"With Golden Boy, there was no crap; it was straight up. They treated me right from day one. Plus, they got a lot of dates on HBO and Showtime. Plus, they have a few jr. middleweights, Kirkland, Angulo, but the one I want is Canelo. I don't know who Top Rank has besides Vanes. Golden Boy even got Lara. They got the most dates and they do business with Floyd and Cotto. Why wouldn't I want to work with them...I want the red-headed guy. That's the guy I want...I wouldn't even mind going to middleweight if I can't get to Canelo, Floyd, or Pacquaio. Even Bradley, if he moves up. I see he walks around at like 180 lbs. I'll move up to fight Sergio Martinez or Chavez Jr. It's just the right fights for me. That's what I'm looking for," stated IBF jr. middleweight champion Cornelius "K9" Bundrage, who talked about his recent signing with Golden Boy Promotions, his future plans, and much more, check it out!
DK: Champ, congrats first off on signing with Golden Boy.
CB: Thanks, thanks a lot. Thanks Dave!
DK: Was it an easy negotiation, or did it take some time to work out?
CB: It was pretty easy because it was just the same contract I saw before with nothing extra added. It was smooth and pretty easy.
DK: How long have you been in talks with Golden Boy to sign with them?
CB: Shoot, I was in talks with Golden Boy, on and off, since the Cory Spinks fight. Of course, there were a lot of other people wanted to sign me. I was America's Most Wanted, but I was enjoying being a free agent. But I knew who I wanted to sign with in the back of the mind. I wasn't even their fighter, but I was the main event on their card on Showtime. They took an investment in me when they had nothing to do with me, so I knew I wanted to do business with them.
DK: Were there any other companies who you really considered signing with before settling on Golden Boy?
CB: Um, nah, nah, nah. It was managers and some other promoters calling me, a whole lot of 'em calling me actually. At the end of the day, I felt it made the most sense with Golden Boy. The other promoters, they didn't promote that fight with Cory Spinks. When I went out there on Showtime impressively like I did, it put me back on the map. I was world champion and I wasn't even fighting on TV. The one thing about me, when somebody looks out for me, I remember. I reached out to them and told them I wasn't with Emanuel anymore under contract, and they had me in contact for a few fights. I was in contact for fighting Cotto, but even though I didn't get that fight, I wanted to enjoy not being signed with anyone for a minute. But I knew Golden Boy was where I wanted to go. It felt good to be a free agent because when I went from The Contender, I had the contract with them. Then I went straight from there to Don [King]. Anytime a promoter calls you, you can't really know what they're up to. With Golden Boy, there was no crap; it was straight up. They treated me right from day one. Plus, they got a lot of dates on HBO and Showtime. Plus, they have a few jr. middleweights, Kirkland, Angulo, but the one I want is Canelo. I don't know who Top Rank has besides Vanes. Golden Boy even got Lara. They got the most dates and they do business with Floyd and Cotto. Why wouldn't I want to work with them?
DK: So what does the future hold for K9? What did Golden Boy tell you about your ring return?
CB: We were looking at fighting Berto, but I think Berto made a wise decision not to fight me. To move up and fight one of the best jr. middleweights in the world wouldn't have been a smart move for him. He heard about K9 wanting to fight him and he went cold. They said they're looking forward to doing business with me. I said, "Where's Oscar at?" When Floyd fought Oscar, Floyd became well-known. When Pacquiao fought Oscar, Pacquiao became well-known. I told them I wanted to fight Oscar (laughing). Nah, I'm just playing. But they assured me I was going to get a big fight and be taken care of. Let's just say that Christmas came early.
DK: What is your ultimate fight that you would like to attain, and I think you kind of mentioned it earlier, with this signing?
CB: You know, um, I want the red-headed guy. That's the guy I want. He's young, you know. But who knows what happens? It really has to be someone with a big name, but it's not because I'm trying to retire. I can fight probably seven more years if I pick my fights right. There's no telling at that point what I will go through in my life. I probably still have four or five years at top championship level. What stresses a fighter out and makes a fighter age is dealing with the business of boxing. The fighting part is the easy part. So, you know, I'm just trying to keep it simple. I wouldn't even mind going to middleweight if I can't get to Canelo, Floyd, or Pacquaio. Even Bradley, if he moves up. I see he walks around at like 180 lbs. I'll move up to fight Sergio Martinez or Chavez Jr. It's just the right fights for me. That's what I'm looking for. These young guys have to prove themselves before they get to me. I've paid my dues and these young guys have to pay theirs. When I fought Sechew Powell, he was the most avoided jr. middlweight in the world. Cory Spinks, I beat him twice and he was former undisputed welterweight champion. I've also beaten the current WBO jr. middleweight champion in the world [Zaurbek Baysangurov] in his hometown. They were saying at the time he was more dangerous than Kirkland or Angulo. Klitschko didn't sign him for nothing. I fought Joel Julio on three weeks notice, lost 37 lbs in three weeks, sparred once, and still lasted eight rounds with him. I've fought Kassim Ouma, Chris Smtih. You name it, I'll claim it. These young guys who wanna get fame off my name, these guys need to fight someone to step up to me. Lots of guys tell me all the time they respect me. I'm talking the older guys, because I've earned everything. I'm a warrior, but I'm not gonna fight these mandatory or young guys when I got a chance to make big money. When the big guys call you up and say we'll give you $300,000, $400,000, or $500,000, those are the big fights. When I got a chance to do that, why would I take a mandatory for $50,000? All the fans of other fighters might call me names and stuff, but they don't understand that. Show me the money. Show me the money.
DK: Have you finalized putting together the rest of your team? Do you have a new manager or trainer yet?
CB: I still got the same trainer I had, Emanuel Steward's nephew, Sugar Hill, who also trains Adonis Stevenson. I also hired a co-trainer, Third. He's a great up-and-coming trainer. He trained Rubin Williams and he used to fight out of Kronk. I like the way he trains. I represent myself as management though. Make sure to put this is out there for these young fighters out there. If you have a chance to make $1 million your next fight, let's say Floyd says, "Glove up," a manager comes up, the manager says, "I wanna sign you for three years and I'll give you $150,000." If I said yes and I fought Floyd for $1 million, he'd be getting 30% of that, so I'd be giving him $300,000. So I end up losing $150,000. To the young fighters out there, learn the business end of boxing so you keep as much of yours that belongs to you. When you're up-and-coming, you might need a manager, but when you're getting big time, you should know the business. Manager gets 30%, trainer gets 10%, plus you still get taxed on it. Plus, co-trainer gets some. Some guys only walk away with $20,000 after supposedly making $100,000. You look at my career, I'm patient. Plenty of people have offered me money, but I didn't take it right away. You gotta think about the long term instead of grabbing the money up front. You're the one doing the fighting, so you have to look out for yourself. After all the money is going out to the guys, you have to pay that mortgage payment that still has to be made also. That's why so many of these fighters are out here talking and popping pills. They're thinking about the present instead of the future.
DK: Well champ, congrats again, and I know it's something you have worked very hard to attain. Anything else you want to say to the fans?
CB: Let the fans know that I will be fighting a whole lot in 2013. I look forward to entertaining them, making them happy, and doing a lot more biting. I'll holla at you on Twitter if you hit me up @K9Boxing. I will respond.
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