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.

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.Crociati, Enrico (14 March 2009). "Bundu outpoints Haroche Horta!" . Fightnews. Freitag Marketing Services. Retrieved 23 April 2016.

Bundu vs. Petrucci This was bettered on 4 November 2011, when Bundu won the full European welterweight title in a rematch against Daniele Petrucci;Ayala, Edwin (6 November 2011). "Battle of Unbeaten Paisans Goes Route for Euro Title". ringtalk.com. Retrieved 23 April 2016. 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.Rosenthal, Michael (13 December 2014). "Keith Thurman easily outpoints Leonard Bundu" . The Ring. Retrieved 23 April 2016.

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.Persson, Per Ake (23 April 2016). "Leonard Bundu Stops Jussi Koivula, Captures EBU Title". BoxingScene. Retrieved 23 April 2016.

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.Gerbasi, Thomas (21 August 2016). "Errol Spence Knocks Bundu Out Cold in Six, in Line For Brook". BoxingScene. Retrieved 22 August 2016. He was also stripped of his European welterweight title.Persson, Per Ake (30 August 2016). "Malignaggi vs. El Mousaoui in Line For EBU Clash, Bundu Stripped". BoxingScene. Retrieved 30 August 2016.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes37LossErrol Spence Jr.KO6 (12), 21 Aug 201636Win33–1–2Jussi KoivulaTKO9 (12), 22 Apr 201635Win32–1–2Pablo MunguiaUD826 Jun 201534Loss31–1–2Keith ThurmanUD1213 Dec 201433Win31–0–2Frankie Gavin121 Aug 201432Win30–0–2Lee PurdyTKO12 (12), 14 Dec 201331Win29–0–2Rafał JackiewiczKO11 (12)6 Apr 201330Win28–0–2Ismael El MassoudiKO1 (12), 1 Dec 201229Win27–0–2Stefano CastellucciTD5 (12), 14 Jul 201228Win26–0–2Antonio MoscatielloKO5 (12), 23 Mar 201227Win25–0–2Daniele PetrucciUD124 Nov 201126Draw24–0–2Daniele PetrucciTD8 (12)25 Jun 201125Win24–0–1Zoran CvekPTS625 Feb 201124Win23–0–1Moises CastroKO1 (6)26 Nov 201023Win22–0–1Ronny McFieldTD6 (6)21 May 201022Win21–0–1Carlos Adán JerezTD5 (12)19 Mar 201021Win20–0–1Ronny McFieldTD7 (8)18 Dec 200920Win19–0–1Frank ShabaniUD1227 Jun 200919Win18–0–1Frank Haroche HortaUD1213 Mar 200918Win17–0–1Johannes FabriziusPTS621 Nov 200817Win16–0–1Laszlo KomjathiTKO5 (6)24 Oct 200816Win15–0–1Patrik HruskaPTS628 Aug 200815Win14–0–1Giammario GrasselliniTKO1 (10)4 Mar 200814Win13–0–1Gheorghe DanutPTS812 Dec 200713Win12–0–1Vincenzo FinziTKO1 (12), 24 Aug 200712Draw11–0–1Luciano Abis3 (10), 15 Jun 200711Win11–0Karim Netchaoui11 (12)2 Mar 200710Win10–0Volodymyr BorovskyyPTS821 Oct 20069Win9–0Virgil MelegPTS622 Sep 20068Win8–0Attila KissPTS611 Aug 20067Win7–0Vincenzo FinziPTS612 May 20066Win6–0Mugurel Sebe83 Apr 20065Win5–0Mārtiņš KukulisPTS610 Feb 20064Win4–0Brett James67 Aug 20053Win3–0Antonio Taglialatela3 (6)5 Jun 20052Win2–0Ferenc OlahKO1 (6)16 Apr 20051Win1–0Peter Gaspar1 (6), 1 Apr 2005

References

External links

Leonard Bundu - Profile, News Archive & Current Rankings at Box.Live