Lou DiBella
Thank you very much everyone joining us. This is indeed the conference call for Errol Spence against Leonard Bundu which is an IBF welterweight world title eliminator. The winner will be the mandatory contender for the title currently held by Kell Brook.
So it’s a very significant fight for boxing purposes. This is PBC on NBC. It’ll be at 5:00 pm Eastern Time, 2:00 pm Pacific Time. The doors of the first about will begin at 2:30 pm from the Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk on Sunday, August 21st.
It’s the Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk, Sunday, August 21st, PBC on NBC. That’s 5:00 pm Eastern Time, 2:00 pm Pacific Time, start time will follow immediately the Olympic men’s gold-medal game on NBC.
So this is a tremendous opportunity for these two fighters to showcase their abilities, a tremendous opportunity for boxing to be showcased in a prime spot on national TV.
This fight card will be one hour and will immediately follow the Olympic men’s basketball gold-medal game. Tickets for the live events started $35. It’s presented by my company, Brooklyn Boxing, so the Barclay’s Center is involved in helping us promote this event.
Tickets are on sale now. They can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com and at Ford Amphitheater Coney Island.com. Leonard “The Lion” Bundu, 33-1-2 with 12 KOs from Florence, Tuscany, Italy, so the land of my ancestors, Leonard knows the Olympics.
He represented Italy in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He turned pro in April 2005 and his only loss was a decision loss to Keith Thurman for the WBA welterweight title in 2014.
Other than that, his career record is unblemished. He has won the IBF Mediterranean title, the WBA intercontinental title, Italian titles, European Union titles, European titles, commonwealth titles, has a number of signature wins in his career and has a very fine career and is a worthy challenge for young Mr. Spence as he tries to establish himself as a star. Leonard, would you like to say a few words please?
Leonard Bundu
I just want to say I’m really happy that I have another chance to compete for a world title again and I know not going to be having more chances other than this so I have to give this all I have.
It’s going to be a spectacular fight, a nice fight. I know Errol has come to fight and I’m coming to fight. I’m coming for the big treat. I’m coming here convinced from my experience.
The last time I went to a big fight in Las Vegas. I got caught up in the show business and the hype, now I’m more concentrated. Training camp is going well. Everything is going well so on August 21st just expect a nice, good fight, the best from both of us. Thank you.
L. DiBella
The main event is highlighted by young men that I’ve had the pleasure to promote before, Errol “The Truth” Spence, Jr., 20-0 with 17 KOs from DeSoto, Texas.
Like Leonard Bundu, Errol is an Olympian. The 26-year-old is a former 2012 US Olympian. He turned pro in 2012. He’s widely regarded as one of the sports big future stars, has been named prospect of the year for 2015 by ESPN and Sports Illustrated.
In his last fight he had a sensational stoppage of Chris Algieri in Brooklyn at Barclays Center. That was his first primetime main event and it was televised by NBC. So Errol will be returning to NBC on Sunday afternoon, August 21st. So it’s my pleasure to bring to you, Errol “The Truth” Spence.
Errol Spence
I’m excited to be fighting back on NBC, fighting back in New York and especially fighting for the IBF title eliminator. I want to thank Bundu for taking this fight and I just look for another spectacular fight, August 21st, another spectacular one-sided performance.
Q
I wonder, when you talk about a spectacular performance, in your mind, the spectacular performance been a shutout like that where you in every second of every round or is it just about getting a knockout?
E. Spence
I mean of course, I would want the knockout. But with me, I just look for, you know, a spectacular performance. It’s like walk them down or go for the knockout. You know, hopefully I get the knockout.
If it comes, I’m definitely going to take it. But I have to box, then I’ll box, too, but hopefully I have another performance like I did with Chris Algieri.
Q
So is it more important to look spectacular like you did against Algieri or to just win and make sure you get the opportunity to fight for the title?
E. Spence
I think both. I’m a rising star and I want to look spectacular against him and get a knockout, the main goal is to win. That’s what I’m looking for. I’m not going to look for the knockout. If I can get the knockout, if it doesn’t just come naturally, then I’ll take the win but that’s the main goal overall, is to win.
Q
When you watch Bundu, is there anything that you see in his repertoire that you think could even give you mild problems?
E. Spence
Definitely. Bundu is a real good fighter. He’s very crafty. Sometimes he switches from left hand to right-hand and he varies his punches, too.
Bundu’s a good fighter. He gave Keith Thurman fits at different points in the fight. So I’m just looking for him to be crafty, try to use his experience against me.
Q
How in the world do you go about slowing down the momentum that Errol Spence has right now?
L. Bundu
Well, you know, the bigger the fight, you get more motivated. These are the fight that I need. At my age, I know I will be having other chances some going to give it all I have.
And I know I could perform better than what I did with Keith Thurman. And what I like about Errol is that he’s coming to fight. And I know people want to see the comparison between my fights with Keith Thurman and the one that I’m going to be doing with Errol Spence.
, I’m not only coming there to go the 12 full rounds. I’m coming for the victory. I studied Errol. Training camp is going well.
I’m coming motivated. I know this is a good opportunity for me to show my skills to the world and I’m coming convinced and let’s see what happens. So I know I have something in me. I have something that people haven’t seen yet, so I will be putting everything into that match on August 21st.
Q
Errol, have you gotten any indication or heard anything about what Kell Brook’s future plans are regarding that IBF title?
E. Spence
No, it’s something I haven’t asked. It hasn’t given any thought since I got the Bundu fight. You know, I can’t look over Bundu. Bundu’s an experienced fighter.
He’s been in a lot of fights and has a lot of good tools so I can’t look over him and if I look over him and end up not looking good are losing or whatever and then I’m not fighting for the IBF title.
So I take one fight at a time. I’ll fight Bundu and then I’ll worry about the IBF.Iin the IBF, they’re real good at enforcing the rules so I’m not worried about that at all, so just one fight at a time.
Q
Errol, are you at the point now in your career where you’re watching other welterweights, you’re watching Thurman against Porter, you’re watching just other ranked guys? And when you fight, you are now fighting to, I guess, to outdo, you know, those other performances that you’ve seen?
E. Spence
I study boxing. I’ve been watching these guys. I’m not one of those dudes who’s going to lie and say, “I never watched him. I never watched that guy.”
I’ve been watching these guys since I turned pro and since I was amateur. I was watching these guys on YouTube and watching their fights and stuff like that.
So I’m real familiar with everybody in 147, and everyone – people at 147 – 140, 135, 130. I’m a boxing fan overall so I don’t mind sitting down and watching a fight, watching a fight on YouTube or watching it on TV. I watch boxing all the time.
It’s been the motive to outdo another welterweight. I think that’s the ultimate goal. It makes you look better when Keith Thurman or Manny Pacquiao or Amir Khan fought this guy and you’re fighting him now.
You want to look better than they did implement a better performance so it’s definitely one of the motives when I go in for fight and fighting a similar opponent.
Q
When you watch Errol Spence and the way he fights, what weaknesses, if any, do you see in his game?
L. Bundu
Weaknesses – I don’t know. You have to test him out in the ring. I don’t know, maybe he only – comes forward, he throws heavy punches and I don’t know. I don’t know. We have to check his chin.
I know he has a few weaknesses but we’re working on them and come fight night, will try to discover them and show the world what is wrong or good with him.
I’m not a big puncher but I’m a big volume puncher so, we have to see how he reacts, whether he may be good or not. But anyway, we’re not just relying on that, of course.
We’re going to go and try to see how he does with the distance and other things. He’s a very complete boxer but I think he has to be fully tested and I’m here for that.
Q
You mentioned earlier in the call that you thought Thurman did a lot of running in that fight. Do you think that Bundu hurt him at some point or why do you think that was?
E. Spence
I don’t know. Maybe he was just trying to win. Keith Thurman was not really at the point where he just had to put on a spectacular performance every time out.
Maybe he just thought it was just easier to out punch him and just win. So, I don’t know what was going on in his head but I’m sure Bundu hurt him a couple times.
Q
How do you feel Bundu compares to Chris Algieri in terms of talent level and how much trouble he might be able to give you in comparison to what Algieri did?
E. Spence
They’re different fighters – Chris Algieri and Bundu. They’re way different fighters. They have different styles. Chris Algieri is more of a pure boxer who just recently tried to plant his feet and tried to fight a little bit, where Bundu, he can move. He can box. He can come forward too. I think Bundu has more to his arsenal than Chris Algieri.
Q
Okay, and you don’t expect Bundu to do what Chris try to do with you which obviously failed, in terms of trying to bang with you, right?
E. Spence
I think at some point he will try that. Bundu, he switches. Sometimes he tries to box, sometimes he tries the bang. He varies so I think at some point, he’ll try to go.
Q
So I was just wondering what your perspective on that is that how much you think being an Olympian helps people in terms of their promotional value, as professionals, and also maybe helps you, if you have a long extended amateur career like that, to be ready for the professional game which is very different, obviously?
E. Spence
I think being in Olympian has got a lot, especially the experience part, fighting internationally, fighting a lot of international fighters, going overseas and fighting other fighters on their ground, not knowing who you’re going to fight until the morning of the fight.
So it’s getting the experience, getting different styles under your belt and fighting in different venues and different places around the world and fighting on those different types of stages.
Of course the Olympics is the biggest age you can fight in. And just having that under my belt gets me ready for big fights like this.
Being an Olympian doesn’t carry as much weight as he used to. A lot of guys, they were 13, 14 and 0 fighting for world titles and stuff like that and not having to go through a title eliminator and things like that that we had to go through. But, you know, it’s been good and to just be branded an Olympian, that means a lot.
Q
Did it help you as much as you thought it would or less are about the same or how do you view that?
Errol Spence
I think it helped more being an Olympian. Just casual people, Americans, they find it real cool and think it’s awesome that you’re in Olympian.
To me that’s a great thing to represent my country and to fight overseas, for a gold-medal, which I didn’t get, which I wanted but just being in Olympian has helped me out a lot, just branded me as an Olympian and just knowing that, when you’re in Olympian, you’re the cream of the crop in your country.
You’re the top guy. You beat all these top prospects. Like, most of the top prospects in today’s game, I fought them in amateurs and I beat them. And I came out on top so be in Olympian means you’re the cream of the crop in your country.
Q
The kids that are going to fight in the upcoming Olympics, do you know any of them or are familiar with any of them?
E. Spence
I’m looking for, Shakur Stevenson – that kid, he’s talented. He’s a gold medal favorite. Of course, Clarissa Shields, she can fight. She’s really good. She’s already in Olympic gold medalist and looking to repeat.
We’ve got a good team that’s coming out. And they’re young. They’re fast and they’re motivated to win. And, you know, the scoring system is different now, too, so looking for a lot of gold medals.
Q
Stevenson, is he the kid that maybe has the most talent on the team that you’ve seen so far?
E. Spence
I think so. From what I watched him on – I watched a couple of his fights on YouTube. He can fight. Very talented, very skilled. His boxing IQ is very high and other than Clarissa Shields, he is the most talented boxer on their team.
Q
So Lo Greco goes the distance with Shawn Porter, KO-5, Errol Spence. Algieri goes the distance with Manny Pacquiao, KO-5, Errol Spence. Bundu goes the distance with Keith Thurman. Are we seeing a pattern here?
E. Spence
I guess so. Like in those fights, I was never the one that called the knockout because I don’t want to end up forcing a knockout, you end up looking bad. So I’m not going to go force the knockout. If it comes, it comes. If it don’t, hey, cool, it don’t. I’ll settle for the win but if it comes then I’ll take it.
Q
I’m not saying you’re going for the knockout, but if you do what you think you’re going to do, knowing what he does, do you expect to get the knockout?
E. Spence
Oh, definitely. I think my intensity raises as the fight goes on. And I definitely think if everything goes well and I took my rhythm and I’m doing what I’m supposed to do in the ring, I think the knockout will come but will be forced at all.
Q
It seems like welterweights are become hesitant when you’re brought up. Do you notice that or do you see the way I see it or – and how long do you think that can go on?
E. Spence
Well, it won’t go on long. It’s really just a matter of time, fighting for title. After that, I’m ready to fight for the world title. Now what can they say? Everybody’s got to fight. It’s time.
The ultimate goal is to become undisputed welterweight champion. I see it like you see it but at the end of the day, they’re going to have to fight.
Q
Leonard, I just wanted to know where you would rank Errol Spence compared to, like, the opponents you’ve faced so far and including Keith Thurman at the time you fought him, not necessarily the Keith Thurman of today?
L. Bundu
Well, I think he’s at the top. He’s one of the best. I mean, comparing him to the level of Keith Thurman, he has to be proven. He’s one of the toughest guys I’ll ever fight.
Q
Do you feel like there’s more motivation to kind of show the world there’s a lot more to you than what they’ve seen so far?
L. Bundu
Of course, there’s a lot more motivation. This is my second chance to come onto a world stage and the first time maybe I was a little bit caught in the hype and it was my biggest fight.
But now I know the situation. I know how it is. I know how to take control of the situation. And so I think I can showcase my skills. I’ve been working hard and I feel good and strong. I’m playing all my cards. I have a chance for good, nice fight.
Q
I just wanted to know, how much family you still have, that you keep in touch with back in New York, and what kind of turnout you’re expecting from them?
E. Spence
I’m expecting a big turnout like the Chris Algieri fight. I have a lot of family in New York. Most of my family, still is in New York. I’m expecting a big turnout from both sides, my mom’s and my dad’s side.
Q
You’re becoming the face of NBC and also this is your second straight fight now in Brooklyn. So does it mean more to that your kind of becoming the face of boxing out here?
E. Spence
Definitely. It means a lot to me, too, to be fighting in front of my family. A lot of them didn’t have the money to come see me fight when I fight in Vegas or somewhere else.
So just be able to fight in front of my family, fighting in front of New York where I think, a lot of fans from New York, they’re organic.
They’re real fans. They’re real boxing fans in New York. I’m excited to be fighting in New York again.
Q
What was your fondest memory of the 2012 Olympics?
E. Spence
The whole experience. I would say nothing bad. It was great, just the whole media coverage and fighting in front of those great fans and on TV representing my country and being in the Olympic Village.
Getting to meet these great athletes that I see in TV and watching on TV as a kid. I get to see Lebron James, Kobe Bryant right in front of me.
You see all these great athletes and just know that I was a part of that and I’m an Olympian just like them. The whole ceremony and everything, it was just the whole great experience overall. And it’s once-in-a-lifetime and something I’ll never forget.
Q
Errol, do you consider Leonard Bundu to be your best and toughest opponent so far as a pro?
E. Spence
Yes, definitely. Of course, Bundu’s a very tough later, very durable for later and he always comes to fight.
Q
How much do you focus on this fight and how much do you focus on future fights since this is a title eliminator?
E. Spence
I don’t have an eye on the future. I think winning this fight, my future is already set in stone so I’m locked into this fight. Once I get an opponent, I’m locked into him. I’m locked into Bundu. This is the title eliminator.
So I’m not worried about the future because I know what comes after this is the world title fight, so regardless of if Kell Brook vacate. So my main focus, 120%, is on Bundu and the fight on August 21st.
Q
How much of a factor do you think your height and reach advantage is going to be in this fight?
E. Spence
It’s always plays a factor but it’s not something I’m really worried about. But it always plays a factor have the height and the reach advantage.
I mean, it could play a disadvantage, but we’re practicing for everything. We’re practicing for any style of fight, practicing for a real fight, practicing for dirty fight, practicing to box. But basically you’re not just working on one thing.
Q
How much does all this affect you in terms of the way this fight has been organized?
L. Bundu
For me, like I said before, it’s a big motivation. I’m fighting a world class fighter. And it’s something that just keeps me going on and that will inevitably get the best out of me.
So, it’s a big motivation, big, big, big fight and I know the 21st is going to be a good fight. I think with our styles it will make a good fight.
Q
How do you see the atmosphere in a fight in Italy and other countries comparing to that of the United States?
L. Bundu
In Italy, boxing is not the mainstream. It’s kind of different. When I fought in England or Las Vegas, it was something tremendous. It was something that actually helps you to get you more motivated, like I said before.
It’s really big. You can feel the people and it’s a big show. You know people want to see it and it’s more followed so you get more courage and motivation to do your job.
It’s my passion to box. I’ve been boxing for a lot of years and it’s good to be rewarded like that with a good, spectacular crowd around it.
For me, coming here again to New York is fantastic and I’m blessed.
Q
Does anybody want to make a prediction, either Errol or Leonard?
E. Spence
I win but I don’t know how I’m going to win but I’m going to win and I’m going to look spectacular doing it.
L. Bundu
What I’m going to say is don’t overlook me. Don’t overlook me, all of you. I think I’m getting more respect from Errol than the rest of you, so don’t overlook me and you might be in for a big surprise August 21st.
