1974
Freetown, Sierra Leone
NationalityItalian
Other namesThe Lion
Statistics
Weight(s)Welterweight
Height1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Reach174 cm (69 in)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights37
Wins33
Wins by KO12
Losses2
Draws2
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing  Italy
Mediterranean Games
Gold medal – first place 1997 Bari Light-welterweight
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Houston Welterweight
Representing  Sierra Leone
Olympic Qualifiers (Africa)
Bronze medal – third place 2004 Gaborone Welterweight

Leonard Bundu (born 21 November 1974) is a Sierra Leone-born Italian former professional boxer who competed from 2005 to 2016. He held multiple regional welterweight championships, including the European title twice between 2011 and 2016; the European Union title from 2009 to 2010; the Commonwealth title in 2014; and challenged once for the WBA interim welterweight title in 2014. As an amateur, Bundu won a gold medal in the light-welterweight division at the 1997 Mediterranean Games; welterweight bronze at the 1999 World Championships; and represented Italy at the 2000 Olympics, where he reached the second round of the welterweight bracket.

Amateur career

Bundu won his first major amateur medal at the 1997 Mediterranean Games in Bari, winning gold in the light-welterweight division. This was followed up with bronze at the 1999 World Championships in Houston. At the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Bundu fought in the welterweight division, losing to Daniyar Munaytbasov in the second round. Bundu also represented his native Sierra Leone at the 2nd AIBA African 2004 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Gaborone, where he won bronze in welterweight division.[1]

Professional career

On 1 April 2005, Bundu won in his professional debut with a first-round knockout against Peter Gaspar. He would spend the next nine years fighting almost exclusively in his adoptive Italy, save for one outing in Germany. During this time Bundu would pick up many regional championships, including the vacant European Union welterweight title on 13 March 2009, in a unanimous decision (UD) over Frank Haroche Horta.[2]

Bundu vs. Petrucci

This was bettered on 4 November 2011, when Bundu won the full European welterweight title in a rematch against Daniele Petrucci;[3] their first fight for the vacant title, on 25 June 2011, ended in an eighth-round majority technical draw.

Bundu vs. Gavin

Bundu defended his European title six times, as well as winning the Commonwealth title against undefeated contender and decorated amateur Frankie Gavin. In their fight, on 1 August 2014, Bundu scored a surprise sixth-round knockdown with a hard body shot, and would go on to win by split decision.

Bundu vs. Thurman

Later in the year, on 13 December, Bundu challenged unsuccessfully for his first major world championship in his first visit to the United States. Defending WBA interim titlist Keith Thurman, also an undefeated prospect at the time, knocked Bundu down in the first round, but Bundu showed his durability by going the full twelve-round distance with the feared puncher. In doing so, Bundu suffered his first professional loss via UD.[4]

Bundu vs. Koivula

On 22 April 2016, Bundu won the vacant European welterweight title for a second time by stopping Jussi Koivula in nine rounds.[5]

Bundu vs. Spence Jr

Later that year, on 21 August, Bundu travelled to the US for a third time to face Errol Spence Jr., another undefeated prospect, in what was an eliminator for the IBF welterweight title. The first three rounds were fast-paced and competitive, with Bundu utilising his pressure fighting style and feints, although his punch output would slow in the fourth as Spence began using consistent combinations and lateral movement. In round six, Bundu was floored by a hard uppercut, but this was incorrectly deemed a push by the referee. Seconds later, Spence landed an uppercut–hook combination which left Bundu slumped on the canvas unconscious, in his first knockout loss.[6] He was also stripped of his European welterweight title.[7]

Professional boxing record

37 fights 33 wins 2 losses
By knockout 12 1
By decision 21 1
Draws 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
37 Loss 33–2–2 Errol Spence Jr. KO 6 (12), 2:06 21 Aug 2016 Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island, New York City, New York, US
36 Win 33–1–2 Jussi Koivula TKO 9 (12), 2:40 22 Apr 2016 Nelson Mandela Forum, Florence, Italy Won vacant European welterweight title
35 Win 32–1–2 Pablo Munguia UD 8 26 Jun 2015 Little Creek Casino Resort, Shelton, Washington, US
34 Loss 31–1–2 Keith Thurman UD 12 13 Dec 2014 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, US For WBA interim welterweight title
33 Win 31–0–2 Frankie Gavin SD 12 1 Aug 2014 Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, England Retained European welterweight title;
Won Commonwealth welterweight title
32 Win 30–0–2 Lee Purdy TKO 12 (12), 2:53 14 Dec 2013 ExCeL, London, England Retained European welterweight title
31 Win 29–0–2 Rafał Jackiewicz KO 11 (12) 6 Apr 2013 Teatro Tendastrisce, Rome, Italy Retained European welterweight title
30 Win 28–0–2 Ismael El Massoudi KO 1 (12), 2:40 1 Dec 2012 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rezzato, Italy Retained European welterweight title
29 Win 27–0–2 Stefano Castellucci TD 5 (12), 2:55 14 Jul 2012 Palasport Primo Carnera, Udine, Italy Retained European welterweight title;
Unanimous TD: Bundu cut from an accidental head clash
28 Win 26–0–2 Antonio Moscatiello KO 5 (12), 2:05 23 Mar 2012 Palasport EIB Fiera, Brescia, Italy Retained European welterweight title
27 Win 25–0–2 Daniele Petrucci UD 12 4 Nov 2011 Nelson Mandela Forum, Florence, Italy Won vacant European welterweight title
26 Draw 24–0–2 Daniele Petrucci TD 8 (12) 25 Jun 2011 Foro Italico, Rome, Italy For vacant European welterweight title;
Majority TD: Bundu sustained eye swelling from an accidental head clash
25 Win 24–0–1 Zoran Cvek PTS 6 25 Feb 2011 Palazzetto dello Sport "Mario Mattioli", Florence, Italy
24 Win 23–0–1 Moises Castro KO 1 (6) 26 Nov 2010 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rezzato, Italy
23 Win 22–0–1 Ronny McField TD 6 (6) 21 May 2010 Centro Sportivo San Filippo, Brescia, Italy Unanimous TD: Bundu cut from an accidental head clash
22 Win 21–0–1 Carlos Adán Jerez TD 5 (12) 19 Mar 2010 Nelson Mandela Forum, Florence, Italy Won vacant WBA Inter-Continental welterweight title;
Unanimous TD: Jerez cut from an accidental head clash
21 Win 20–0–1 Ronny McField TD 7 (8) 18 Dec 2009 PalaBianchini, Latina, Italy Unanimous TD: Bundu cut from an accidental head clash
20 Win 19–0–1 Frank Shabani UD 12 27 Jun 2009 Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, Germany Retained European Union welterweight title
19 Win 18–0–1 Frank Haroche Horta UD 12 13 Mar 2009 Nelson Mandela Forum, Florence, Italy Won vacant European Union welterweight title
18 Win 17–0–1 Johannes Fabrizius PTS 6 21 Nov 2008 Palazzetto dello Sport, Nuvolera, Italy
17 Win 16–0–1 Laszlo Komjathi TKO 5 (6) 24 Oct 2008 Podenzano, Italy
16 Win 15–0–1 Patrik Hruska PTS 6 28 Aug 2008 Lungolago Zanardelli, Toscolano-Maderno, Italy
15 Win 14–0–1 Giammario Grassellini TKO 1 (10) 4 Mar 2008 Nelson Mandela Forum, Florence, Italy
14 Win 13–0–1 Gheorghe Danut PTS 8 12 Dec 2007 Rezzato, Italy
13 Win 12–0–1 Vincenzo Finzi TKO 1 (12), 2:40 24 Aug 2007 Lungolago Zanardelli, Toscolano-Maderno, Italy Retained IBF Mediterranean welterweight title
12 Draw 11–0–1 Luciano Abis TD 3 (10), 0:37 15 Jun 2007 PalaLido, Milan, Italy For vacant Italy welterweight title;
Bundu cut from an accidental head clash
11 Win 11–0 Karim Netchaoui TKO 11 (12) 2 Mar 2007 Nelson Mandela Forum, Florence, Italy Won vacant IBF Mediterranean welterweight title
10 Win 10–0 Volodymyr Borovskyy PTS 8 21 Oct 2006 Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Italy
9 Win 9–0 Virgil Meleg PTS 6 22 Sep 2006 Cortemaggiore, Italy
8 Win 8–0 Attila Kiss PTS 6 11 Aug 2006 Toscolano-Maderno, Italy
7 Win 7–0 Vincenzo Finzi PTS 6 12 May 2006 Rezzato, Italy
6 Win 6–0 Mugurel Sebe UD 8 3 Apr 2006 Rivarolo Canavese, Italy
5 Win 5–0 Mārtiņš Kukulis PTS 6 10 Feb 2006 Palazzetto dello Sport, Chiarbola, Trieste, Italy
4 Win 4–0 Brett James PTS 6 7 Aug 2005 Palasport Flaminio, Rimini, Italy
3 Win 3–0 Antonio Taglialatela TD 3 (6) 5 Jun 2005 Piazza della Loggia, Brescia, Italy
2 Win 2–0 Ferenc Olah KO 1 (6) 16 Apr 2005 PalaNorda, Bergamo, Italy
1 Win 1–0 Peter Gaspar KO 1 (6), 2:08 1 Apr 2005 Florence, Italy

References

  1. ↑ "Sport & Note". www.sportenote.com. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
  2. ↑ Crociati, Enrico (14 March 2009). "Bundu outpoints Haroche Horta!" Archived 2017-01-28 at the Wayback Machine. Fightnews. Freitag Marketing Services. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  3. ↑ Ayala, Edwin (6 November 2011). "Battle of Unbeaten Paisans Goes Route for Euro Title". ringtalk.com. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  4. ↑ Rosenthal, Michael (13 December 2014). "Keith Thurman easily outpoints Leonard Bundu". The Ring. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  5. ↑ Persson, Per Ake (23 April 2016). "Leonard Bundu Stops Jussi Koivula, Captures EBU Title". BoxingScene. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  6. ↑ Gerbasi, Thomas (21 August 2016). "Errol Spence Knocks Bundu Out Cold in Six, in Line For Brook". BoxingScene. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  7. ↑ Persson, Per Ake (30 August 2016). "Malignaggi vs. El Mousaoui in Line For EBU Clash, Bundu Stripped". BoxingScene. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Giammario Grassellini 		IBF Mediterranean
welterweight champion
2 March 2007 – 2008
Vacated		 Vacant
Title next held by
Giuseppe Langella
Vacant
Title last held by
Daniele Petrucci 		Italy welterweight champion
5 March 2008 – June 2008
Vacated		 Vacant
Title next held by
Nicola Conti
European Union
welterweight champion
13 March 2009 – 2010
Vacated		 Vacant
Title next held by
Luciano Abis
Vacant
Title last held by
Stefano Castellucci 		WBA Inter-Continental
welterweight champion
19 March 2010 – 2011
Vacated		 Vacant
Title next held by
Kell Brook
Vacant
Title last held by
Matthew Hatton 		European welterweight champion
4 November 2011 – November 2014
Vacated		 Vacant
Title next held by
Gianluca Branco
Vacant
Title last held by
Frankie Gavin 		Commonwealth
welterweight champion
1 August 2014 – November 2014
Vacated		 Vacant
Title next held by
Frankie Gavin
Vacant
Title last held by
Gianluca Branco 		European welterweight champion
22 April 2016 – 21 August 2016
Stripped		 Vacant
Title next held by
Ceferino Rodriguez
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